Gallbladder perforation and bile leakage: percutaneous treatment

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Interventional Radiology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Gallbladder perforation and bile leaks are severe complications leading to bile peritonitis.
• Traditional management often involves invasive surgical procedures.
• Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly explored for abdominal emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage for gallbladder perforation and bile leaks.
• To assess the safety and outcomes of this minimally invasive approach.

Main Methods:

• Percutaneous catheter drainage was employed in four patients with bile peritonitis.
• Three patients had spontaneous gallbladder perforation due to cholelithiasis.
• One patient had an iatrogenic bile leak post-gallstone dissolution therapy; drainage utilized cholecystostomy or subhepatic sump catheters.

Main Results:

• Successful treatment of bile peritonitis was achieved in all four patients via percutaneous drainage.
• No significant complications were reported during or after the drainage procedures.
• One patient underwent elective cholecystectomy one month post-drainage; the other three remained asymptomatic at extended follow-up (up to 59 months).

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous catheter drainage is a viable and effective temporary treatment for gallbladder perforation and bile leakage.
• This method provides successful decompression and management of bile peritonitis with a favorable safety profile.
• Further investigation into percutaneous drainage as a primary or adjunctive therapy is warranted.