An Unusual Presentation of Acute Cholecystitis due to a Gallbladder Volvulus in a Young Female: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The gallbladder volvulus is a rare entity of acute abdomen and a life-threatening condition that requires urgent surgery. The etiology of gallbladder volvulus is still unclear, and there is intraoperative evidence of a floating gallbladder that leads to a twisting of its pedicle, thus causing gallbladder ischemia and necrosis. Gallbladder volvulus is more frequently encounter in elderly females. We report a case of a 27-year-old female who presented with a clinical manifestation consistent with acute cholecystitis. Radiologic finding demonstrated displacement of the gallbladder body and fundus from the gallbladder fossa into the gastrohepatic recess. An emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, and intraoperative findings revealed a gangrenous free-floating gallbladder that displaced to the dorsal sector of the left lobe liver. The critical view of safety was able to identify clearly and the gallbladder was removed safely with laparoscopic approach. While many previous cases have been reported, diagnosis of gallbladder volvulus remains difficult especially in young adults. Prompt diagnosis and surgery in cases of acute cholecystitis due to gallbladder volvulus are important to avoid gallbladder necrosis and perforation and result in a good outcome.