BACKGROUND: Gallbladder torsion is a rare entity of acute abdomen that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. It presents in a multitude of ways but the most common is a presentation similar to acute cholecystitis. Diagnosis can be made clinically by abdominal ultrasound with Doppler flow, and treatment is detorsion with cholecystectomy.

CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old female presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, bilious vomiting, and loose stools. An initial diagnosis of gastroenteritis was made, however, the patient did not respond to symptomatic treatment and continued having pain, nausea and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound revealed signs of acute cholecystitis and the patient underwent an open cholecystectomy where the gallbladder was found to be black, gangrenous, and voluminous due to torsion. Detorsion and cholecystectomy were performed without any complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder torsion is a rare entity of acute abdomen that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Gallbladder torsion should be a part of the differential diagnosis of any patient presenting with an acute abdomen and unusual symptoms of acute cholecystitis.

Keywords: Cholecystectomy, Cholecystitis, gallbladder diseases, Abdomen, Acute, Abdominal Pain, Diagnosis, Differential, Torsion Abnormality