Ischaemic cholecystitis is a rare but serious condition that is often overlooked. Read here, which patients are most susceptible and what can be done.
Ischaemic cholecystitis is a form of gallbladder inflammation that occurs without gallstones or another form of external compression. It is caused by poor perfusion to the gallbladder tissue. New research now helps to better understand the cause of ischaemic cholecystitis and to develop more effective treatments for this condition.
Management strategies for ischaemic cholecystitis. PTGD, percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. Credit: By Favela JG, Argo MB, Huerta S.
A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a study investigating the cause of ischaemic cholecystitis. They found that the gallbladder is particularly susceptible to ischaemia because it receives its blood supply from a terminal artery, meaning that there is no other artery to supply blood to the gallbladder if this artery is blocked. The researchers also found that ischaemic cholecystitis is more common in patients who are critically ill. This is because critically ill patients are often hypovolemic, meaning that they have low blood volume. This can lead to poor gallbladder perfusion, which can then lead to inflammation.
These findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of ischaemic cholecystitis. Because it is often difficult to diagnose, ischaemic cholecystitis can be misdiagnosed as another condition, such as sepsis or pancreatitis. This can lead to delays in treatment and poorer outcomes for patients.
The researchers also found that ischaemic cholecystitis is more likely to recur than obstructive cholecystitis. This means that patients with ischaemic cholecystitis are more likely to require surgery to remove their gallbladder.
The treatment for ischaemic cholecystitis is surgical removal of the gallbladder. This is the only way to prevent the condition from recurring. In conclusion, ischaemic cholecystitis is a rare but serious condition that is more common in patients who are critically ill. Clinicians need to be aware of this condition to diagnose and treat it promptly.
This article is based on a press release by First Hospital of Jilin University. You can find the original publication here and by following the link in our text.
Image source: Sreenadh TC, unsplash
