Acute acalculous cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis in the late phase of severe acute pancreatitis: a neglected problem

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for acute cholecystitis (AC) in the late phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

METHODS

A review of patients with SAP from January 2008 to December 2009 was performed. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with AC in the late phase and those without. Risk factors for AC were analyzed using a logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to estimate the predictive value of the risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 269 cases were included. Twenty-seven episodes of AC in the late phase were identified. Patients with AC had higher computed tomography severity index and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, as well as higher rate of intraabdominal hypertension, infective pancreatic necrosis (IPN) of the pancreas head, fistula, abdominal bleeding, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged enteral nutrition (EN) via jejunal tube. Independent risk factors for AC, based on the results of logistic regression analysis, included higher APACHE II score, prolonged EN via jejunal tube, and IPN of the pancreas head.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 10% of patients with SAP will develop AC in the late phase. Risk factors include higher APACHE II score, prolonged EN via jejunal tube, and IPN of the pancreas head.

Epstein-Barr virus - associated acute acalculous cholecystitis in an adult

Background:

Gallbladder involvement during primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in adults is rare.

Case Report:

We report the case of a 29-year-old female with acute acalculous cholecystitis associated with EBV infection. The patient was successfully treated with conservative therapy.

Conclusions:

Clinicians should be aware that acute acalculous cholecystitis may be present during viral infection, and surgical treatment is unnecessary in almost all cases.

Alithiasic cholecystitis treated by percutaneous cholecystostomy in a patient with severe septic shock and neutropenia

Acalculous cholecystitis is a relatively rare form of cholecystitis appearing in severely ill patients. We chose the case of a young patient under chemotherapy for myeloid leukaemia who developed a severe septic shock secondary to an alithiasic cholecystitis. Because of hemodynamic instability needing high-dose of vasoactive amines, percutaneous gallbladder drainage was done. After this intervention, the septic shock could be controlled, but a bleeding liver laceration was observed, fortunately without morbidity consequences.

Abdominal infections are life-threatening complications in neutropenic patients. Neutropenic enterocolitis is the most important entity, but the acute cholecystitis, even rarer, had been described in several reports, suggesting that this infection could represent a difficult trap.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax complicated by acalculous cholecystitis

We report the first adult cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) exclusively caused by infections with Plasmodium vivax. We reviewed the previous cases of AAC occurring during malaria, compared and contrasted the variables of previously reported cases with the cases reported here, examined the pathogenic link between malaria and AAC, and considered the diagnostic pitfalls and treatment implications as they applied to clinical outcomes in patients with this serious and potentially underrecognized illness.

Percutaneous management of biliary emergencies

Most biliary emergencies can be classified as either infectious or obstructive. Infectious complications include acute cholecystitis and cholangitis. Many of these can be treated either surgically or endoscopically, but in some instances, less-invasive percutaneous techniques can be utilized to successfully treat these conditions. Obstructive complications, especially in the setting of liver transplant, can be serious if not treated quickly. Percutaneous drainage is sometimes the only acceptable treatment alternative for these patients.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis due to dengue hemorrhagic fever during pregnancy

A 29-year-old pregnant woman presented with fever, right hypochondrial pain and fatigability at 29 weeks of gestation. Dengue hemorrhagic fever was diagnosed based on clinical, hematological and serological features. However, ultrasound scanning was suggestive of acute acalculous cholecystitis. The patient was managed symptomatically and made a good recovery 8 days following onset of fever. This is the first case of acute acalculous cholecystitis coinciding with dengue hemorrhagic fever reported during pregnancy from an endemic country in Asia. The possible viral and host factors for the development of such a severe form of disease and preventive measures are discussed.

