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Acute acalculous cholecystitis due to Vibrio cholerae
N A Gomez1, C J Leon, J Gutierrez
1Gastrointestinal Unit, Esperanza Foundation, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Surgical Endoscopy
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Cholera (Vibrio cholerae) can cause acute acalculous cholecystitis. This case confirms V. cholerae as the direct cause of gallbladder inflammation in a patient with cholera.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Vibrio cholerae infection, commonly known as cholera, typically presents with severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Acute acalculous cholecystitis is gallbladder inflammation without gallstones, often seen in critically ill patients.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old woman presented with symptoms suggestive of cholera and developed signs of acute cholecystitis.
- Abdominal sonogram revealed acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- Vibrio cholerae was identified in stool samples and subsequently in gallbladder fluid and mucosa.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with cholera and acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- Cholecystectomy was performed, and cultures confirmed V. cholerae in the gallbladder.
- Microscopic examination showed V. cholerae on the gallbladder mucosa.
- The identified strain was V. cholerae 01 (El Tor) Ogawa.
Implications:
- This case establishes a direct causal link between Vibrio cholerae infection and the development of acute acalculous cholecystitis.
- Highlights the importance of considering V. cholerae as a potential etiology for cholecystitis, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- Suggests that cholera may present with a broader spectrum of complications than previously recognized.