Acute acalculous cholecystitis after cardiovascular surgery.

The development of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) after cardiovascular surgery is an infrequent but devastating complication, the etiology and management of which remains controversial. To evaluate the etiology, treatment, and outcome of patients with AAC, the cases of six patients encountered within an 8-year period who developed AAC after cardiovascular surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were reviewed. Atherosclerotic risk factors including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking were evident in five patients, three of whom had a history of stroke or arteriosclerosis obliterans, while low cardiac output was recognized in three. Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy was performed in five patients, and another required cholecystectomy for peritonitis due to gangrene of the gallbladder. Two patients died of respiratory failure and sepsis after 15 and 82 days of percutaneous drainage, respectively; however, the four survivors had an excellent outcome without any biliary tract disease during a mean follow-up period of 5.3 years. In conclusion, AAC after cardiovascular surgery may result from hypoperfusion of the gallbladder due to various factors including CPB, visceral atherosclerosis, and low cardiac output. We advocate early percutaneous cholecystostomy for patients without peritonitis, while early cholecystectomy is indicated for those with peritonitis.