Infective endocarditis with co-existent acalculous cholecystitis: a rare but important association

The authors present the case of an otherwise healthy retired male who presented with a history of fevers, rigors and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Although haematological, biochemical and radiological investigations supported a diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis, the underlying cause was not obviously apparent and the patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly over the course of a few hours despite appropriate medical treatment. Repeat clinical examination was consistent with acute pulmonary oedema in association with a new murmur throughout the whole of the cardiac cycle. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed the presence of severe aortic regurgitation, a presumptive diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made and medical therapy adjusted. Shortly after, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and an attempt at resuscitation was unsuccessful. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of aortic valve cusp rupture secondary to bacterial endocarditis in addition to gallbladder appearances consistent with acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Q fever cholecystitis in an unvaccinated butcher diagnosed by gallbladder polymerase chain reaction

Acalculous cholecystitis has been described in association with Q fever. We describe the first known case of Q fever cholecystitis diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction on gallbladder tissue. The presence of Coxiella burnetii genome in the diseased gallbladder tissue argues for direct involvement of the organism in the pathogenesis of Q fever cholecystitis.

Biliary tract interventions

Biliary tract interventions remain a tremendous technical challenge to the interventionalist and require appropriate clinical postprocedural management. The increased use of endoscopy for biliary tract evaluation and intervention has served to largely replace percutaneous techniques, resulting in a decreased number of patients requiring primary percutaneous transhepatic biliary interventions. However, those patients who do present for percutaneous biliary procedures often represent a more technically difficult subset. Thorough familiarity with normal and variant biliary tract anatomy, and experience with a variety of techniques, will allow for successful biliary tract interventions in complex situations. This article reviews the current role of percutaneous transhepatic interventions in the emergency evaluation and management of biliary tract disease.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis: a review

Although recognized for more than 150 years, acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) remains an elusive diagnosis. This is likely because of the complex clinical setting in which this entity develops, the lack of large prospective controlled trials that evaluate various diagnostic modalities, and thus dependence on a small data base for clinical decision making. AAC most often occurs in critically ill patients, especially related to trauma, surgery, shock, burns, sepsis, total parenteral nutrition, and/or prolonged fasting. Clinically, AAC is difficult to diagnose because the findings of right upper-quadrant pain, fever, leukocytosis, and abnormal liver tests are not specific. AAC is associated with a high mortality, but early diagnosis and intervention can change this. Early diagnosis is the crux of debate surrounding AAC, and it usually rests with imaging modalities. There are no specific criteria to diagnose AAC. Therefore, this review discusses the imaging methods most likely to arrive at an early and accurate diagnosis despite the complexities of the radiologic modalities. A pragmatic approach is vital. A timely diagnosis will depend on a high index of suspicion in the appropriate patient, and the combined results of clinical findings (admittedly nonspecific), plus properly interpreted imaging. Sonogram (often sequential) and hepatic iminodiacetic acid scans are the most reliable modalities for diagnosis. It is generally agreed that cholecystectomy is the definitive therapy for AAC. However, at times a diagnostic/therapeutic drainage via interventional radiology/surgery may be necessary and life-saving, and may be the only treatment needed.

A case of acute cholecystitis without cholestasis caused by Epstein-Barr virus in a healthy young woman

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be one of the causes of viral hepatitis, but its association with cholecystitis is known to be rare. Cholestasis by EBV-induced hepatitis might be a cause of acute cholecystitis in all of the recently reported cases. In contrast, we experienced the case of a 20-year-old woman who was infected with EBV and presented with acute cholecystitis without cholestasis.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis: A rare presentation of typhoid fever in adults

Adult typhoidal acute acalculous cholecystitis is rare with only 2 cases having been reported in the English literature. We present the case of a previously healthy 36-y-old female who suffered fever, chills, epigastralgia and progressive jaundice for 3 d, with acute acalculous cholecystitis subsequently diagnosed. In addition to antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone, open cholecystectomy was performed. However, bile and blood culture both showed Salmonella typhi growth unexpectedly, and ileocolitis was revealed by colonoscopy. Careful tracing of the history of the patient recalled a history of travel to Indonesia. In adults without common risk factors for acalculous cholecystitis, a detailed history including travel to endemic areas and high index of suspicion for typhoidal acute acalculous cholecystitis are important, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy for covering Salmonella typhi should be considered.

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is the most prevalent surgical condition affecting populations in industrialized countries. Rather than a single clinical entity, cholecystitis is a class of related disease states with different causes, degrees of severity, clinical courses, and management strategies. Appropriate care of the patient who has a diseased gallbladder requires a broad understanding of the acute, chronic, and acalculous cholecystitis syndromes, and awareness of their particular clinical nuances and potential complications.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in children with Epstein-Barr virus infection: a role for Gilbert's syndrome?

