Acute cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder. Gentile da Foligno was the first to describe the gallbladder. In 1581, Jean Fernel provided an adequate clinical description of the symptoms produced by gallstones. Before cholecystectomy, surgical treatment for symptomatic gallstones was limited to cholecystostomy. In 1882, Carl Langebuch became the first person to remove the gallbladder.

Etiology

  • MCC: cystic duct obstruction by gallstone(s) → acute calculus cholecystitis
  • Bile stasis, leading to infection of stagnant bile

History

  • Fever
  • RUQ pain lasting > 3 hrs

Physical Exam

  • + Murphy’s sign
  • RUQ tenderness
  • RUQ guarding
  • Profound jaundice is rare → raises suspicion for cholangitis

Labs

  • Mild elevations of alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and transaminase
  • Leukocytosis

Imaging

  • US
    • 85% sensitivity, 95% specificity
    • Findings: gallstones, pericholecystic fluid, gallbladder wall thickening, sonographic Murphy sign
  • HIDA scan
    • Usually not needed, may be helpful with atypical cases to demonstrate obstruction of cystic duct
    • Filling during HIDA virtually eliminates cholecystitis diagnosis

Treatment

  • Cholecystectomy
  • Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics
  • If not good surgical candidate, consider percutaneous drainage with percutaneously placed cholecystostomy tube

Scoring Systems

  • Tokyo Guidelines: diagnostic criteria and severity grading for acute cholecystitis

Resources

  • The American Association for the surgery of Trauma (AAST) guidelines
  • Emergency General Surgery (EGS) guidelines