Acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Sixty-three patients, 49 men and 14 women, developed acute cholecystitis without gallbladder stones. Only eight patients had a history suggestive of gallbladder disease. In 17 patients cholecystitis developed in the postoperative period, and cholecystitis occurred in 7 patients who had extensive trauma. The signs and symptoms did not differ markedly from those found when acute cholecystitis is associated with cholelithiasis. Pain and tenderness in the right upper abdominal quadrant, vomiting, abdominal distention, decreased bowel sounds, jaundice and fever were common. Thirty (47.6 percent) gallbladder specimens had gangrene, and perforation occurred in five instances. Bacteria were cultured from 28 of 43 bile specimens. E. coli was the most common organism. A high incidence of acalculous gallbladders is found when acute cholecystitis occurs in the postoperative period or after trauma and in children. Decreased blood flow to the gallbladder, cystic duct obstruction and concentrated bile are necessary to produce experimental cholecystitis. These factors are probably necessary in humans also. Decreased gallbladder perfusion caused by shock, congestive heart failure and arteriosclerosis probably contributed to the development of acute acalculous cholecystitis in these patients.