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) in association with acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has rarely been described in childhood. In the literature, there are only four reported pediatric cases of AAC associated with isolated primary EBV infection. We present two cases (one new, one retrospectively reviewed) of children with Gilbert's syndrome (GS) who presented with AAC during the course of primary EBV infection. Antibiotics were not used and AAC subsided gradually as the infection regressed. The co-occurrence of GS might have played a contributory role in the pathogenesis of AAC during acute EBV infection.

Protective effect of melatonin on Ca2+ homeostasis and contractility in acute cholecystitis

Impaired Ca2+ homeostasis and smooth muscle contractility co-exist in acute cholecystitis (AC) leading to gallbladder dysfunction. There is no pharmacological treatment for this pathological condition. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of melatonin treatment on Ca2+ signaling pathways and contractility altered by cholecystitis. [Ca2+]i was determined by epifluorescence microscopy in fura-2 loaded isolated gallbladder smooth muscle cells, and isometric tension was recorded from gallbladder muscle strips. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were determined by spectrophotometry and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was quantified by western blot. Melatonin was tested in two experimental groups, one of which underwent common bile duct ligation for 2 days and another that was later de-ligated for 2 days. Inflammation-induced impairment of Ca2+ responses to cholecystokinin and caffeine were recovered by melatonin treatment (30 mg/kg). This treatment also ameliorated the detrimental effects of AC on Ca2+ influx through both L-type and capacitative Ca2+ channels, and it was effective in preserving the pharmacological phenotype of these channels. Despite its effects on Ca2+ homeostasis, melatonin did not improve contractility. After de-ligation, Ca2+ influx and contractility were still impaired, but both were recovered by melatonin. These effects of melatonin were associated to a reduction of MDA levels, an increase in GSH content and a decrease in COX-2 expression. These findings indicate that melatonin restores Ca2+ homeostasis during AC and resolves inflammation. In addition, this indoleamine helps in the subsequent recovery of functionality.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis during the course of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection: a new case and a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis occurring in the course of primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

METHODS

The clinical features of the case were analyzed and compared to those of three other similar cases reported in the international literature.

RESULTS

All cases occurred in European females with cholestatic hepatitis, presented with gallbladder wall thickening, and recovered uneventfully without the need for surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute acalculous cholecystitis may occur during the course of acute EBV infection, especially in patients with cholestatic hepatitis. Clinicians should be aware of the possible involvement of the gallbladder during EBV infection to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures or the overuse of antibiotics.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis of viral etiology--a rare condition in children?

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) comprises 5% to 10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis in adults and appears to be even less frequently diagnosed in children. The diagnosis of AAC is established upon some clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic findings, which may sometimes be ambiguous and confusing especially in children. Diagnostic difficulties may result in either delayed diagnosis or unnecessary surgical intervention. Acute cholecystitis owing to viral infectious factors is reported to be extremely rare. The aim of the article is to demonstrate 2 cases of AAC as a clinical presentation of both Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infection in children.

Warning nonrespiratory symptoms in asthma: catastrophic abdominal involvement in a case of Churg-Strauss syndrome

BACKGROUND

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vasculitis that occurs in the setting of asthma or allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia. The development of systemic manifestations in these allergic patients needs to be recognized as a likely sign of CSS.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a patient with limb paresthesia and abdominal complaints related to CSS.

METHODS

Blood leukocyte count, nerve conduction study, ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ileum resection, and histopathologic examination of ileum and gallbladder samples.

