| Acute acalculous cholecystitis is uncommon, but not rare. Classically, this disease is observed in the intensive care unit associated with major trauma, burns, or surgery. Moreover, comorbidity such as infection, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus is often found. Although the exact pathogenesis is still not fully understood, it may be multifactorial and ischemia seems to play a central role. We herein report an unusual case of acute alithiasic cholecystitis predisposing to a de Bakey type III aortic dissection. A 57-year-old man was referred to our hospital for investigation of persistent right upper abdominal pain with tenderness and fever, associated with a newly diagnosed aortic dissection treated conservatively. The diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis, which is often difficult to establish, was particularly delayed. An open cholecystectomy was performed, revealing a preperforating gangrenous gallbladder without any stones. The patient was discharged from hospital 9 days postoperatively without any early or late complications. No operative treatment for the aortic dissection was needed. ( info) |
2/28. Right bundle branch block and coved-type ST-segment elevation mimicked by acute cholecystitis. A 69-year-old woman had acute cholecystitis that mimicked right bundle branch block with coved-type ST-segment elevation in the precordial electrocardiogram leads (Brugada-type ST shift). The patient did not have obvious heart disease, syncope, or a family history of sudden death. The coved-type ST-segment elevation disappeared as the acute inflammation subsided. Intravenous administration of pilsicainide, a pure sodium channel blocker, could reproduce the Brugada-type ST shift. This is the first report of the Brugada-type ST shift occurring in association with acute cholecystitis. ( info) |
| We report the case of a 69-year-old man presenting with rupture of a pseudo-aneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery into the duodenum eight days after open cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The surgical approach to a ruptured visceral artery pseudo-aneurysm is technically difficult and hazardous. The operative mortality rate reaches 16 to 50%, mainly dependent on the anatomic location of the visceral artery pseudo-aneurysm. This report describes a case in which bleeding from a pseudo-aneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery was successfully treated by embolisation using metal coils. ( info) |
4/28. Double gallbladder-a laparoscopic management. A rare case of gallbladder duplication, an unusual biliary anomaly is reported in a young female patient presenting with acute cholecystitis. After a confirmed diagnosis of double gallbladder was made by sonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography (ERCP), and magnetic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography(MRCP), both gallbladders were removed laparoscopically. On histology both gallbladders showed cholesterolosis. Detailed preoperative investigations are required for an accurate preoperative diagnosis before considering laparoscopic cholecystectomy to avoid inadvertent damage to biliary ductal system and overlooking of second gallbladder during surgery. ( info) |
5/28. Acute cholecystitis as a complication following percutaneous ethanol injection of a hepatocellular carcinoma. Percutaneous ethanol injection is a useful option in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma which are not amenable to resection or transplantation. We describe a case of cholecystitis and tumour infiltration of the gallbladder after percutaneous ethanol injection, a complication not previously described in literature. The patient was a 70-year-old woman with a history of asymptomatic HCV hepatopathy and a 6 cm hepatocellular carcinoma nodule in segment V which had been treated two months before by percutaneous ethanol injection in another center. She attended our center due to febrile syndrome. Imaging studies suggested cholecystitis with an abscess on the wall of the gallbladder, purulent material obtained by means of a CT-guided puncture. Surgery revealed purulent and neoplasic material inside the gallbladder, with tumor invasion of the posterior wall; a partial cholecystectomy was therefore performed and a drainage inserted. The patient showed no post-operative complications and was discharged after seven days. CONCLUSION: we believe that the percutaneous ethanol injection of hepatocellular carcinomas located close to the gallbladder may occasionally lead to complications in the form of cholecystitis with neoplasic infiltration of the gallbladder. A case of cholecystitis secondary to radiofrequency treatment of a similarly-located tumor has previously been described and, therefore, the use of percutaneous local destructive treatments for tumors close to the gallbladder would seem unadvisable. ( info) |
| Concomitant leptospirosis and scrub typhus is rare. The spectrum of clinical severity for both scrub typhus and leptospirosis ranges from mild to fatal. Acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis are infrequent complications in adult patients with either leptospirosis or scrub typhus. We report a case of leptospirosis and scrub typhus coinfection in a 41-year-old man presenting with acute acalculous cholecystitis, pancreatitis and acute renal failure. Abdominal computed tomography revealed edematous change of the gallbladder without intrahepatic or pancreatic lesions. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline and ceftriaxone, and supportive management. ( info) |
7/28. Acute cholecystitis and severe ischemic cardiac disease: is laparoscopy indicated? BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: laparoscopy in patients with poor cardiac function has been the subject of controversy and is considered by many surgeons a relative contraindication. methods: We report the case of a patient who presented with acute cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis concurrent with unstable angina. Our experience in laparoscopic management of patients with calculous biliary disease and severe coronary artery disease is examined. RESULTS: The patient was managed by coronary angioplasty and stenting immediately followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration under close invasive hemodynamic monitoring and low-pressure pneumoperitoneum. Between 1996 and 2001, 39 patients with coronary artery disease and an ASA class of III or IV underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Eight of these patients (20.5%) had common bile duct stones necessitating laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. No conversions were necessary, and no major morbidity or mortalities occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration can be safely performed in patients with severe ischemic cardiac disease under close hemodynamic monitoring and a low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (10 to 12 mm Hg). ( info) |
8/28. Ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm with acute gangrenous cholecystitis: a case report and review of the literature. We have experienced a very rare case of ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm with acute gangrenous cholecystitis. A 67-year-old male complaining of epigastralgia was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasound sonography demonstrated acute cholecystitis and cholecystolithiasis. Computed tomography scan showed the findings of acute cholecystitis and retroperitoneal mass. Emergency laparotomy revealed an acute gangrenous cholecystitis and a retroperitoneal hematoma around the second portion of the duodenum. cholecystectomy was performed, however, the bleeding vessel was not identified. The patient bled again from the abdomen on the 6th postoperative day. A postoperative angiography indicated an inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm. A resection of the aneurysm was performed following the angiography. Pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms are uncommon and ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms result in fatal hemorrhage and high mortality. We reviewed the previously reported cases and discussed the suitable and expeditious diagnosis and management of the pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms. ( info) |
9/28. Cytologic diagnosis of suppurative cholecystitis due to candida albicans and actinomyces. A report of 2 cases. BACKGROUND: Cholecystitis is a common inflammatory disease of the gallbladder. actinomycosis and candidiasis of the gallbladder are uncommon causes of acute cholecystitis. There has been no previous report on the cytologic diagnosis of actinomycosis and candidiasis from aspirated gallbladder bile intraoperatively. CASES: Purulent bile was intraoperatively aspirated from the gallbladder of 71-year-old Indian and a 30-year-old Australian woman. The specimens were sent for cytologic examination. The first case revealed sulphur granules characteristic of actinomyces spp. The second case showed budding spores and pseudohyphae of Candida spp. Pure colonies of candida albicans grew from the bile culture. CONCLUSION: actinomycosis and candidiasis rarely cause acute suppurative cholecystitis. Initial diagnosis can be made by cytologic examination of the aspirated purulent bile intraoperatively. ( info) |
| Multiseptate gallbladder is a rare congenital malformation of the gallbladder. In some cases, right upper quadrant pain, recurrent abdominal pain, and gallstones were present. We present the sonographic findings in a case of multiseptate gallbladder with acute cholecystitis, which (to our knowledge) has not been reported before. We hypothesize that bile sludge accumulated and subsequent cholecystitis developed as a result of bile stasis in our case because the classic predisposing factors that have been described were absent. ( info) |