Acute acalculous cholecystitis following coronary artery bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND
Significant gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are relatively infrequent but are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) may be a devastating complication if the diagnosis is missed or management delayed.


OBJECTIVE
We present two cases of AAC that followed coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.


RESULTS
In one case a cholecystectomy was performed whereas percutaneous drainage was utilised in the second case. The application of these two different individualised treatment options lead to successful outcomes in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness with vigilance enables early diagnosis and treatment. The clinical state of the patient at the time of diagnosis ultimately determines the management strategy in the post cardiac surgery patient.
Healy
D G
DG
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. cardiothoracic@eircom.net
Veerasingam
D
D
O'Connell
P R
PR
Hurley
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents