[Percutaneous cholecystostomy in treating acute cholecystitis in patients at risk].

Percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 17 poor surgical risk patients. 16 patients developed acute acalculous cholecystitis postoperatively in the intensive care unit, 1 patient had an acute cholecystitis with calculi. Diagnostic imaging using CT and US was specific for acute cholecystitis in 58% only. Percutaneous cholecystostomy was the definitive treatment in 69% of the patients. Additional cholecystectomy was required in 3 patients with complicated cholecystitis, in 1 patient with bile leakage after catheter dislocation and in 1 patient with gallbladder calculi. 3 patients died, 2 of them from reasons unrelated to the gallbladder disease. Radiology-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy performed by a transhepatic approach is a safe and effective procedure for acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients.