[Post-stress nonlithiasic acute cholecystitis. Contribution of ultrasonics to the diagnosis and treatment in 50 cases].

Fifty cases of post-stress acute acalculous cholecystitis were observed during the past 9 years, mainly after major surgery or trauma. The apparently increasing incidence over the last 4 years (42 cases) could probably be explained by a better diagnostic approach of this condition by routine use of ultrasonography. No specific etiological factor could be found; however total parenteral nutrition and/or sepsis and/or use of narcotics could possibly play a role in the appearance of this complication. Although diagnosis can occasionally be suspected in the basis of abdominal and infectious signs, diagnosis was made primarily on the following ultrasonographic signs: enlarged gallbladder with thickened wall, sludge, and occasionally a double-wall aspect and a pericholecystic collection. In this series, most of the patients were treated by cholecystectomy, but a new therapeutic approach was used in 10 cases: percutaneous transhepatic drainage under sonographic control. Outcome is still poor, with a 50 p. 100 mortality rate.