Episode 117.0 – Acute Cholecystitis

Show Notes

Take Home Points

• Acute cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder and is a clinical diagnosis. Imaging can be helpful but US and CT can both have false negatives.
• Lab tests are insensitive and non-specific and, as such, they can neither rule in or rule out the diagnosis.
• Treatment focuses on fluid resuscitation when indicated, supportive care, antibiotics and surgical consultation for cholecystectomy
• Although uncommon, be aware that patients can develop gangrene, necrosis and perforation as well as frank sepsis and require aggressive resuscitation

Read More

Core EM: Acute Cholecystitis

Oyama LC: Disorders of the liver and biliary tract, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2010, (Ch) 90: p 1186-1205.

Leschka S et al. Chapter 5.1: Acute abdominal pain: diagnostic strategies In: Schwartz DT: Emergency Radiology: Case Studies. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Menu Y, Vuillerme MP. Chapter 5.5: Non-traumatic Abdominal Emergencies: Imaging and Intervention in Acute Biliary Conditions In: Schwartz DT: Emergency Radiology: Case Studies. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2008.