Acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis after trauma or non-related surgery is a rare and dangerous complication. The pathogenesis is multifactorial. Impairment of the circulation to the gallbladder and cystic duct obstruction by inspissated bile seem to be the most important factors. The disease runs a fulminant course, and since diagnosis is generally difficult and usually delayed, the mortality is unduly high. Awareness of the physician is therefore of paramount importance. Cholecystectomy is the recommended treatment. A series of 13 patients is presented and the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of this complication are discussed.