Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5730977 The American Journal of Surgery 2017 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

BackgroundCholecystectomy is the standard of care in acute cholecystitis (AC). Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an effective alternative for high-risk surgical cases.MethodsA retrospective analysis is presented of AC patients treated with PC drainage at a single tertiary institution over a 21 month period, assessing outcome and complications.ResultsOf 119 patients, 103 had clinical improvement after PC insertion. There were 7 peri-procedural deaths (5.9%), all in elderly high-risk cases. Overall, 56/103 cases (54%) were definitively managed with PC drainage with 41 patients (40%) undergoing an elective cholecystectomy (75% performed laparoscopically). The timing of PC insertion did not affect AC resolution or drain-related complications, although more patients underwent an elective cholecystectomy if PC placement was delayed (>24 h after admission).ConclusionsIn AC, drainage by a PC catheter is a safe and effective procedure. It may be used either as a bridge to elective cholecystectomy or in selected cases as definitive therapy.

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