Cholecystostomy--an old dog with new tricks.

A large minority of patients having cholecystostomy show cystic duct or common duct stones on postoperative tube cholangiograms. The use of mechanical (Dormia stone basket) and chemical (heparin and sodium cholate) means to remove gallstones via the cholecystostomy fistula reduces the need for additional surgery (ie, cholecystectomy), which is particularly important in poor-risk elderly patients.