Percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND

Cholecystectomy remains the best treatment for acute cholecystitis but may cause high morbidity or mortality in critically ill or elderly patients.

METHODS

We report a retrospective study of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (USGPC) performed between 1988 and 1994 in 41 patients (mean age, 77.8 years; range, 42-95 years) as an alternative to surgery.

RESULTS

Five patients (12.2%) died in the hospital, four (9.8%) subsequently underwent operation without complications, six (15%) had a recurrence of cholecystitis between 3 and 24 months after withdrawal of drainage, and 26 patients are cured without recurrence after a mean follow-up of 33 months (range, 3-67 months).

CONCLUSIONS

USGPC appears to be the treatment of choice for high-risk patients, especially those with postoperative cholecystitis, severe acute calculous pancreatitis, or total parenteral nutrition.