Acalculous Cholecystitis Following Multiple Trauma with Fractures

Kim, Ki Hoon; Kyung, Kyu Hyouk; Kim, Jin Su; Kim, Kwan U; Kim, Woon Won; Kim, Ji Wan

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of acalculous cholecystitis after multiple trauma with fractures and to analyze the characteristics of cholecystitis.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of multiple trauma patients with fractures between April 2010 and April 2012. Sixty-nine patients were identified, and the average age was 46.8(range: 15-74) years. Data were collected regarding associated injury, injury severity score (ISS), the diagnosis time after trauma, diagnostic tool, and management.
RESULTS
There were three cases(4.3%) of cholecystitis among the 69 cases, and cholecystitis was diagnosed an average of 20.7(range: 8-33) days after injury. Two patients complained of abdominal pain at diagnosis, but the other patient who had undergone surgery for small bowel perforation at the time of the injury had no abdominal pain. All three patients had abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) at diagnosis. The cholecystitis was confirmed with ultrasonography or computed tomography, and all cases were acalculous cholecystitis. At first, percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage was performed; then, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was tried an average of 12(range: 11-13) days later. An laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully done in only one case, the other cases being converted to an open cholecystectomy due to severe inflammation.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of acaculous cholecystitis was 4.3% after multiple trauma with fractures. We should consider cholecystitis in patients with abdominal pain, fever and elevated LFTs after multiple trauma.