[Non-calculous cholecystitis as a surgical problem]

Experience with the surgical treatment of 263 patients with acalculous cholecystitis is presented. Planned and postponed operations were fulfilled on 188 patients. 75 operations were performed for urgent indications. Gangrenous cholecystitis was found in 25 of the patients, phlegmonous cholecystitis--in 46 patients, catarrhal acalculous cholecystitis in 4 patients. Three patients died from severe concomitant diseases. The authors point to the considerable incidence of destructive forms of acute cholecystitis (especially in elderly and senile patients) which requires active surgical measures after failure of a complex medicamental treatment of the attack.