Acute Cholecystitis Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Acute Cholecystitis Market is projected to expand from USD 2.64 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.73 Billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 5.93%. This growth is rooted in the management of acute gallbladder inflammation, a condition primarily triggered by gallstone obstruction of the cystic duct that necessitates urgent diagnosis and treatment. Market expansion is heavily influenced by the escalating incidence of gallstone disease, which is closely tied to an aging global demographic and rising obesity rates, alongside the broader application of minimally invasive surgical options like laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy that enhance patient recovery.

Conversely, a significant hurdle limiting market efficiency is the ambiguity often found in standard imaging results, which can result in treatment delays and higher complication risks. This lack of initial diagnostic clarity represents a substantial gap in the care continuum. Highlighting this issue, the Infectious Diseases Society of America reported in 2024 that the median sensitivity of abdominal ultrasound for detecting suspected acute cholecystitis was only 73%. Such data emphasizes the critical need for superior diagnostic technologies to surpass the constraints of current standard imaging protocols.

Market Drivers

The primary catalyst for market revenue is the growing prevalence of gallstones and related disorders, which directly fuels the global volume of cholecystectomy surgeries. This momentum is further accelerated by lifestyle changes and demographic trends, specifically obesity, which make larger populations susceptible to biliary issues, thereby forcing healthcare systems to expand their acute management capacities. As noted by the National Institutes of Health in an October 2025 systematic review titled 'Estimating global prevalence of gallbladder stones in general population from 2000 to 2024,' the global prevalence of gallstones was determined to be 5.86%, ensuring a steady demand for acute care and underpinning long-term market stability.

In parallel, the shift toward laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy is redefining the therapeutic sector, increasing market value through the deployment of sophisticated surgical tools. These minimally invasive methods are now the gold standard due to their ability to shorten hospital stays and lower complication rates, which facilitates higher procedural volume. For instance, Intuitive Surgical's 'Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results' from January 2025 indicated a 17% year-over-year increase in procedures using da Vinci systems. However, economic considerations persist; an April 2025 American College of Surgeons study revealed that robotic cholecystectomy involves significantly higher disposable costs at $1,309 compared to $534 for traditional laparoscopic methods, delineating a market split between high-volume standard care and premium technological interventions.

Market Challenges

The primary obstacle restricting the Global Acute Cholecystitis Market is the diagnostic uncertainty inherent in conventional imaging techniques. This lack of early precision forms a bottleneck in patient care, frequently leading to hesitation regarding the need for immediate surgery. When primary diagnostic tools like abdominal ultrasound fail to yield clear results, physicians often default to conservative management instead of performing a cholecystectomy, delaying the market's primary revenue-generating procedure and straining healthcare resources through extended hospitalizations.

The consequences of this diagnostic ambiguity are manifested in high treatment failure rates among patients initially treated non-surgically due to inconclusive tests. Data from the American College of Surgeons in 2024 showed that 78% of patients with acute cholecystitis symptoms who were discharged without surgery eventually required emergency readmission for a cholecystectomy. This pattern highlights a major market inefficiency, where the failure to accurately diagnose and treat the condition during the initial visit results in fragmented care and missed therapeutic opportunities, thereby hindering the seamless adoption of surgical solutions and overall market growth.

Market Trends

A significant trend is the rise of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage (EUS-GBD), specifically using Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents (LAMS), as a transformative approach for patients ineligible for surgery. This technique provides a minimally invasive substitute for percutaneous cholecystostomy, catering to high-risk elderly or comorbid patients unable to tolerate standard cholecystectomy, thereby improving quality of life by internalizing drainage. Validating this approach, a February 2024 study in Diagnostics titled 'EUS-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Using a Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent for Acute Cholecystitis' reported a 94% technical success rate for LAMS placement in high-risk groups, establishing it as an effective therapeutic standard.

Concurrently, the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into diagnostic imaging is setting new benchmarks for early and precise detection, addressing the shortcomings of traditional ultrasound. By utilizing machine learning to automate pathology recognition and gallbladder segmentation, medical providers can mitigate inter-operator variability and the low sensitivity associated with standard imaging, facilitating quicker intervention decisions. As reported in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research in February 2024, the application of specific AI models in the study 'Usage of Artificial Intelligence in Gallbladder Segmentation to Diagnose Acute Cholecystitis' achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 84.09%, presenting a superior alternative to the lower sensitivity found in manual ultrasonography.

Key Players Profiled in the Acute Cholecystitis Market

• Boston Scientific Corporation
• Fresenius Kabi AG
• Pfizer Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited
• Merck & Co. Inc.
• Becton, Dickinson and Company
• Simulab Corporation
• AbbVie Inc.
• Fortimedix Surgical BV

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Acute Cholecystitis Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by Type:

• Calculous Acute Cholecystitis v/s Acalculous Acute Cholecystitis

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by Cause:

• Gall Bladder Stones
• Tumor
• Bile Duct Blockage
• Microbial Infection
• Others

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by Diagnostic Procedure:

• Ultrasonography
• Cholescintigraphy
• CT Scan
• ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)
• Others

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by Treatment:

• Surgical v/s Non-Surgical

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by End User:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Others

Acute Cholecystitis Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Acute Cholecystitis Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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