Gallbladder Edema Confused as Cholecystitis in the Emergency Department

Of 3,393 patients with suspected cholecystitis, 31 were confused with acute cholecystitis for gallbladder wall thickening secondary to diverse diseases, and presented for cholecystectomy. The majority were male (51%). The gallbladder wall thickening due to edema more than 5mm without signs of cholecystitis was corroborated, (range: 5-16mm). The confused diagnoses as cholecystitis were liver diseases, dengue, cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia, and pancreatitis. In seven patients (22.6%), cholecystectomy for suspected cholecystitis was performed. Two patients presented post-surgical complications (6.5%), and none died. In the histopathological study, no signs of cholecystitis were found. In the analysis, the operated patients had a hospital stay larger than patients no operated, showing statistical significance (p = 0.004).

Author(s): Jair Díaz-Martínez

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