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Acalculous cholecystitis is acute inflammation of the gallbladder that occurs without the presence of gallstones. It is a rare but serious condition, usually affecting people who are critically ill.
read more about acalculous cholecystitis ...The cause is typically related to stasis (lack of movement) of bile in the gallbladder, often combined with reduced blood flow (ischemia) and systemic inflammation. This condition occurs most often in critically ill patients, such as those recovering from major surgery, severe trauma, or burns, whose bodies are under extreme stress and cannot maintain normal organ function.
The lack of normal gallbladder movement allows bile to thicken and become concentrated, causing chemical irritation and inflammation within the organ itself. This rapid inflammatory process distinguishes it from typical gallstone-induced disease and demands urgent attention.
Symptoms include fever, severe pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, and sometimes jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). The pain is often difficult to pinpoint because the affected patients are frequently severely ill, sedated, or have other acute pain sources.
Diagnosis relies on advanced imaging, such as an abdominal ultrasound or a HIDA scan, which checks the function of the gallbladder by observing bile flow, as physical symptoms alone are often insufficient for confirmation.
The long-term health consequences involve organ failure. Untreated inflammation can lead to gallbladder tissue death (necrosis), perforation (rupture), and spreading the severe infection throughout the body, making it a highly fatal condition without prompt surgical treatment.
Acalculous cholecystitis impacts eye health through jaundice. The liver inflammation and impaired bile flow cause bilirubin to build up in the bloodstream. This pigment deposits in the tissues, causing the sclera (whites of the eyes) to turn yellow, which is a visible sign of severe illness.
The necessary treatment is often emergent, involving antibiotics to manage the infection, and usually, surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) to eliminate the source of inflammation. Prompt surgery is often needed due to the high risk of complications.
No, this condition is rare and usually only occurs in patients who are severely ill from another cause.
Yes, because it typically affects critically ill patients, the mortality rate is higher than that of gallstone-induced cholecystitis.
Surgery is the standard treatment to remove the inflamed organ.
Acalculous cholecystitis is often seen in ICU patients with sepsis or major trauma. If you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) in a recovering patient, it may indicate gallbladder or liver dysfunction that requires immediate imaging.
Merck Manual. Acalculous Cholecystitis (merckmanuals.com). 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Cholecystitis (mayoclinic.org). 2024.
StatPearls. Acalculous Cholecystitis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 2024.
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. Management of Cholecystitis (lww.com). 2024.