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After analyzing the summed up treatment results in 368 patients with acute cholecystitis, complicated by obstructive jaundice, the inference is reached that it is a matter of a complication, unfavourable in terms of prognosis, with a definite impact on both immediate and long-term therapeutic results. Early operative intervention following intensive preoperative preparation (including ERHPG with endoscopic papillosphincterotomy and ensuing biliary decompression, or echographic percutaneous cholecystectomy) contribute to control the acute inflammatory process in the gallbladder, and preclude the development of liver (or hepato-renal) failure against the background of obstructive jaundice. Proceeding from the severe, irreversible changes in liver and kidney, hardly responding to treatment, and persisting deterioration of the general condition, acute cholecystitis complicated by obstructive jaundice is defined as an emergency life-endangering condition, requiring a priority operative approach.

Based on a comprehensive literature survey, personal experience with the management of 89 patients, presenting acute noncalculous cholecystitis, is shared. All patients are clinically observed in the acute phase of the disease. In 60 cases the latter becomes manifest with recurrent attacks, and in 29 there are no previous signs or symptoms of biliary diseases. Diagnosis is made on the ground of active echographic and clinical observation. Conservative therapy is effective in 28 cases. The remainder (61) are operated at 1 to 4-day intervals after the onset of the disease because of persisting symptomatology and/or deterioration of the patient's condition. During laparotomy the gallbladder presents marked enlargement with thickened, exudate-imbibed wall. Cholecystectomy is done in all 61 cases. In twelve of them, owing to dilatation of the common bile duct and minimal serum bilirubin increase, stenosing papillitis is diagnosed by intraoperative cholangiography, treated by external biliary drainage and endoscopic sphincterotomy, undertaken after improvement of the general condition. Acute inflammation, free of fibrosis, with isolated foci of gangrene and necrosis of the bladder wall are histologically documented. In four senile patients presenting serious concomitant diseases, with exceptionally high operative risk, echographic percutaneous transhepatic cholecystectomy is resorted to, followed by antibiotic bladder instillations with a very good outcome. The summed up results of acute noncalculous cholecystitis treatment are estimated as very good.