Acute acalculous cholecystitis: Treatment criteria [Colecistiti acute alitiasiche: criteri di trattamento]

Acute acalculous cholecystitis are considered physiopathological and clinical entities completely independent of lithiasic cholecystitis. The authors review the literature, present the main epidemiological, physiopathological, diagnostic and clinical features of AAC and consider their experience regarding 12 cases in the period from January 1985 to December 1990. As reported in the literature, the risk factors for AAC are old age, concomitant medical diseases and accidental or iatrogenic trauma. Abdominal echography in the first choice diagnostic technique; Computed tomography can confirm doubtful ultrasonic results. Finally the authors, in order to select those patients who need early surgical treatment, identify as predictive factors for an unfavourable evolution of ACC, old age, concomitant medical diseases and severity of clinical presentation.