Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute cholecystitis and common duct obstruction.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 36 patients, of whom 22 patients with acute cholecystitis had decompression of the gallbladder and 14 patients with common duct obstruction had biliary decompression through the gallbladder. In almost all cases of acute cholecystitis, percutaneous cholecystostomy quickly confirmed the diagnosis and brought relief. Bile leakage occurred in one patient when catheter placement was performed under ultrasonic guidance alone; subsequent procedures were performed in a single step using an "accordion" catheter under fluoroscopic control following ultrasound localization. This technique has proved to be useful as both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.