title: Laparoscopic cholecystostomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis.
abstract: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) can occur in up to 18% of severely injured patients. Diagnosis is made by positive ultrasound findings of gallbladder sludge, hydrox, and wall thickening. There may also be recent-onset jaundice, positive ultrasound induced Murphy's sign, and unexplained sepsis. Mortality can be as high as 50%. Laparoscopic confirmation was obtained in six ICU trauma patients when omentum was drawn up over a distended gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was done by first directly decompressing the gallbladder through the fundus. This trocar was replaced by a 16 French Foley catheter passed through an Endoloop into the gallbladder and secured by tightening the loop around a cuff of gallbladder. Sepsis resolved in all cases. Only one required subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. LC has a low morbidity and may be life saving during the early stages of AAC. It is not indicated in gangrene or perforation of the gallbladder.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, St. Agnes Hospital, 303 North Street, Suite 103, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged