[Percutaneous cholecystostomy in non-surgical patients]. / Cholécystostomie percutanée chez le patient inopérable.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and complications of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in non-surgical patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 25 cases (16 males and 9 females) of PC. The average age was 82 years (range 59-95). Eight had acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) and 17 had acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC). US-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in most cases; CT-guidance was required in 5 cases. RESULTS: One technical failure and one complication (abdominal wall hematoma) occurred. PC was successful for sepsis control in 21 patients (5 AAC and 16 ACC) delayed cholecystectomy was performed in one patient, and one patient had recurrent acute cholecystitis at one month that responded to medical management. For the 4 remaining patients 1 corresponded to the technical failure, and failure of sepsis control was observed in the 3 others patients (2 AAC, 1 ACC). PC was the definitive treatment or resulted in sepsis control in 84% of cases. PC was the definitive treatment, without recurrence, in 76% of cases. CONCLUSION: US or CT guided percutaneous cholecystostomy is an effective treatment, with a low rate of complication, in elderly or critically ill patients. PC can be used as a definitive treatment or as a temporizing measure in critically ill patients allowing for delayed definitive surgical/endoscopic management.