Percutaneous cholecystostomy: techniques and applications

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a critical condition requiring immediate medical attention and treatment and is one of the most frequently encountered acute abdomen emergencies in surgical practice, requiring hospitalization. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the favored treatment for patients with AC who are fit for surgery. However, in high-risk patients considered poor surgical candidates, percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) has been suggested and employed as a safe and reliable alternative option. PC is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical, image-guided intervention that drains and decompresses the gallbladder, thereby preventing its perforation and sepsis. It can act as a bridge to surgery, but it may also serve as a definitive treatment for some patients. The goal of this review is to familiarize physicians with PC and, more importantly, its applications and techniques, pre- and post-procedural considerations, and adverse events.