RESULTS

A 55-year-old man with chronic asthma and rhinosinusitis had acute acalculous cholecystitis after he experienced lower limb paresthesia subsequently recognized as being due to mononeuritis multiplex. His eosinophil count was 1,860/microL. Three days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy the patient developed sudden severe diffuse abdominal pain with hypotension due to perforation of the ileum. The peripheral eosinophil count increased to 14,000/microL. Ileal resection was performed. Histopathologic examination showed necrotizing vasculitis with eosinophilic infiltration of the ileum and granulomatous vasculitis with eosinophilic infiltration of the gallbladder. He was treated with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone, 1 g for 3 consecutive days, followed by pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m(2), and recovered uneventfully. He received 6 additional monthly infusions of cyclophosphamide, and oral prednisone was tapered. When last seen, 2 years later, the patient was in good clinical condition, continuing alternate-day use of oral prednisone (10 mg).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonrespiratory symptoms, such as paresthesia and acalculous cholecystitis, in a patient with asthma should alert the physician to consider CSS. If the neuropathic complaints had prompted the consideration of vasculitis, medical management might have avoided one or both surgical procedures.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in a child returning from the Ivory Coast

Acute cholecystitis is an uncommon occurrence in children. Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) has various etiology; among them are a wide variety of infectious agents. We report the case of a 7-year-old child who presented AAC due to plasmodium falciparum infection. The causes of AAC are discussed.

Complications of parenteral nutrition

Parenteral nutrition plays a vital role for patients with intestinal failure and those who are unable to maintain oral or enteral nutrition alone. Parenteral nutrition has been shown to improve clinical outcome in patients with malnutrition and intestinal tract dysfunction. The use of parenteral nutrition is not without risk of serious complications. Parenteral nutrition complications can be divided into mechanical related to vascular access, septic, and metabolic. This article provides a review on the short- and long-term complications of parenteral nutrition and their management.

Tight junction proteins in gallbladder epithelium: different expression in acute acalculous and calculous cholecystitis

There is a paucity of information of tight junction (TJ) proteins in gallbladder epithelium, and disturbances in the structure of these proteins may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) and acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC). Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the expression of TJ proteins claudin-1, -2, -3, and -4, occludin, zonula occludens (ZO-1), and E-cadherin in 9 normal gallbladders, 30 gallbladders with AAC, and 21 gallbladders with ACC. The number of positive epithelial and endothelial cells and the intensity of the immunoreaction were determined. Membrane-bound and cytoplasmic immunoreactivities were separately assessed. We found that TJ proteins were uniformly expressed in normal gallbladder epithelium, with the exception of claudin-2, which was present in less than half of the cells. In AAC, expression of cytoplasmic occludin and claudin-1 were decreased, as compared with normal gallbladder. In ACC, expression of claudin-2 was increased, and expression of claudin-1, -3, and -4, occludin, and ZO-1 were decreased, as compared with normal gallbladder or AAC. We conclude that there are significant differences in expression of TJ proteins in AAC and ACC, supporting the idea that AAC represents a manifestation of systemic inflammatory disease, whereas ACC is a local inflammatory and often infectious disease.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis as the initial presentation of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection

The case of a 13-year-old girl with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and concomitant cholestatic hepatitis, which initially presented as acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC), is described. The diagnosis of AAC was documented by clinical and ultrasonographic criteria, whereas acute EBV infection was confirmed serologically. AAC may develop during the course of acute EBV infection, especially in patients with cholestatic hepatitis.

Contrast enhanced sonography of the gallbladder: a tool in the diagnosis of cholecystitis?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate if contrast enhanced sonography (CES) can help to detect gallbladder inflammation and differentiate between acute and chronic cholecystitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-three patients with clinical suspicion of acute cholecystitis were examined with CES before cholecystectomy. Thirty patients with no history of gallbladder disease served as control. CES was performed using 2.5 mL SonoVue. A small mechanical index was chosen (0.1). The enhancement pattern of the gallbladder was ranked in a three-point scale: no enhancement, low enhancement and strong enhancement. 28/33 patients underwent surgery. Sonographic findings were compared to histological results.

RESULTS

In 16/20 cases with histological proven acute cholecystitis, the gallbladder wall showed a strong enhancement. Low enhancement was found in four patients with acute and in six patients with chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder wall of two patients with chronic inflammation and all patients (30/30) of the control group showed no enhancement.

CONCLUSION

CES is a feasible tool for detecting gallbladder inflammation. Differentiating between acute and chronic cholecystitis seems to be possible.

