eMedicine Specialties > Gastroenterology > Biliary

Acalculous Cholecystitis

Author: Homayoun Shojamanesh, MD, Former Fellow, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institutes of Health
Coauthor(s): Praveen K Roy, MD, Comments and Criticisms Editor, Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 20, 2006

Introduction

Background

Acalculous cholecystitis is a severe illness that is a complication of various other medical or surgical conditions. Duncan first recognized it in 1844 when a fatal case of acalculous cholecystitis complicating an incarcerated hernia was reported. The condition causes approximately 5-10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis and is usually associated with more serious morbidity and higher mortality rates than calculous cholecystitis. It is most commonly observed in the setting of very ill patients (eg, on mechanical ventilation, with sepsis or severe burn injuries, after severe trauma). In addition, acalculous cholecystitis is associated with a higher incidence of gangrene and perforation compared to calculous disease.

The usual finding on imaging studies is a distended acalculous gallbladder with thickened walls (>3-4 mm) with or without pericholecystic fluid. Acalculous cholecystitis can be observed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, although it is a late manifestation of this disease. Acalculous cholecystitis can also be found in patients on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), typically those on TPN for more than 3 months.

Pathophysiology

The main cause of this illness is thought to be due to bile stasis and increased lithogenicity of bile. Critically ill patients are more predisposed because of increased bile viscosity due to fever and dehydration and because of prolonged absence of oral feeding resulting in a decrease or absence of cholecystokinin-induced gallbladder contraction. Gallbladder wall ischemia that occurs because of a low-flow state due to fever, dehydration, or heart failure may also play a role in the pathogenesis of acalculous cholecystitis.

Frequency

United States

Acalculous cholecystitis comprises approximately 5-10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis.

Mortality/Morbidity

The mortality and morbidity rates associated with acalculous cholecystitis can be high; the illness is frequently observed in patients with sepsis or other serious conditions. The reported mortality range is 10-50% for acalculous cholecystitis as compared to 1% for calculous cholecystitis.

Sex

Acalculous cholecystitis has a slight male predominance, unlike calculous cholecystitis, which has a female predominance.

Age

The condition can occur in persons of any age, although a higher frequency is reported in persons in their fourth and eighth decades of life.

Clinical

History

History findings are of limited value. Often, many patients are very ill (possibly on mechanical ventilation) and cannot communicate a history or symptoms.

Physical

Physical examination may reveal fever and right upper quadrant tenderness.

Causes

The main cause of acalculous cholecystitis is gallbladder stasis with resulting stagnant bile. This is observed most commonly in patients with sepsis, patients in intensive care units, patients on long-term TPN, patients with diabetes (occasionally), or other patients with gallbladder dysmotility.

More on Acalculous Cholecystitis

Overview: Acalculous Cholecystitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Acalculous Cholecystitis
Treatment & Medication: Acalculous Cholecystitis
Follow-up: Acalculous Cholecystitis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

gallbladder inflammation, inflammation of the gallbladder, total parenteral nutrition, TPN, bile stasis, gallbladder stasis, stagnant bile, gallbladder dysmotility, sepsis with biliary tract infection, AIDS cholangiopathy, TPN-associated liver disease, cholecystectomy, percutaneous cholecystostomy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Homayoun Shojamanesh, MD, Former Fellow, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institutes of Health
Homayoun Shojamanesh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Praveen K Roy, MD, Comments and Criticisms Editor, Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group
Praveen K Roy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Marco Patti, MD, Director, Center for the Study of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion, Moffitt-Long Hospital; Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of California at San Francisco
Marco Patti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Pan-Pacific Surgical Association, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Southwestern Surgical Congress, and Western Surgical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Michael A Grosso, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Francis Hospital
Michael A Grosso, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Society of University Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Paolo Zamboni, MD, Professor of Surgery, Chief of Day Surgery Unit, Chair of Vascular Diseases Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
Paolo Zamboni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Venous Forum and New York Academy of Sciences
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA, Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Medicine and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital
John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nephrology, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society of Nephrology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
Disclosure: AMGEN Royalty Other; AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting

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