The results of cholecystostomy for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

Six of 22 patients with acute cholecystitis who had a cholecystosomy died. All six deaths were attributed to cholangitis, none of the patients had undergone common bile duct decompression at the time of cholecystosomy. Cholecystostomy must be accompanied by choledochotomy in the treatment of acute suppurative cholangitis. Cholecystostomy is a safe procedure, can be performed rapidly, and is recommended in a select group of patients with acute cholangitis without jaundice or for clinical signs of cholangitis.