Death due to Sepsis in Emphysematous Cholecystitis

ABSTRACT

Emphysematous cholecystitis is an uncommon but life-threatening form of acute cholecystitis that is caused by gas- forming organisms such as Clostridia species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and anaerobic streptococci. Emphysematous cholecystitis frequently affects elderly men, and is associated with diabetes mellitus. The risk of gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder is relatively high in emphysematous cholecystitis patients, and there is a 15% mortality compared with the 4% for acute cholecystitis. We report here a case of emphysematous cholecystitis in a 56-year-old woman, who had diabetes for 10 months. The patient presented with right upper abdominal pain and chills. The abdominal plain film showed a mottled gas pattern in the right upper quadrant. The laboratory value revealed massive intravascular hemolysis. The patient deteriorated rapidly during the course of the evaluation and required cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Despite the attempts to resuscitate the patient, she died 9 hours after the onset of symptoms.