Acalculous Cholecystitis: The Unexpected Mask of De Novo Heart Failure

Abstract

ABSTRACT Acute acalculous cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder without the presence of gallstones or obstruction of the cystic duct. Heart failure is recognized for causing congestive hepatopathy and can lead to gallbladder swelling, often challenging to distinguish from acalculous cholecystitis. Here, we present a case of a patient whose symptoms initially resembled acalculous cholecystitis but were instead caused by acute severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Maintaining a broad differential diagnosis, including decompensated heart failure, is essential when evaluating cases resembling acalculous cholecystitis.

Keywords

• acalculous cholecystitis
• cardiogenic shock
• case report
• heart failure