Gallbladder Volvulus Presenting as Acute Cholecystitis: Diagnostic Challenges and the Need for Early Surgical Intervention.
Jennifer Dai, Robert Myers, James Zamora et al.
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Case in brief
An elderly patient presented with signs and symptoms resembling acute cholecystitis. At laparoscopy, the gallbladder was found to have torsion of its cystic pedicle, with resulting ischemia, establishing gallbladder volvulus. The case illustrates how this condition can be mistaken for more common biliary disease before surgery. The patient underwent surgical management; the report emphasizes that timely intervention is important to avoid complications associated with delayed cholecystectomy.
What made this case unusual
The apparent acute cholecystitis was caused by twisting of the cystic pedicle and gallbladder ischemia, rather than uncomplicated inflammation.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Gallbladder volvulus can mimic acute cholecystitis. When suspected cholecystitis does not respond to conservative management, consider torsion; the report stresses early surgical intervention.