Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of acalculus cholecystitis in patients after thermal injury.

Acalculus cholecystitis accounts for 2% to 14% of all cases of acute cholecystitis and is seen with increasing frequency in patients after major trauma and burns. In these already compromised patients, acute acalculus cholecystitis can be difficult to diagnose and more difficult to treat. We present our experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in seven patients with this often lethal combination treated over the last 5 years. All the patients who underwent surgery survived and had minimal morbidity from their operations. We discuss the etiology and diagnosis and review the literature of the treatment of acalculus cholecystitis in patients after thermal injury.