Ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in high-risk patients for surgical intervention

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in a well-defined high risk patients under general anesthesia. METHODS: The data of 27 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy for the management of acute cholecystitis from January 1999 to June 2003 was retrospectively evaluated. All of the patients had both clinical and sonographic signs of acute cholecystitis and had comorbid diseases. RESULTS: Ultrasound revealed gallbladder stones in 25 patients and acalculous cholecystitis in two patients. Cholecystostomy catheters were removed 14-32 d (mean 23 d) after the procedure in cases where complete regression of all symptoms was achieved. There were statistically significant reductions in leukocytosis, (13.7 × 103 ± 1.3 × 103 μg/L vs 13 × 103 ± 1 × 103 μg/L, P < 0.05 for 24 h after PC; 13.7 × 103 ± 1.3 × 103 μg/L vs 8.3 × 103 ± 1.2 × 103 μg/L, P < 0.0001 for 72 h after PC), C -reactive protein (51.2 ± 18.5 mg/L vs 27.3 ± 10.4 mg/L, P < 0.05 for 24 h after PC; 51.2 ± 18.5 mg/L vs 5.4 ± 1.5 mg/L, P < 0.0001 for 72 h after PC), and fever (38 ± 0.35℃ vs 37.3 ± 0.32℃, P < 0.05 for 24 h after PC; 38 ± 0.35℃ vs 36.9 ± 0.15℃, P < 0.0001 for 72 h after PC). Sphincterotomy and stone extraction was performed successfully with endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in three patients. After cholecystostomy, 5 (18%) patients underwent delayed cholecystectomy without any complications. Three out of 22 patients were admitted with recurrent acute cholecystitis during the follow-up and recoveredwith medical treatment. Catheter dislodgement occurred in three patients spontaneously, and two of them were managed by reinsertion of the catheter. CONCLUSION: As an alternative to surgery, percutan- eous cholecystostomy seems to be a safe method in critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis and can be performed with low mortality and morbidity. Delayed cholecystectomy and ERCP, if needed, can be performed after the acute period has been resolved by percutaneous cholecystostomy.

Efficacy and safety of conversion of percutaneous cholecystostomy to endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting in high-risk surgical patients

Background:Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting(ETGBS)has been used as an alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with acute cholecystitis who are considered unfit for surgery.However,there are few data on the efficacy and safety of ETGBS replacement of percutaneous cholecystostomy in high-risk surgical patients.This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility,efficacy,and safety of ETGBS to replace percutaneous cholecystostomy in high-risk surgical patients.Methods:This single center retrospective study reviewed the data of patients who attempted ETGBS to replace percutaneous cholecystostomy between January 2017 and September 2019.The technical success,clinical success,adverse events,and stent patency were evaluated.Results:ETGBS was performed in 43 patients(24 male,mean age 80.7±7.4 years)to replace percutaneous cholecystostomy due to high surgical risk.The technical success rate and clinical success rate were 97.7%(42/43)and 90.5%(38/42),respectively.Procedure-related adverse events and stent-related late adverse events occurred in 7.0%(3/43)and 11.6%(5/43),respectively.Of the patients who successfully underwent ETGBS(n=42),only one had recurrent acute cholecystitis during follow-up.The median stent patency was 415 days(interquartile range 240–528 days).Conclusions:ETGBS,as a secondary intervention for the purpose of internalizing gallbladder drainage in patients following placement of a percutaneous cholecystostomy,is safe,effective,and technically feasible.Thus,conversion of percutaneous cholecystostomy to ETGBS may be considered as a viable option in high-risk surgical patients.

Call for action:Increased healthcare utilization with growing use of percutaneous cholecystectomy tube over initial cholecystectomy in cirrhotics

