Gallbladder volvulus, a rare cause of acute abdomen, a case report

The gallbladder volvulus is a rare surgical emergency and its defined as the rotation of the gallbladder on its mesentery along the axis of the cystic duct and cystic artery. Definitive diagnosis is usually made during surgery and a delay in treatment may result in a high mortality due to rupture of gall bladder and bile peritonitis.

We report the case of an 88-year-old woman who presented with an acute torsion of gall bladder, which was treated promptly after admission by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Acute torsion of gall bladder is a rare disease. Its pathogenesis is not well known but postulated to be multifactorial. Two anatomic variants that predispose to gall bladder torsion have been described. Clinical presentation is not specific, with symptoms and biologic signs that mimic acute cholecystitis. This condition should be suspected in elderly women with uncertain diagnosis of acute cholecystitis or acute abdominal pain of unknown origin.

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare life-threatening surgical emergency that requires emergency surgical treatment. Out- come is often favorable when early diagnosis and surgery are made.