FOCAL TRANSMURAL NECROSIS OF THE GALLBLADDER WITH BLEEDING RESULTING IN A MASSIVE HEMOPERITONEUM

A case of massive haemoperitoneum as a complication of focal transmura l necrosis of the gallbladder with bleeding during acute cholecystitis is reported. Urgent laparotomy and cholecystectomy was performed to s ecure an adequate haemostasis. A review of the literature confirmed th at this condition is a very rare complication of acute cholecystitis. Only 44 similar cases have been reported between 1858 and 1996. In our case, bleeding was caused by the edges of a necrotic zone in the gall bladder wall.