Canine gallbladder infarction: 12 cases (1993-2003).

A cohort of 12 dogs with severe transmural gallbladder necrosis is described. All dogs had cholecystectomies performed. In six dogs, perforation of the gallbladder was noted at surgery. Eight dogs survived the immediate postoperative period, and four dogs died. Histologically, inflammation was absent or minimal in all cases, suggesting that cholecystitis was not the cause of necrosis. Thrombi (n = 2) and atheromatous vascular changes (n = 1) represent possible vascular causes of this condition. The findings of coagulative necrosis in these 12 dogs are compatible with "gallbladder infarction," and the authors propose this term to describe the histopathologic appearance of the gallbladder.