Background:Acute calculous cholecystitis(ACC)is frequently seen in cirrhotics,with some being poor candidates for initial cholecystectomy.Instead,these patients may undergo percutaneous cholecystostomy tube(PCT)placement.We studied the healthcare utilization and predictors of cholecystectomy and PCT in patients with ACC.Methods:The National Database was queried to study all cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics with ACC between 2010-2014 who underwent initial PCT(with or without follow-up cholecystectomy)or cholecystectomy.Cirrhotic patients were divided into compensated and decompensated cirrhosis.Independent predictors and outcomes of initial PCT and failure to undergo subsequent cholecystectomy were studied.Results:Out of 919189 patients with ACC,13283(1.4%)had cirrhosis.Among cirrhotics,cholecystec-tomy was performed in 12790(96.3%)and PCT in the remaining 493(3.7%).PCT was more frequent in cirrhotics(3.7%)than in non-cirrhotics(1.4%).Multivariate analyses showed increased early readmis-sions[odds ratio(OR)=2.12,95%confidence interval(CI):1.43-3.13,P<0.001],length of stay(effect ratio=1.39,95%CI:1.20-1.61,P<0.001),calendar-year hospital cost(effect ratio=1.34,95%CI:1.28-1.39,P<0.001)and calendar-year mortality(hazard ratio=1.89,95%CI:1.07-3.29,P=0.030)in cir-rhotics undergoing initial PCT compared to cholecystectomy.Decompensated cirrhosis(OR=2.25,95%CI:1.67-3.03,P<0.001)had the highest odds of getting initial PCT.Cirrhosis,regardless of compensated(OR=0.56,95%CI:0.34-0.90,P=0.020)or decompensated(OR=0.28,95%CI:0.14-0.59,P<0.001),reduced the chances of getting a subsequent cholecystectomy.Conclusions:Cirrhotic patients undergo fewer cholecystectomy incurring initial PCT instead.Moreover,the rates of follow-up cholecystectomy are lower in cirrhotics.Increased healthcare utilization is seen with initial PCT amongst cirrhotic patients.This situation reflects suboptimal management of ACC in cirrhotics and a call for action.

Percutaneous Cholecystomy Guided by Ultrasound for Acute Cholecystitis in High-risk Aged Patients

Objective The aim of the present study was to assess experience with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in high risk aged patients with presumed acute cholecystitis. Methods\ PC was performed by transhepatic route under local anaesthesia guided by ultrasonography cholecystostomy catheters. The catheters used include the Cope loop(produced by Japan hakko). Results\ PC was performed successfully in all 18 patients, without immediate procedural or technical complications. Symptoms and clinical signs of cholecystitis resolved within 24 48 h after the procedures in all but one patient. Conclusion\ PC is a cost effective ,mini invasive, and reliable alternative to surgical placement of cholecystostomy tubes in critically ill patient. This study also can be used in hepatic abscess, obstructive jaundice and necrostic pancreatitis caused by stone or tumor.\;

Chemical ablation of the gallbladder using alcohol in cholecystitis after palliative biliary stenting

Chemical ablation of the gallbladder is effective in patients at high risk of complications after surgery. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage is an effective treatment for cholecystitis; however, when the drain tube cannot be removed because of recurrent symptoms, retaining it can cause problems. An 82-year-old woman presented with cholecystitis and cholangitis caused by biliary stent occlusion and suspected tumor invasion of the cystic duct. We present successful chemical ablation of the gallbladder using pure alcohol, through a percutaneous gallbladder drainage tube, in a patient who developed intractable cholecystitis with obstruction of the cystic duct after receiving a biliary stent. Our results suggest that chemical ablation therapy is an effective alternative to surgical therapy for intractable cholecystitis.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided gallbladder drainage - is it ready for prime time？

Management of acute cholecystitis includes initial sta-bilization and antibiotics. However, the most definitive treatment is cholecystectomy. A small percentage of patients who are not suitable for surgery due to the severity of cholecystitis or comorbidities will require a temporary measure as a bridge to surgery or permanent nonoperative management to decrease the mortality and morbidity. Most of these patients who require conservative management were managed with percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy or trans-papillary drainage of gallbladder drainage with cystic duct stenting through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography （ERCP）. Although, these conservative measures are effective, they can cause signifcant discomfort to the patients especially if used as a long-term measure. In view of this, there is a need for further minimally invasive procedures, which is safe, effective and comfortable to patients. Endoscopic ultrasound （EUS） guided gallbladder drainage is a novel method of gallbladder drainage frst described in 2007[1]. Over the last decade, EUS guided gallbladder drainage has evolved as an effective alternative to percutaneouscholecystostomy and trans-papillary gallbladder drai-nage. Our goal is to review available literature regarding the scope of EUS guided gallbladder drainage as a viable alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy or cystic duct stenting through ERCP among patients who are not suitable for cholecystectomy.