Posttraumatic and postoperative acute acalculous cholecystitis

Acute acalculous cholecystitis has been described following surgery unrelated to the biliary tract and after multiple trauma (DuPriest et al., 1979; Gately & Thomas, 1983; Herlin et al., 1982; Howard, 1981; Long et al., 1978; Orlando et al., 1983). Mortality rate is high, probably in part reflecting delayed diagnosis and treatment, since symptoms and signs of the primary disease often mask the symptoms of cholecystitis. Increased awareness of this rare condition might lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment and thereby improved outcome. In this report three patients who developed acute acalculous cholecystitis following unrelated surgery or multitrauma are described.