The floating gallbladder

Gallbladder Torsion: A Rare but Critical Diagnosis

“… 3 Although the direct cause of gallbladder torsion is unknown, it is thought that congenitally abnormal, incomplete, or absent mesenteric attachments of the gallbladder to the gallbladder fossa of the liver, sometimes termed floating gallbladder or wandering gallbladder , may predispose to torsion. 3 , 6 , 7 Acquired hepatic atrophy from aging and underlying liver disease may also predispose to gallbladder torsion. 3 …”

“…3 Although the direct cause of gallbladder torsion is unknown, it is thought that congenitally abnormal, incomplete, or absent mesenteric attachments of the gallbladder to the gallbladder fossa of the liver, sometimes termed floating gallbladder or wandering gallbladder, may predispose to torsion. 3,6,7 Acquired hepatic atrophy from aging and underlying liver disease may also predispose to gallbladder torsion. 3 Imaging may aid in the pre-operative diagnosis of gallbladder torsion, though imaging findings overlap with non-torsion causes of acute cholecystitis, such as gallbladder distention, wall thickening, and pericholecystic fluid.…”

Case report: Rare floating gallbladder torsion in a child

“…Common factors for the development of GT include: (1) Congenital anatomical variation: the floating gallbladder means that the gallbladder is completely peritoneal and in a floating state, the only areas with mesentery are the gallbladder’s neck and the cystic duct, which is suspended under the liver and in a floating state ( 11 , 12 ). Due to the large mobility, the gallbladder is prone to torsion along the axis of the cystic duct and the cystic artery ( 13 ), and this pediatric patient belongs to this type.…”

Gallbladder torsion with gangrenous cholecystitis: a case report

“…The aetiology of gallbladder torsion is unclear but is hypothesized to occur secondary to anatomical anomalies resulting in a ‘floating gallbladder’. This anomaly is characterized by either an elongated mesentery supporting the gallbladder and cystic duct or an incomplete mesentery supporting the cystic duct only; resulting in an abnormally mobile gallbladder which is prone to volvulus [ 5 , 6 ]. The existence of gallbladder torsion in children suggests congenital abnormalities of the gallbladder mesentery may be sufficient for volvulus to occur [ 7 , 8 ].…”