[Percutaneous drainage of the gallbladder in acute cholecystitis]

Percutaneous cholecystostomy has replaced surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis in surgical high-risk and critically ill patients. We wished to assess the procedures performed at Lillehammer County Hospital. We report 32 drainages performed in the last three years. Clinical records and radiological reports were reviewed retrospectively. Technical problems and complications during and after the procedure were recorded. In spite of relatively few procedures per radiologist, all were initially successful. No serious complications related to the procedure were encountered. Dislocation of the catheter occurred in 5 out of 32 drainages. This corresponds well to earlier reports. We conclude that percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute cholecystitis is a safe procedure in this group of high-risk patients at our hospital.