Expect the Unexpected: Torsion of the Gallbladder, a Rare Cause for Acute Cholecystitis

Gallbladder torsion is a rare cause for acute cholecystitis. Gallbladder torsion is unlikely to respond to conservative management and requires urgent surgical intervention. We report a case of an 85-year-old female with gallbladder torsion. She presented with a clinical picture consistent with acut...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 10; no. 12; p. e3726
Main Authors Hwang, Yang, Kulendran, Krish, Ashworth, Jack
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 13.12.2018
Cureus
Subjects
Antibiotics
Case reports
Cholecystectomy
Females
Gallbladder
Gallbladder diseases
Gangrene
General Surgery
Medical imaging
Mesentery
Pain
Patients
Ultrasonic imaging
Veins & arteries
gallbladder
cholecystitis
torsion
elderly
volvulus
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Summary:Gallbladder torsion is a rare cause for acute cholecystitis. Gallbladder torsion is unlikely to respond to conservative management and requires urgent surgical intervention. We report a case of an 85-year-old female with gallbladder torsion. She presented with a clinical picture consistent with acute cholecystitis. Radiological findings showed signs that elude to the diagnosis and intra-operative findings showed a complete torsion with a free-floating gallbladder. This case highlights the need to have a high index of suspicion for gallbladder torsion as a differential diagnosis for right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain apart from the typical calculous acute cholecystitis, especially in high risk groups such as thin, elderly females. Prompt decision for cholecystectomy is necessary and is likely to result in a good outcome.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.3726