ULTRASOUND AS A FIRST LINE INVESTIGATION OF CHOICE IN DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE CHOLICYSTITIS

Aim: Aim of our study to diagnose acute cholicystitis on ultrasound as a first line investigation to prevent patient from developing complications like duct obstruction, perforation and gangrenous gallbladder due to impaction of stones in the ducts. Material & Methods: Ultrasound is the method of choice for detection for the detection of gall bladder pathology , sonologically it can best be appreciated / comment on gallbladder wall (increased when above 3.5mm), lumen, impaction of stones in lumen and fluid around gallbladder. Total of 20 patients in month of October, 2018 were included who came from emergency, OPD and ward to Radiology department of Medicare Cardiac & General hospital with complaints of right hypochondriac/ epigastric pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. Results: out of total of 20 patients , all had complaint of right upper hypochondrial pain. Sixteen patients(80%) two had thickened wall with stones (10%) one had thickened wall, fluid around gallbladder(5%) with stones and one patients ultrasound image showed contracted gallbladder due to chronic cholecystitis (5%). Two patients had cholecystitis without stones. Conclusion: Ultrasound has been a most useful tool for detecting gallbladder pathology such as acute cholecystitis with or without cholithiasis with accuracy.