Reassessment of simple cholecystostomy.

Cholecystostomy was performed on 22 patients with acute cholecystitis after partial (13) or complete (9) removal of gallbladder stones. One patient had complementary common-duct drainage. Early mortality occurred in two patients. Three patients with associated cholangitis but intraoperative reflux of cysticduct bile were all treated by cholecystostomy alone and survived. For the poor-risk patient with cholecystitis, cholecystostomy is effective. When there is associated cholangitis and documented cystic-duct patency, cholecystostomy is also sufficient. When accompanying cholangitis is associated with cystic-duct occlusion, choledochotomy and T tube drainage should be added.