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease in adult and pediatric patients

There are essentially 3 types of hepatobiliary disorders associated with parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy: steatosis, cholestasis, and gallbladder sludge/stones. Reported prevalence rates of PN-associated liver disease (PNALD) vary greatly, and there are distinct differences between adult and pediatric patients. Various etiologic factors have been evaluated for significance in contributing to PNALD, including enteral feeding history, septic events, bacterial overgrowth, length of intestinal resection, and prematurity/low birth weight. Etiologic factors specifically related to the PN formulation or nutrient intake have also been evaluated, including excessive calorie intake, dextrose-to-lipid ratio, amino acid dose, taurine deficiency, IV fat emulsion (IVFE) dose, carnitine deficiency, choline deficiency, and continuous vs cyclic infusion. Minor increases in serum aminotransferase concentrations are relatively common in patients receiving PN therapy and generally require no intervention. The primary indicator of cholestasis is a serum conjugated bilirubin >2 mg/dL. When a patient receiving PN develops liver complications, it is necessary to rule out all treatable causes and minimize other risk factors. All potential hepatotoxic medications and herbal supplements should be eliminated. Modifications to the PN regimen that may be helpful include reduction of calories, reduction of IVFE dose to <1 g/kg/d, supplementation of taurine in the infant, and use of cyclic infusion. Initiation of even small amounts of enteral nutrition and use of ursodiol may be beneficial in stimulating bile flow. In the long-term PN patient with severe and progressive liver disease, intestinal or liver transplantation may be the only remaining treatment option.

Organ system dysfunction following open cholecystectomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) refers to cholecystitis without gallstones and is a serious complication of critical illness. We describe the time course of organ system dysfunction associated with cholecystectomy in critically ill patients with AAC.

METHODS

The data of all intensive care unit (ICU) patients who had operatively confirmed AAC during their ICU stay between 2003 and 2004 were analyzed. Patients who also had other intra-abdominal pathologies were excluded. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were recorded 3 days before, on the day of operation and on the first, second, third and seventh post-operative day after cholecystectomy. The impact of open cholecystectomy on organ dysfunction was evaluated on the basis of the change in the total and individual organ SOFA scores.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients underwent open cholecystectomy for AAC with no other intra-abdominal pathology. Sepsis was the most common admission diagnosis, followed by cardiovascular surgery. The mean (standard deviation, SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and SOFA scores on admission were 24.7 (5.8), 44.3 (12.3) and 9.4 (3.2), respectively. The median (25th, 75th percentiles) total SOFA score 3 days before cholecystectomy was 7.5 (1.3, 8.0), which increased to 10.5 (8.3, 13.0) (P < 0.0001) by the day of cholecystectomy, indicating developing multiorgan dysfunction. After the operation, the score decreased to 5.5 (3.3, 10.8) (P = 0.004) by the seventh post-operative day. The change was most obvious in cardiovascular and respiratory SOFA scores.

CONCLUSIONS

AAC is associated with multiorgan dysfunction in critically ill patients. Open cholecystectomy seems to alter the course of multiorgan dysfunction in these patients.

Changes in guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle Ca2+ homeostasis by acute acalculous cholecystitis

Impaired smooth muscle contractility is a hallmark of acute acalculous cholecystitis. Although free cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) is a critical step in smooth muscle contraction, possible alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis by cholecystitis have not been elucidated. Our aim was to elucidate changes in the Ca2+ signaling pathways induced by this gallbladder dysfunction. [Ca2+]i was determined by epifluorescence microscopy in fura 2-loaded isolated gallbladder smooth muscle cells, and isometric tension was recorded from gallbladder muscle strips. F-actin content was quantified by confocal microscopy. Ca2+ responses to the inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) mobilizing agonist CCK and to caffeine, an activator of the ryanodine receptors, were impaired in cholecystitic cells. This impairment was not the result of a decrease in the size of the releasable pool. Inflammation also inhibited Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels and capacitative Ca2+ entry induced by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ pools. In addition, the pharmacological phenotype of these channels was altered in cholecystitic cells. Inflammation impaired contractility further than Ca2+ signal attenuation, which could be related to the decrease in F-actin that was detected in cholecystitic smooth muscle cells. These findings indicate that cholecystitis decreases both Ca2+ release and Ca2+ influx in gallbladder smooth muscle, but a loss in the sensitivity of the contractile machinery to Ca2+ may also be responsible for the impairment in gallbladder contractility.

