Acute Cholecystitis Presenting With Septic Shock as the First Presentation in an Elderly Patient

Gangrenous cholecystitis (GC), a severe complication of acute cholecystitis, is associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates than uncomplicated cholecystitis. In this report, we present the case of an 81-year-old female with diabetes mellitus and hypertension who presented in the emergency department complaining of severe generalized abdominal pain for 10 days. The pain was associated with nausea and vomiting. She had septic shock, prompting admission, and was eventually diagnosed with perforated GC. Interventional radiology was conducted, and a cholecystostomy tube was placed under radiology guidance with continuous daily irrigation and intravenous antibiotic coverage for four weeks. Subsequently, the patient’s condition improved, and she was finally discharged.