Multiseptate Gallbladder in a Patient with Biliary Dyskinesia

Biliary dyskinesia due to a multiseptate gallbladder has been rarely described in literature. Septations within the lumen of the gallbladder can lead to bile resistance, causing symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The majority of cases are due to congenital malformation during the development of the gallbladder. Ultrasound (US) is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis, although other imaging techniques can be used for confirmation. We present the case of a 60-year-old female who presented to the emergency room (ER) with biliary pain due to septations in the lumen of her gallbladder.

P048: Brief online educational intervention improves emergency physicians’ and general surgeon's ability to interpret focused gallbladder ultrasound

Introduction: Biliary colic is a frequent cause for emergency department visits. Ultrasound is the initial test of choice for gallstone disease. We evaluated the effectiveness of a brief online educational module aimed to improve Emergency Physicians’ (EP) and General Surgeons’ (GS) accuracy in interpreting gallbladder ultrasound. Methods: EPs and GSs (resident/fellow and attending) from a single academic tertiary care hospital were invited to participate in a pre- and post- assessment of the interpretation of gallbladder ultrasound. Demographic information was obtained in a standardized survey. All questions developed for the pre- and post- assessment were reviewed for content and clarity by 3 EP and GS experts. Participants were asked 22 multiple-choice questions and then directed to a 7-minute video-tutorial on gallbladder ultrasound interpretation. After a 3-week period, participants then completed a post-intervention assessment. Following pre- and post- assessment, participants were surveyed on their confidence in gallbladder ultrasound interpretation. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: The overall response rate of the pre-intervention was 50.9% (116/228) and 40.8% (93/228) for the post-intervention. In pre-intervention assessment, 27.7% of participants reported they were “not at all confident” in interpreting gallbladder ultrasound. This contrasted with post-intervention confidence level, where only minority (7.8%) reported “not at all confident”. There was a significant increase from the pre- to post- intervention (75.7% to 85.4%; p < 0.01) in correct interpretations. The greatest improvement was seen in those with previous experience interpreting gallbladder ultrasound (from 79.6% to 91.1%; p < 0.01). EPs scored significantly higher than GSs in the pre-intervention (EPs 78.2% compared to GSs 71.0%; p < 0.01). This trend was also observed in post-intervention, although the difference was no longer significant (EPs 88.9% compared to GSs 82.8%; p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in performance between residents/fellows compared to attendings. Conclusion: This brief, online intervention improved the accuracy of EPs’ and GSs’ interpretation of gallbladder ultrasound. This is an easily accessible tutorial that can be used as part of a comprehensive ultrasound educational program. Further studies are required to determine if EPs’ and GSs’ interpretations of gallbladder ultrasound impacts patient-oriented outcomes.

Leclercia adecarboxylata Cholecystitis with Septic Shock in Immunocompetent Patient

L. adecarboxylata is a Gram-negative rod previously named Escherichia adecarboxylata, isolated as normal flora in the gut of animals including human stool. Most reported cases refer to immunocompromised patients with polymicrobial infections and water environments. Here we present a case of 51-year-old immunocompetent female presented with nausea, vomiting, malaise, and subjective fever for few days. On examination, she was drowsy but arousable and oriented to person, place, time, and situation. Her abdomen was tender globally and more tender in the epigastric area. Vitals showed a temperature of 37°C, pulse of 110 beats/min, blood pressure of 75/50 mmHg, and oxygen saturation of 91% on room air. An HIV panel and hepatitis panel were negative. Liver and gallbladder ultrasound was performed, revealing multiple nonmobile stones with shadowing noted within the gallbladder sac, a thickened gallbladder wall, and a moderate amount of pericholecystic fluid. Broad spectrum antibiotics, crystalloid fluids, and vasopressors were initiated. A few hours after admission she developed respiratory failure for which she underwent endotracheal intubation. An ultrasound guided gallbladder drain was performed. Culture of the biliary fluid yielded pure growth of pan-sensitive L. adecarboxylata; antibiotics were narrowed accordingly. The patient was on the maximum doses of vasopressin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine with a blood pressure of 75/45 and a mean arterial pressure of 51. She passed away on the fourth day of admission.

Significance of Preoperative Ultrasound Measurement of Gallbladder Wall Thickness

Evaluation of patients with signs and symptoms of biliary tract disease usually includes ultrasound assessment of the gallbladder. Does measurement of the thickness of the gallbladder wall yield any significant information to the clinical surgeon? The records of all my patients undergoing cholecystectomy since 1990 were reviewed. The entire series consists of 401 consecutive patients, in whom 388 procedures were completed laparoscopically, with 14 patients requiring conversion to an open cholecystectomy. Each patient's preoperative evaluation included a gallbladder ultrasound, which included measurement of the diameter of the gallbladder wall. The entire series of cholecystectomies was evaluated according to the ultrasound measured diameter of the gallbladder wall. A thin gallbladder wall was less than 3 mm in diameter. A thick gallbladder wall was 3 mm or greater in diameter. Of the 401 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder disease, 86 (21.5%) were removed laparoscopically for acalculous disease. Eleven per cent of patients with acalculous cholecystitis had acute cholecystitis and 89 per cent had chronic cholecystitis. Every patient with either a thin or thick gallbladder wall with acalculous cholecystitis had a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Three-hundred fifteen patients had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for calculous cholecystitis. In patients with calculous cholecystitis, 28.3 per cent had acute cholecystitis and 71.7 per cent had chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder wall was found to be greater than 3 mm in 38 per cent of patients with acute calculous cholecystitis and greater than 3 mm in 41 per cent of patients with chronic calculous cholecystitis. One-hundred, forty-two patients, out of a series total of 401, had a gallbladder wall thickness greater than 3 mm by preoperative sonography and 14 of these patients (10%) required conversion to an open cholecystectomy. A preoperative gallbladder ultrasound evaluation for symptomatic cholecystitis, which documents a thick gallbladder wall (≥3 mm) with calculi, is a clinical warning for the laparoscopic surgeon of the potential for a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure which may require conversion to an open cholecystectomy procedure.