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Colecistite aguda

Evidence last reviewed: 22 Jun 2026
Topic last updated: 09 Jan 2026

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • episódio prévio de dor biliar
  • dor no quadrante superior direito
  • sinal de Murphy positivo
  • massa abdominal
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • dor no ombro direito
  • anorexia
  • náuseas
  • febre
  • vômitos
  • icterícia
Full details

Risk factors

  • cálculos biliares
  • doença grave
  • nutrição parenteral total (NPT)
  • diabetes
  • sedentarismo
  • baixo consumo de fibras
  • trauma
  • queimaduras graves
  • uso de ceftriaxona
  • uso de ciclosporina
  • embolização arterial hepática
  • infecções
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • Hemograma completo
  • proteína C-reativa
  • TFHs
  • ultrassonografia do quadrante superior direito
Full details

Tests to consider

  • colecintigrafia (ácido iminodiacético hepatobiliar [HIDA])
  • tomografia computadorizada (TC) abdominal
  • ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) abdominal
  • radiografia abdominal
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

leve (grau I): estável, sem sinais de perfuração/gangrena

moderada (grau II): estável, com sinais de perfuração/gangrena

grave (grau III): suspeita de gangrena/perfuração ou evidência de disfunção orgânica

Contributors

Authors

Charles Bellows, MD

Professor of Surgery

University of New Mexico

School of Medicine

Albuquerque

NM

Disclosures

CB is an author of one study referenced in this topic. CB declares that he has no other competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Satyajit Bhattacharya, LVO, MB, MS, MPhil, FRCS

Consultant Surgeon

HPB Surgery Unit

The Royal London Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

SB declares that he has no competing interests.

Stefano Guandalini, MD

Professor of Pediatrics

Chief

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

SG declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Yokoe M, Hata J, Takada T, et al. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholecystitis (with videos). J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2018 Jan;25(1):41-54.Full text  Abstract

Pisano M, Allievi N, Gurusamy K, et al. 2020 World Society of Emergency Surgery updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute calculus cholecystitis. World J Emerg Surg. 2020 Nov 5;15(1):61.Full text  Abstract

Gomi H, Solomkin JS, Schlossberg D, et al. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: antimicrobial therapy for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2018 Jan;25(1):3-16.Full text  Abstract

Mayumi T, Okamoto K, Takada T, et al. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2018 Jan;25(1):96-100.Full text  Abstract

Wakabayashi G, Iwashita Y, Hibi T, et al. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: surgical management of acute cholecystitis: safe steps in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (with videos). J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2018 Jan;25(1):73-86.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Colecistite aguda images
  • Differentials

    • Colangite aguda
    • Colecistite crônica
    • Úlcera péptica
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • ACR appropriateness criteria: right upper quadrant pain
    • TG18 flowchart for the management of acute cholecystitis
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Cálculos biliares

    More Patient information
  • Videos

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