Who is most likely to develop Acalculous cholecystitis?

• A. Patients with a history of gallstones
• B. Women during pregnancy
• C. ICU patients without gallstones
• D. Patients with abdominal trauma

Answer: (C)

Acalculous cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder that occurs without the presence of gallstones. It is most commonly seen in patients who are critically ill or in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. These patients often have multiple factors contributing to the condition, including prolonged fasting, decreased blood flow to the gallbladder, and the presence of other systemic illnesses, which can lead to bile stasis and subsequent inflammation.

In critically ill patients, there is often a combination of factors such as immobility, altered metabolism, and changes in the normal physiology of the gallbladder, which increase the risk for developing this condition even in the absence of gallstones. Therefore, ICU patients without gallstones are indeed at a higher risk of experiencing acalculous cholecystitis compared to other groups.

The other groups mentioned, such as patients with a history of gallstones, women during pregnancy, and patients with abdominal trauma, are more likely to develop calculous cholecystitis, which is the type associated with the presence of gallstones. While these individuals may have their own risks, they do not specifically increase the likelihood of developing acalculous cholecystitis as significantly as ICU