Ultra sound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy

Ultrasound guided percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 11 patients. In 9 cases there was surgical jaundice due to obstruction of the common bile duct and in 2 cases it was done for empyema of the gall bladder. The placement of a catheter in the gall bladder was successful in all cases. In one case, due to obstruction of the cystic duct, biliary decompression was not achieved. Bile leak or haemorrhage did not occur in any patient. The technique and results are reported, the possible uses of this procedure are discussed and its potential use in providing access to the biliary tree is highlighted.