Percutaneous cholecystostomy: A simple bridge to surgery or an alternative option for the management of acute cholecystitis?

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an alternative among high-risk surgical patients or those with multiple comorbidities, but its indications have not been clearly established in the literature. The aim of this paper is to provide the reader with an updated review of the literature summarizing what is known on this topic.

Data sources: We reviewed articles from 1979 to 2016 using the PubMed/Medline Database on PC and especially those evaluating this option as a bridge to surgery.

Conclusions: There remains a paucity of randomized control trials to ascertain the use of PC as a definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis. In most studies, more than 50% of patients underwent PC as a definite treatment without subsequent cholecystectomy. A newer avenue of endoscopic ultrasound is also discussed, which requires rigorous trials to determine its appropriate applications.

Keywords: Cholecystitis; Gallbladder drainage; Interventional radiology; Percutaneous cholecystostomy; Ultrasound-guided procedure.