Maturation of the tract after percutaneous cholecystostomy with regard to the access route.

PURPOSE

To assess the shortest time for catheter removal with regard to the transhepatic or transperitoneal approach in patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC).

METHODS

In this prospective study, 40 consecutive high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis (calculous, n = 22; acalculous, n = 18) underwent PC by means of a transhepatic (n = 20) or transperitoneal (n = 20) access route. In 28 patients (70%) computed tomography was used for puncture guidance, while in the remaining 12 (30%) the procedures were formed under ultrasound control. A fistulography was performed on the 14th postprocedural day in al patients and was repeated weekly if the tract was found to be immature. The catheter was removed only if a mature tract without evidence of leakage was delineated.

RESULTS

In 36 of 40 patients the procedure was technically successful (90%). Three of the unsuccessful punctures were attempted transperitoneally and one transhepatically. Thirty-five of 36 patients showed rapid improvement within the first 48 hr following the procedure (96%). Three of them died of their severe underlying disease (7.5%) and in another three the catheter was accidentally removed prior to the first fistulography (7.5%) A total of 30 patients could be fully evaluated after the procedure: 15 with a transhepatic, and 15 with a transperitoneal PC. Whereas 14 of 15 patients (93%) with transhepatic gallbladder access developed a mature tract after 14 days and the remaining patient after 3 weeks, only 2 of 15 patients (13%) with a transperitoneal route presented a mature tract after 2 weeks (p < 0.0001; chi2 test with Yates' correction). Eleven patients (73%) with transperitoneal access required 3 weeks and two patients (13%) 4 weeks for complete tract formation.

CONCLUSION

A period of 2 weeks suffices for the majority of patients to develop a mature tract when the transhepatic access route is used; when using the transperitoneal route at least 3 weeks are required. We suggest that the transhepatic route is preferable since it allows earlier removal of the catheter and reduces the incidence of complications and discomfort for the patients.