Percutaneous cholecystostomy as a definitive treatment for moderate and severe acute acalculous cholecystitis: a retrospective observational study

Part 1: Current Concepts in Radiologic Imaging and Intervention in Acute Cholecystitis

Acute calculous cholecystitis and acute acalculous cholecystitis are encountered commonly among critically ill, often elderly, patients. Multidisciplinary management of these conditions is essential, with intensivists, surgeons, diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, infectious disease physicians, gastroenterologists, and endoscopists able to contribute to patient care. In this article intended predominantly for intensivists, we will review the imaging findings and radiologic treatment of critically ill patients with acute calculous cholecystitis and acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Percutaneous Cholecystostomy to Manage a Hot Gallbladder: A Single Center Experience

Objective A percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is a suitable option for treating acutely inflamed gallbladders. Its use has been postulated before for treating acute cholecystitis (AC), especially in elderly populations. The primary aim of our study is to analyze and present the positive results of PC as a bridge to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods All patients who underwent PC at our hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, GBR, from October 2020 were reviewed using a retrospective approach. Results Our study comprises 123 patients, with 72 females (58.5%) and 51 males (41.4%). In our study, many patients had significant comorbidities, and some of them were categorized as high-risk due to their frailty and medical conditions. The majority of the patients were in American Society of Anaesthesiologists' (ASA) groups II and III (45, 61), respectively. Though hospital stays can depend on variable factors, in our experience, the mean hospital length of stay was 12.7 days. In our study, 119 patients (96.8%) had the procedure through the interventional radiological approach, while only four patients had it through the laparoscopic approach. The transhepatic route for drainage was more commonly practiced at our center and was used in 108 patients. At the time of writing this article, 54 patients have already had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) done as an interval procedure after surpassing the acute attack of cholecystitis, while 42 patients are still awaiting their surgical procedure. Conclusion Our results show that PC is a viable option, especially in cases of AC that are not responding to conservative treatments. Our study has shown low complications and conversion rates after PC. We believe PC is a safe and effective tool for managing severe and refractory cases of AC.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy as a definitive treatment for acute acalculous cholecystitis: clinical outcomes and risk factors for recurrent cholecystitis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) as a definitive treatment for acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) and to identify the risk factors for cholecystitis recurrence after catheter removal.

METHODS

Between January 2008 and December 2017, 124 patients who had undergone PC as definitive treatment for moderate or severe AAC. The initial clinical success, complications, and recurrent cholecystitis after PC removal were retrospectively assessed. Twenty-one relevant variables were analyzed to identify risk factors for recurrent cholecystitis.

RESULTS

Clinical effectiveness was achieved in 107 patients (86.3%) at 3 days and in all patients (100%) at 5 days after PC placement. Six Grade 2 adverse events occurred, including catheter dislodgement (n = 3) and clogging (n = 3), which required catheter exchange. The PC catheter was removed in 123 patients (99.2%), with a median indwelling duration of 18 days (range 5-116 days). During the follow-up period (median, 1624 days; range, 40-4945 days), five patients experienced recurrent cholecystitis (4.1%). The cumulative recurrence rates were 3.3%, 4.1%, and 4.1% at 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that an age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI)≥7 positively correlated with recurrence (OR, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.64; p = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Definitive PC is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with AAC. The PC catheters can be safely removed in most patients. An aCCI≥7 was a risk factor for cholecystitis recurrence after catheter removal.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

1. Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is a safe and effective as a definitive treatment in patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC).2. PC can be safely removed after recover from AAC in the majority of patients (99.2%) with low rate of recurrence of cholecystitis (4.1%).3. Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index ≥7 was a risk factor for recurrence of cholecystitis after PC removal.

Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in Severe Acute Cholecystitis: An Observational Study From a Single Institute

Background Although percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is generally accepted as a bridge to definitive therapy for acute cholecystitis (AC), which remains cholecystectomy, some patients did not undergo cholecystectomy, mainly due to contraindications to surgery. Here, we aimed to investigate the predictors of recurrence and the outcome after PC. Methods This is a retrospective study from a single general hospital at Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom. One hundred twenty-six patients who presented with AC grade 3 and were initially managed with PC were included. In addition, the proportion of patients who did not undergo subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and their characteristics were analyzed. Results The mean age of the study cohort was 72 (36-98) years, and the median length of drain insertion was 39.5 days. The majority (52%) presented with severe AC grade 3 with failed medical treatment to control the disease, while 7% had an emphysematous gallbladder. Eighty percent of patients did not develop any further attacks of AC after PC removal. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (35%). The mean age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity score was 3.72. Thirty-six percent (45/126) of the study cohort underwent LC, while the remaining patients did not receive any surgical intervention. Nine percent were deemed unfit for surgery. Forty-one patients (33%) were managed conservatively as they did not have a further attack of cholecystitis after PC removal or had a mild attack managed with antibiotics. In addition, 22% experienced procedural complications, including a blocked stent, pain, and cellulitis around the tube. The 30-day mortality rate of patients who did not undergo LC was 5%. Predictors of interval cholecystectomy were younger age, calculus cholecystitis, low Charslson index score, and uncomplicated and shorter length of hospital stay with PC. Conclusion Most severe AC patients treated initially with PC did not undergo subsequent LC. Therefore, PC in high-surgical-risk patients with AC could be a definitive treatment.

Value of nonenhanced CT combined with laboratory examinations in the diagnosis of acute suppurative cholecystitis treated with percutaneous cholecystostomy: a retrospective study

PURPOSES

In this study, we aimed to identify the distribution of presenting laboratory and nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging features within 48 h before percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) and create a model to appropriately guide the diagnosis of acute suppurative cholecystitis (ASC).

METHODS

The study population included 204 acute cholecystitis patients who underwent PC. Based on the timing of the last laboratory and CT examinations before PC, the patients were divided into two groups: within 48 h before PC (Group 1, n = 138) and over 48 h before PC (Group 2, n = 63). The clinical features of the ASC patients in the two groups were compared. A multivariable model for the diagnosis of ASC in the patients in Group 1 was developed.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients in Group 1 had ASC (28.3%). Gallbladder stones, common bile duct stones, gallbladder wall thickness > 2.85 mm, and neutrophil granulocytes > 82.55% were confirmed to be independent risk factors for ASC. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the recurrence prediction model verified its accuracy (area under the curve: 0.803). Compared with the ASC patients in Group 2, the ASC patients in Group 1 had a higher proportion of pericholecystic exudation or fluid (P = 0.013) and thicker gallbladder walls (P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Using nonenhanced CT imaging features and cutoffs for neutrophil granulocytes, we were able to identify a simple algorithm to discriminate ASC. The degree of local inflammation of the gallbladder in ASC patients progressively increases over time, and these changes can be observed on nonenhanced CT images. However, the symptoms of abdominal pain are of little help in estimating the disease duration in elderly patients.

Coronary Artery Disease and Gallbladder Inflammatory Pseudopolyps

Axial MR image demonstrating multiple small gallbladder polypoid lesions characterized by contrast enhancement in a 78-year-old male hospitalized for acute chest pain due to coronary artery disease who showed fever and emesis during hospitalization and had signs of acute acalculous cholecystitis at computed tomography. Given the overall clinical conditions and the MR features, the inflammatory origin of the polyps was considered. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and the histological diagnosis of gallbladder inflammatory pseudopolyps was confirmed. This rare entity represents 5–10% of all gallbladder polyps, and their differentiation from benign and malignant tumors might be challenging especially in acalculous patients, thus surgery is often performed.