Image-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy: a comprehensive review.

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Acute cholecystitis (AC) presents with variable severity, often linked to gallstones or critical illness.
• While mild AC is treated medically with early cholecystectomy, moderate to severe cases may preclude surgery due to comorbidities.
• Gallbladder (GB) drainage via minimally invasive methods is crucial for high-risk AC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) for acute cholecystitis.
• To detail the indications, contraindications, techniques, and outcomes of PC.
• To highlight the importance of understanding PC for interventional radiologists managing AC.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and established practices for percutaneous cholecystostomy.
• Analysis of different technical approaches to image-guided gallbladder drainage.
• Evaluation of success rates, complication profiles, and post-procedure catheter management.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an effective image-guided procedure for gallbladder drainage in moderate to severe acute cholecystitis.
• PC offers a viable alternative when cholecystectomy is contraindicated due to patient comorbidities.
• The review details various PC approaches, their associated success, and potential complications.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous cholecystostomy is an essential minimally invasive technique for managing acute cholecystitis in non-surgical candidates.
• Interventional radiologists must possess thorough knowledge of PC techniques, outcomes, and complications.
• Effective management of the cholecystostomy catheter post-recovery is critical for successful patient outcomes.