Acute cholecystis following unrelated surgery.

In a series of 26 cases of acute cholecystitis occurring after an operation for an unrelated condition, 88% of the patients were over 50 years of age and males outnumbered females by 2 to 1. In some of the cases diagnosis was difficult and delay was responsible for the death of one patient. Acalculous cholecystitis occurred in 20% of the cases and in these gangrene or perforation supervened early in the course of the disease.Efforts should be directed to ensuring adequate hydration after operation; resumption of a diet low in fat may be important. Even in the absence of a history of biliary disease, there is a place for the radiological study of the biliary tract before major elective operations are performed. If gallstones are discovered on the occasion of the initial surgery, cholecystectomy should be performed whenever it is feasible. In any patient with postoperative cholecystitis early operation is generally indicated.