Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis During Spaceflight

Acute calculous cholecystitis is a common surgical emergency and cholecystectomy is the gold-standard treatment. However, alternative drainage modalities such as percutaneous cholecystostomy tube (PCT) placement have been proposed for poor surgical candidates or in remote environments, such as space. We reviewed the literature to assess the theoretical utility of PCT to treat acute cholecystitis during long-duration spaceflight or on the Moon or Mars.

A systematic review of 16 peer-reviewed articles published since 2018 was completed to describe the terrestrial efficacy of PCT placement for acute calculous cholecystitis.

The mean initial clinical success rate after PCT was 89.9% (range 82.2-100.0%). Duration of indwelling PCT ranged from median 6 to 58 d. Mean rate of recurrent cholecystitis was 15.8% (range 5.0-36.4%). A mean 35.6% of patients (range 18.0-61.0%) required interval cholecystectomy. Mean 30-d mortality was 9.6% (range 5.8-14.0%). A mean 18.6% of patients (range 7.2-30.0%) required repeat percutaneous intervention due to PCT placement complications.

While PCT achieves high rates of early resolution of cholecystitis, the long-term outcomes after PCT are relatively poor, with risk of recurrent cholecystitis, need for cholecystectomy, and frequent postprocedural complications requiring repeat procedural interventions. In cislunar space, the return to Earth for cholecystectomy following PCT may be achieved, eliminating some of these concerns. However, with long-duration space travel such as a mission to Mars, PCT is likely inadequate for the long-term treatment of cholecystitis. Prophylactic cholecystectomy, developing surgical capabilities in space, or preflight screening ultrasound for cholelithiasis should be seriously considered for long-duration spaceflight. Lazow SP, Siu M, Brown L, Kamine TH. Percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis during spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(10):771-776.