Cholecystectomy in Sweden 1987-99: a nationwide study of mortality and preoperative admissions

OBJECTIVE

Information on mortality after cholecystectomy in defined populations is limited. In this study we examined the case fatality rates and mortality ratios, based on register data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Hospital discharge and death certificate data were linked for all patients undergoing cholecystectomy in Sweden in 1987-99. Mortality risk was calculated as the standardized mortality ratio (SMR).

RESULTS

From 1 January 1987 to 1 December 1999, 123,099 patients underwent cholecystectomy for acute or chronic gallbladder disease. Between 1987-91 and 1995-99, the incidence of cholecystectomy increased by 13%, median age of patients decreased and the proportion of women increased. From 1995 to 1999, 32% of all cholecystectomies were completed as open cholecystectomy. During this period, 82% of patients aged 70 years or older with acute gallstone disease had an open cholecystectomy. For patients with chronic gallstone disease, the proportion was 43%. Postoperative crude mortality within 30 days for all patients was 0.4%. Patients with acalculous gallbladder disease had double the mortality risk compared with patients with calculous disease, and patients with acute cholecystitis had double the risk compared with patients with chronic disease. High age, previous hospital admission for conditions other than gallbladder disease, and cholecystectomy completed as an open procedure increased the risk, whereas gender and calendar year did not significantly affect the mortality risk. Biliary tract diseases accounted for 61% of all postoperative deaths, whereas 26% were due to cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

During the 1990s, cholecystectomy incidence increased, whereas postoperative mortality risk remained unchanged. In order to further reduce the mortality risk, particular attention should be paid to elderly and frail patients and to patients with acalculous gallbladder disease.

Histopathology of acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients

AIMS

To illustrate the histopathological features of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) of critically ill patients and to compare them with those of acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) and normal gallbladders.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied 34 gallbladders with AAC and compared them with 28 cases of ACC and 14 normal gallbladders. Histological features were systematically evaluated. Typical features in AAC were bile infiltration, leucocyte margination of blood vessels and lymphatic dilation. Bile infiltration in the gallbladder wall was more common and extended wider and deeper into the muscle layer in AAC compared with ACC. Epithelial degeneration and defects and widespread occurrence of inflammatory cells were typical features in ACC. Necrosis in the muscle layer was also more common and extended wider and deeper in ACC. There were no differences in the occurrence of capillary thromboses, lymphatic follicles or Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses between the AAC and ACC samples.

CONCLUSIONS

There are characteristic differences in histopathology between AAC and ACC, although due to overlap, none appeared to be specific as such for either condition. These results suggest that AAC is largely a manifestation of systemic critical illness, whereas ACC is a local disease of the gallbladder.

Anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (APBJ) with the drainage of the uncinate process into the minor papilla: demonstration by MRI

We report a case of a 30-year-old patient with anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (APBJ) that has not been described before. The patient had a clinical history of recurrent attacks of pancreatitis, cholangitis and cholecystitis that were confirmed by abnormal laboratory values. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a 20 mm long junction of choledoc and pancreatic duct, and uncinate process draining into the minor papilla. On MR cholangiopancreatography, strictures at the junction of hepatic duct, increased gallbladder wall thickness and intraductal stone in the pancreatic duct were demonstrated as complementary findings. Other MRI findings included decreased signal intensity of the pancreas consistent with fibrosis from past pancreatitis attacks and atrophy of the left liver lobe.

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is defined as acute inflammation of the gallbladder in the absence of gallstones. Patients are usually critically ill with atherosclerotic heart disease, recent trauma, burn injury, surgery, or hemodynamic instability. The presentation of acute acalculous cholecystitis may be insidious, characterized by unexplained fever, leukocytosis, hyperamylasemia, or abnormal aminotransferases, and patients often lack right upper quadrant tenderness. Diagnostic evaluation includes ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and cholescintigraphy. Given the high mortality of untreated disease, definitive treatment consists of cholecystectomy or, in poor surgical candidates, cholecystostomy. Endoscopic therapy with nasobiliary drainage and lavage is an effective treatment option in patients unable to tolerate surgery or cholecystostomy.