Acalculous gallbladder disease: A prospective study

Abstract

A prospective study of 62 cases of acalculous gallbladder disease is reported. The clinical, radiological and pathological features are described as well as the results of cholecystectomy with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. The results compare favourably with those for calculous disease, and it is concluded that there is no clear-cut distinction between acalculous and calculous biliary disease.

Septic Complications of Cholecystectomy and the Value of Operative Cholangiography

“…In this series the very low incidence of postoperative symptoms (4.6%) may result from careful case selection, but the incidence of troublesome symptoms in patients with flatulent dyspepsia does appear to be lower than some authors have suggested (Kingston and Windsor, 1975; Johnson, 1971). The findings of this study suggest that patients with acalculous cholecystitis are more likely to suffer from postoperative symptoms, although it has been reported that the results of cholecystectomy in acalculous disease compare favourably with results for calculous disease (Keddy et al , 1976). It is alleged that combined cholecystectomy and vagotomy and pyloroplasty increases the risk of postoperative symptoms (Taylor et al , 1978) but this was not confirmed in the small numbers of patients undergoing such procedures in the present study.…”

Acalculous disease of the gall bladder.

“…47 In two recent series, chronic cholecystitis was acalculous in 12-13% of cases.248 Postinflammatory stenosis or primary tortuosity of the cystic duct might inhibit normal emptying of the gall bladder.3'49" Gall bladder dysfunction is suggested by low concentrations of biliary lipids in duodenal juice.' Such patients may have persistent pain in the right upper quadrant.…”

Acute Cholecystitis in Aged Patients

“…According to the existing bibliography and our study, the cause of acute cholecystitis is more frequently cholelithiasis (calculous form) and rarely other causes (acalculous form) (8,9). In our series of patients with the acalculous form of cholecystitis, no clear causative factors were found.…”