A new catheter design for percutaneous cholecystostomy

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Acute cholecystitis requires prompt gallbladder decompression.
• Percutaneous cholecystostomy is an alternative to surgery for gallbladder drainage.
• Existing catheters may face challenges with dislodgement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel percutaneous cholecystostomy catheter.
• To assess the feasibility of using portable sonographic guidance for catheter placement.
• To refine the catheter design to prevent dislodgement.

Main Methods:

• A specifically designed catheter was inserted into the gallbladders of 17 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis.
• Catheter placement was guided by portable sonography in most cases.
• The catheter was modified with a Cope loop to prevent migration after initial dislodgement in one patient.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed successfully in all 17 patients without immediate complications.
• One catheter dislodged inadvertently, leading to a design modification.
• The modified catheter with a Cope loop demonstrated improved retention and maneuverability.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous cholecystostomy using the novel, sonographically detectable catheter is a safe and effective procedure for acute cholecystitis.
• Portable sonographic guidance facilitates accurate catheter placement.
• Catheter modifications, such as the Cope loop, enhance procedural success by preventing dislodgement.