ROSH Gastrointestinal Practice Exam

Which of the following is a potential complication of untreated cholecystitis?

1. Pancreatitis

2. Bowel obstruction

3. Gallbladder rupture

4. Esophageal varices

The correct answer is: Gallbladder rupture

Untreated cholecystitis can lead to several complications, one of the most serious being gallbladder rupture. When inflammation of the gallbladder becomes severe and is left untreated, the wall of the gallbladder can weaken and eventually perforate. This rupture can result in the spillage of bile into the peritoneal cavity, which can lead to peritonitis, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention. In contrast, while pancreatitis could occur in some scenarios involving gallstones that obstruct the pancreatic duct, it is not directly caused by untreated cholecystitis itself. Bowel obstruction generally occurs from other gastrointestinal pathologies, such as adhesions or tumors, rather than as a direct result of cholecystitis. Esophageal varices are related to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, which are not complications of cholecystitis. Thus, gallbladder rupture is the most relevant and direct complication of untreated cholecystitis among the options presented.