title: Complete gallbladder and cystic pedicle torsion. Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Complete gallbladder torsion is an unusual emergency that requires immediate surgical treatment. Since it was first reported in 1898, <400 cases have been described in the literature, and only three of them were diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our objective here is to describe an approach that allows a definitive diagnosis and treatment. First we present the case of a febrile 81-year-old woman with acute right upper quadrant pain. Ultrasound showed an alithiasic distended gallbladder with a multilayered wall and a transverse orientation. When exploratory laparoscopy was performed, a gangrenous gallbladder secondary to a 360 degrees clockwise cystic pedicle torsion was found. Laparoscopic decompression, detorsion, and cholecystectomy with an intraoperative cholangiogram were completed. The patient was discharged 72 h later. Next, several preoperative diagnostic methods are reviewed. We conclude that the laparoscopic treatment of this entity is feasible and obviates the performance of unnecessary and nonspecific tests. It offers a favorable and rapid postoperative recovery, in addition to the other well-known advantages of the minimally invasive surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: General Surgical Service, Buenos Aires British Hospital, 74 Perdriel Street, Buenos Aires, C1280AEB, Argentina. velowman@velocom.com.ar
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Amarillo
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Pirchi
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mihura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003549:Cystic Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000601:surgery