- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Chapter 184 Pathophysiology and management of raised intra-abdominal pressure in the critically ill
- Chapter 185 Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Chapter 186 Ischaemic bowel in the critically ill
- Chapter 187 Intra-abdominal sepsis in the critically ill
- Chapter 188 Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Chapter 189 Management of the open abdomen and abdominal fistulae in the critically ill
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 885) Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Chapter:
- (p. 885) Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Author(s):
Vanessa P. Ho
and Philip S. Barie
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0188
Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) may occur in surgical or injured, critically-ill, and systemically-ill patients, with diabetes mellitus, malignant disease, abdominal vasculitis, congestive heart failure, cholesterol embolization, shock, and cardiac arrest. Children may also be affected, especially following a viral illness. The pathogenesis of AAC is complex and multifactorial. Ischaemia/reperfusion injury and the associated pro-inflammatory response and oxidative tissue stress, appear to be the central mechanisms, but bile stasis, opioid therapy, positive-pressure ventilation, and parenteral nutrition may all contribute to development of the disease. Ultrasound of the gallbladder is most accurate for the diagnosis of AAC in the critically-ill patient. Computed tomography is probably of comparable accuracy, but carries both advantages and disadvantages. Percutaneous cholecystostomy is now the treatment of choice, controlling AAC in about 85% of patients, despite the known high prevalence of gallbladder infarction (~50%) and perforation (~10%). Rapid improvement may be expected when AAC is diagnosed correctly and cholecystostomy is performed timely. The mortality (historically ~30%) of percutaneous and open cholecystostomy are similar, reflecting the severity of illness, but improved resuscitation and critical care may portend a decreased risk of death.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Chapter 184 Pathophysiology and management of raised intra-abdominal pressure in the critically ill
- Chapter 185 Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Chapter 186 Ischaemic bowel in the critically ill
- Chapter 187 Intra-abdominal sepsis in the critically ill
- Chapter 188 Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Chapter 189 Management of the open abdomen and abdominal fistulae in the critically ill
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care