Torsion of the gallbladder: a case report

Samia Ijaz , Kaji Sritharan , Neil Russell , Manzoor Dar , Tahir Bhatti and Michael Ormiston

Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust, Hillfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AD, UK

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Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:237doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-237


Published:	24 July 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Torsion of the gallbladder is a rare condition that most commonly affects the elderly. Pre-operative diagnosis is the exception rather than the rule. Any delay in treatment can be fatal as the gallbladder may rupture, leading to biliary peritonitis.

Case presentation

We present the case of an 80-year-old woman who was admitted with right upper quadrant pain initially thought to be secondary to acute cholecystitis. Subsequent ultrasound and computed tomography scans of the abdomen revealed signs suggestive of acute cholecystitis but neither modality detected any gallstones. As the patient's symptoms failed to resolve on conservative management, she was taken to theatre for an open cholecystectomy. Intra-operatively, the gallbladder had undergone complete torsion and appeared gangrenous. A routine cholecystectomy followed and she recovered from the operation without incident.

Conclusion

It is rare to diagnose torsion of the gallbladder pre-operatively despite advances in diagnostic imaging. However, this differential diagnosis should be borne in mind particularly in the elderly patient, without proven gallstones, who fails to improve on conservative management. An emergency cholecystectomy is indicated in the event of diagnosing torsion of the gallbladder to avert the potentially lethal sequelae of biliary peritonitis.