Background: Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is characterized by acute necrotizing inflammation with no calculi and is diagnosed based on imaging, intraoperative, and pathological examinations.
Key message: Although AAC has been studied clinically for a long time, it remains difficult to diagnose and treat. The pathogenesis of AAC is still not fully understood, and it is often regarded as a relatively independent clinical disease that is different from acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC). Pathological studies suggest that AAC is the manifestation of a critical systemic disease, while ACC is a local disease of the gallbladder.
Summary: Concerning the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of AAC, we reviewed the research progress of AAC, which will enhance the understanding of the early diagnosis and treatment of AAC.
Keywords: Acute acalculous cholecystitis; Critical illness; Decompression treatment; Ischemia-reperfusion injury.
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