Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2021 | Cholecystitis | Case report
Gallbladder volvulus: a case report
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2021
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Background
Gallbladder volvulus is a rare pathology first reported by Wendel in 1898. Although the main pathological process associated with gallbladder volvulus is not known, there is clinical evidence suggesting that lack of gallbladder adhesions to the liver leads to an eventual twisting around the cystic bile duct (a process that seems to favor older female populations).
Case presentation
In this report, an 81-year-old Caucasian elderly female presented to the emergency department with acute/severe right upper quadrant pain, which was also accompanied by an elevated leukocyte count. Relevant imaging showed a distended gallbladder with gallbladder wall thickening and a dilated common bile duct. The patient was subsequently admitted to the hospital for acute cholecystitis and scheduled for surgery the next day. Upon laparoscopic surgery, the gallbladder was black and gangrenous with no visible adhesions to the liver. Further inspection demonstrated that the gallbladder had twisted clockwise around the cystic bile duct.
Conclusions
While many previous cases have been reported since Wendel, further case studies are nevertheless important to help guide proper clinic evaluation and pinpoint the potential for a gallbladder volvulus.