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SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyDrug Reaction DataReferences
Potentially life-threatening emergency
Acalculous cholecystitis
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Potentially life-threatening emergency

Acalculous cholecystitis

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Contributors: Michael W. Winter MD, Christine Osborne MD, Khaled Bittar MD, Nishant H. Patel MD, Desiree Rivera-Nieves MD
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Synopsis

Acalculous cholecystitis : Fever, Mental status alteration, Hyperbilirubinemia, Inpatient, RUQ pain, WBC elevated
Acalculous cholecystitis is an acute necroinflammatory disease of the gallbladder associated with underlying diagnoses that lead to gallbladder stasis and ischemia, often resulting in secondary infections with enteric pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Proteus species, and Bacteroides. Acalculous cholecystitis accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis and is more common in critically ill and hospitalized patients, although it does occur in the outpatient setting.

In critically ill patients, presenting symptoms may include unexplained fever, new leukocytosis, or vague abdominal discomfort. Ambulatory patients may complain of smoldering, typically colicky right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain and positive Murphy sign, but many present with sepsis and peritonitis from gallbladder rupture or necrosis from longstanding acalculous cholecystitis.

Physical examination may reveal a palpable RUQ mass and jaundice, both of which are uncommon in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis. A high index of suspicion for acalculous cholecystitis should be had for patients who have been recently or critically ill with sepsis of an unclear etiology, particularly if vague gastrointestinal complaints are present.

Codes

ICD10CM:
K81.9 – Cholecystitis, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
19968009 – Cholecystitis without calculus

Look For

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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Therapy

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Drug Reaction Data

Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.

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References

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Last Reviewed:11/27/2016
Last Updated:11/27/2016
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Potentially life-threatening emergency
Acalculous cholecystitis
Print  
A medical illustration showing key findings of Acalculous cholecystitis : Fever, Mental status alteration, Hyperbilirubinemia, Inpatient, RUQ pain, WBC elevated
Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.