Intraluminal gallbladder pressure measurements in patients with chronic or acute cholecystitis

Gallbladder intraluminal pressures were determined during operation in 22 patients with chronic unobstructed cholecystitis and 25 patients with acute unobstructed cholecystitis by means of a glass manometer connected to a needle. Patients with chronic cholecystitis had a mean resting value of 9.9 +/- 0.9 cm H2O, and patients with acute cholecystitis had a mean fasting value of 36.0 +/- 1.8 cm H2O (p less than 0.001). The importance of these findings is discussed.