Gallbladder Disease

First Things First (assess & treat for the following)

• A wide spectrum of biliary tract diseases can be seen in the ICU.
• Presentations can range from mildly abnormal blood chemistries (i.e., usually liver function tests)
• Biliary diseases can complicate other ICU admission diagnoses.
• History of cholelithiasis?
• History of hepatic disease?
• Is the patient septic?
• Are there signs of biliary obstruction that might require urgent biliary decompression?
• Is there support for urgent surgical or endoscopic intervention?