Biliary peritonitis in an alcoholic after traumatic rupture of the gallbladder - differential diagnosis to ascites caused by liver cirrhosis

Traumatic rupture of the gallbladder is a very rare event associated with h igh mortality. Since clinical symptoms are nonspecific, diagnosis is diffic ult. We present an alcoholic with biliary ascites after traumatic perforati on of the gallbladder. Initially, he was misdiagnosed to have ascites cause d by liver cirrhosis. This case demonstrates, that the combination of patie nts history, clinical investigation and ultrasound allows the diagnosis of traumatic rupture of the gallbladder.