Acute distension of the gall bladder in children.

Diseases of the gall bladder in childhood are of great interest. Recently, Forshall and Rickham (1954) and previously Potter (1938) drew attention to cholecystitis associated with gall stones. The majority of such cases do not present as acute emergencies. Fevre (1933) states that diseases of the biliary tract presenting as surgical emergencies are usually a perforation or volvulus of the gall bladder. There is, however, a third lesion which he has encountered, namely, acute distension of the gall bladder. This paper reports two such cases and supports views already held by French surgeons.