Positive in
Findings equivalent
>8mm in
6-8 weeks later
Charcot's Triad: Fever, Jaundice, RUQ Pain
Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis

Physical
Exam

History

Pain

OLD CARTS

Medical History

Cardiac Fxn

Pulmonary Fxn

Surgical History

Medications

Anticoagulation

Beta Blockers

Chronic Opioids

Chronic steroid use

Allergies

Physical Exam

Heart

Lungs

Abdomen

RUQ Tenderness

Murphy's Sign

Surgical Scars

Labs

CBC

Leukocytosis

CMP

Electrolytes

Liver function

hyperbilirubinemia?

Amylase/Lipase

R/O other pathology

Lactic acid

R/O sepsis

resuscitation adequacy

Urine pregnancy

Female of childbearing age

Imaging

CT scan

Ultrasound

GB wall thickening

Pericholecystic fluid

Stones/Sludge

CBD Diameter

Sonographic Murphy's sign (U/S Only)

HIDA

radionucleotide scan

Gold Standard

Ejection fraction

absence of gallbladder filling @ 60 minutes

used when other findings equivocal

Treatment

Surgery

Antibiotics!

Gram negatives

anaerobes

Open cholecystectomy

Right subcostal incision

longer recovery time

increased post-op pain

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Small incisions

shorter recovery

decrease post-op pain

Cholecystostomy tube

critically ill

mechanically ventilated

need for blood pressure support

norepinephrine

vasopressin

epinephrine

cannot tolerate anesthesia

pulmonary reserve

cardiac function

Symptoms

Asymptomatic

Nausea

Vomiting

Bloating

Pain

Post-prandial

Right upper quadrant

colicky

constant

Right shoulder/back

Jaundice

icterus

skin yellowing

Fever

subjective

chills

diaphoresis

objective

temp >38.5C

Differential
Diagnosis

Biliary colic

symptomatic

asymptomatic

Biliary dyskinesia

Gallbladder ejection fraction

See HIDA scan

cholecystitis

choledocholithiasis

cholangitis

gallstone pancreatitis

gallstone ileus