Torsion of the gallbladder in pregnancy. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Gallbladder torsion is rarely diagnosed in pregnancy, but prompt surgical intervention is necessary to avoid possible sepsis and death.


METHODS
A 28-year-old, African American woman at 30(6/7) weeks' gestation was admitted with the presumed diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. The patient was treated conservatively. However, on re-examination, the patient's physical examination and laboratory values worsened. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a twisted gallbladder. A cholecystectomy was performed after untwisting of the gallbladder. Postoperatively the patient did well and subsequently delivered a healthy infant at 38(2/7) weeks' gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical evaluation of an acute abdomen in pregnancy should not be delayed. For a presumed diagnosis of acute cholecystitis that does not improve after conservative measures are taken, gallbladder torsion should be added to the differential diagnosis.
Kleiss
Kimberly
K
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Suite 408, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. kkleiss@emory.edu
Choy-Hee
Leslie
L
Fogle
Robin
R
Lindsay
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery