A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 3-hour history of severe, colicky right upper quadrant abdominal pain radiating to the back. She also has associated nausea, vomiting, and a low-grade fever. On physical examination, she is tachycardic, with tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Murphy sign is positive. Laboratory findings show: WBCs 14,000/μL, ALP 120 IU/L, bilirubin 1.1 mg/dL. Abdominal ultrasound shows a gallbladder wall thickness of 5mm and pericholecystic fluid. Which of the following is the next best step in management?
Administer intravenous antibiotics and observe
Initiate intravenous fluids and discharge home with follow-up in 48 hours
Obtain a CT scan of the abdomen
Perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy
