Episode 117.0 – Acute Cholecystitis

Part I of II on gallbladder pathology starting with cholecystitis.

https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_117_0_Final_Cut.m4a

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Show Notes

Take Home Points

Acute cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder and is a clinical diagnosis. Imaging can be helpful but US and CT can both have false negatives. Lab tests are insensitive and non-specific and, as such, they can neither rule in or rule out the diagnosis. Treatment focuses on fluid resuscitation when indicated, supportive care, antibiotics and surgical consultation for cholecystectomy Although uncommon, be aware that patients can develop gangrene, necrosis and perforation as well as frank sepsis and require aggressive resuscitation

Read More

Core EM: Acute Cholecystitis

Oyama LC: Disorders of the liver and biliary tract, in Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al (eds): Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 8. St. Louis, Mosby, Inc., 2010, (Ch) 90: p 1186-1205.

Leschka S et al. Chapter 5.1: Acute abdominal pain: diagnostic strategies In: Schwartz DT: Emergency Radiology: Case Studies. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2008.