Choleperitoneum secondary to isolated subserosal gallbladder injury due to blunt abdominal trauma – A case report

Abstract

When dealing with rare traumatic injuries, surgeons might have difficulty diagnosing them and choosing the most appropriate management when no consensus exist on the best course of action. In such circumstances, drawing on the experience of colleagues can be of great value. Traumatic injuries of the gallbladder are unusual and might not be readily identifiable neither in imaging studies nor during surgery. Retrograde cholangiography plays an important role in correctly diagnosing these injuries and guiding decision-making. We report a case of a subserosal perforation due to blunt trauma to the abdomen, which was identified intraoperatively after a transcystic retrograde cholangiogram was performed and managed successfully with formal cholecystectomy.

Keywords

• Gallbladder
• Wounds and injuries
• Biliary fistula
• Nonpenetrating wound
• Peritonitis
• Cholangiography