For a printable PDF of the chart click here.

The finding of gallbladder wall edema (GBWE) in acutely ill patients can be a marker for anaphylaxis, right-sided heart failure, pericardial effusion (PCE), or acute cholecystitis.

Other documented causes include hypoproteinemia, immune-mediated anemia, sepsis, pancreatitis, and post-transfusion (likely immune-mediated; possibly volume overload) and more recently use of alpha-2 agonists, dexmedetomidine – see Blog – may require FASTVet Premium Membership – and study by Seitz et al. JVIM 2021.

Point-of-care ultrasound (Global FAST®) should be used in addition to thorough physical exam and laboratory evaluations to offer the timeliest diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in critical patients. Learn how to assess for the different causes using our chart.

See also our Internal Medicine Blog entitled Ultrasound Assessment of the Gallbladder Wall: An Important Marker in the Acute Setting.