Objective and methods: The treatment of acute cholecystitis or angiocholitis is often difficult in elderly or very ill patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy and the results of ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with acute cholecystitis or biliary tract obstruction and anesthetic or surgical contraindications.
Results: Thirty patients (25-93 years, 16 men and 14 women) were included in this study. Ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy was successful on the septic syndrome in 27 patients; endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 6 patients after clinical improvement. A failure of the procedure on sepsis was observed in 3 patients: cholecystectomy was performed after cardiac improvement in one patient, and 2 patients died. Two other patients died of extradigestive diseases. No serious complication related to cholecystostomy was observed.
Conclusion: Ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy is a safe and simple procedure. It can be done at bedside and has low morbidity and mortality. It can be considered as a definitive treatment, or a temporary one with secondary surgical or endoscopic management.