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Acalculous Cholecystitis: The Unexpected Mask of De Novo Heart Failure
Mhd Baraa Habib1, Maram Albandak2, Mhd Husam Osman3
1Department of Cardiology Hamad Medical Corporation Doha Qatar.
Insights
Acute acalculous cholecystitis can mimic gallbladder inflammation. This case highlights how severe heart failure can cause similar symptoms, emphasizing the need for a broad differential diagnosis in gallbladder disease evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Acute acalculous cholecystitis is gallbladder inflammation without gallstones.
- Heart failure can cause congestive hepatopathy and gallbladder swelling.
- Distinguishing these conditions can be clinically challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case where symptoms mimicked acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- To illustrate that acute severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock were the underlying causes.
- To underscore the importance of considering heart failure in the differential diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Clinical evaluation of a patient with symptoms suggestive of cholecystitis.
- Diagnostic workup to determine the etiology of gallbladder abnormalities and patient's presentation.
Main Results:
- Patient presented with symptoms initially resembling acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- The actual cause was identified as acute severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock.
- Gallbladder swelling and hepatopathy were attributed to cardiac decompensation.
Conclusions:
- It is crucial to maintain a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with gallbladder issues.
- Decompensated heart failure should be strongly considered in cases presenting as acalculous cholecystitis.
- Accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate management and improved patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Acute acalculous cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder without the presence of gallstones or obstruction of the cystic duct. Heart failure is recognized for causing congestive hepatopathy and can lead to gallbladder swelling, often challenging to distinguish from acalculous cholecystitis. Here, we present a case of a patient whose symptoms initially resembled acalculous cholecystitis but were instead caused by acute severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Maintaining a broad differential diagnosis, including decompensated heart failure, is essential when evaluating cases resembling acalculous cholecystitis.
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