Isolated gallbladder perforation in paediatric blunt abdominal injury: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Gallbladder injury in blunt abdominal trauma is rare, around 2% of all abdominal traumas. Vague symptoms and inconclusive imaging make it an elusive diagnosis, more so in children. Only 30 pediatric cases have been reported worldwide till date. We report a case of a 7yrs old boy presenting 2 weeks after a road accident with a gallbladder rupture which was eventually discovered on a diagnostic laparoscopy. This is the second such case being reported from India. The injury is most often identified at exploration and although cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment, there are occasions when the gallbladder may be left in situ. The classification system of Losanoff and Kjossev has merit in guiding treatment. The various presentations, mechanisms and modes of injury have been highlighted along with the clinical and imaging findings. Despite the developments in modern radiology, identifying gallbladder perforation has always been difficult because of the rarity of the condition. In a child with blunt abdominal trauma and intra-abdominal free fluid without any solid organ injury, a diagnostic peritoneal tap may be helpful. Based on the current evidence, we advocate a low threshold for performing a diagnostic laparoscopy in all such cases.