BACKGROUND/AIMS: The established treatment for cystic duct stones is surgery, but nonoperative removal of gallstones through percutaneous cholecystostomy can also be a useful procedure in patients at high risk for surgery. Conventional methods using endoscopic or percutaneous stone extraction usually fail due to the inability to access or capture the cystic duct stones in the narrow, long, spiral portion of the cystic duct, especially in impacted cases. As a result stone fragmentation is required during endoscopic stone removal. It is impossible for an electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) to gain access to the stones, due to the rigid distal metal tip of the lithotripter and the narrowness of the long, spiral cystic duct. Using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) to disintegrate gallstones is a more effective method for removal of cystic duct stones. Experiences of endoscopic treatment for cystic duct stones of patients with high risk for surgery were reviewed, and conclusions are included in this study. METHODS: Patient records of endoscopic management of cystic duct stones between January, 1994 and December, 1997, were reviewed for methods and results of treatment. Most of the patients had undergone lithotripsy followed by percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy.
Cholecystostomy ; Cystic Duct* ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Lithotripsy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract dilatation using a Nipro set. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We dilated 28 percutaneous biliary drainage tracts up to 18F ; 26 procedures involved PTBD, and two, cholecystostomy. A Nipro set was used for dilatation, the purposes of which were stone removal (n=18) and choledochoscopic biposy (n=10). For dilatation, local anesthesia was used in all cases. RESULTS: In all patients, tract dilatation was successful. In 21 of 28 cases, dilatation of the right PTBD tract was involved, and in five of 28, dilatation of the left tract. In two cases, tract dilatation was done in cholecystostomy tracts. Complications encountered were pain (n=17), bradycardia (n=2), hemobilia (n=2), bleeding (n=1)and fever (n=1). CONCLUSION: In choledocoscopy, tract dilatation using a Nipro set is safe and simple.
Anesthesia, Local ; Biliary Tract* ; Bradycardia ; Cholecystostomy ; Dilatation* ; Drainage ; Fever ; Hemobilia ; Hemorrhage ; Humans

Endoscopic snare papillectomy (ESP) for ampulla of Vater tumor (AVT) has been performed successfully instead of surgical ampullectomy (SA) because ESP is a less invasive procedure than SA. Hemorrhage, perforation and pancreatitis are relatively common complications of ESP and other rare complications such as cholangitis, liver abscess has been reported. Recently we encountered a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis after ESP for AVT, which was treated successfully with percutaneous cholecystostomy with intravenous antibiotics. We therefore report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Acalculous Cholecystitis* ; Adenoma* ; Ampulla of Vater ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cholangitis* ; Cholecystostomy ; Hemorrhage ; Liver Abscess ; Pancreatitis ; SNARE Proteins*

Metallic biliary stenting to relieve a malignant biliary obstruction can cause a cystic duct obstruction and acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy is often performed in patients with a limited life expectancy but can have a significant impact on the quality of life. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder stenting (PTGS) was performed across the cystic duct via the cholecystostomy tube tract to allow the removal of the cholecystostomy tube. The patient remained asymptomatic for 7 months after PTGS. In conclusion, PTGS across the cystic duct may be considered a treatment option in selected patients who develop acute cholecystitis after palliative metallic biliary stenting.
Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Cholecystostomy ; Cystic Duct ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Quality of Life ; Stents*

Gallbladder perforation is a grave complication of acute cholecystitis, which has a high incidence of morbidity and mortality in the elderly patients. The unfavorable nature of this disease is due in part to a delay in diagnosis because of the similarity in clinical presentation of patients with uncomplicated cholecystitis and those with perforation. Although prompt surgical intervention with cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice, morbidity and mortality rates rise markedly in the elderly patient with severe systemic illness. In acute cholecystitis, percutaneous cholecystostomy is a good alternative to surgical cholecystectomy or is a temporary measure until a patient is sufficiently stable for surgery. In this report, we describe our experience of successful use of percutaneous cholecystostomy and intra- abdominal percutaneous catheter drainage for the therapy of gallbladder perforation in two patients with high surgical risk.
Abscess* ; Aged ; Catheters ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy* ; Diagnosis ; Drainage* ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study is to identify the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopic examination (PTCCS) in high-risk surgical patients manifesting acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Between January 1992 and June 1998, 33 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy (PC) and subsequent PTCCS for the management of acute cholecystitis were included. RESULTS: PC and subsequent PTCCS were successfully accomplished in all of 33 patients. During PTCCS, minor complication (2 of minor bleeding during electrohydraulic lithotripsy, 2 of tube dislodgement and 1 of bile leakage to peritoneum) occurred in five patients. PTCCS revealed 26 cases of gallstones, 3 cases of sludge ball, 3 cases of gallbladder carcinoma and 1 case of clonorchiasis related with acute cholecystitis. Three cases of the gallbladder cancers which were not predicted radiologically were incidentally found during PTCCS. For 26 patients with gallstones, PTCCS and concomitant stone removal were successfully carried out in one to four consecutive sessions (mean 2.2 sessions). Gallstones recurred in three (3/22, 14%) patients during the mean follow-up period of 27 months. All of them remain asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: PTCCS may be justified in the management of acute cholecystitis in selected patients with high surgical risk.
Bile ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Cholecystostomy ; Clonorchiasis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallstones ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Sewage

PURPOSE: To review the effectiveness and complication of percutaneous cholecystostomy(PCCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed PCCS in 60 patient who presented with acute cholecystitis. The causes of acutecholecystitis were as follows : acalculous cholecystitis(n=8), calculous cholecystitis(n=23), GB hydrops(n=3), GBempyema(n=15), septic cholangitis(n=11). Of 60 patients, 36 patients had high risk factor for cholecystectomy :underlying malignancy(n=13), severe trauma(n=2), liver cirrhosis(n=3), diabetes mellitus(n=6), end stage renal disease(n=3), cardiac disease(n=3) and others(n=6). Cholecystostomy was done under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guide. RESULTS: The cholecystostomy was successfully in 59 patients, and failed in 1 patients. 15 patients improved without other procedure. 16 patients underwent cholecystectomy after improvement of their general condition. Severe complications of PCCS are as follows : bile peritonitis(n=6), hemoperitoneum(n=1), subphrenic abscess(n=1). Mild complication, such as pain, occured in most patients. Emergency operation was done in one patient who developed bile peritonitis. DISCUSSION: Cholecystostomy is effective and safe, especially incases of in operable patients who represent acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy may substitiute surgical cholecystostomy.
Bile ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Liver ; Peritonitis ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The laparoscopic cholecystectomy has increasingly been accepted as the procedure of choice for treatment of symptomatic gall stones and chronic cholecystitis. However, its role and its timing in the management of patients with acute cholecystitis remain controversial. This retrospective study was undertaken to compare on early laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a delay one for patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Between January 1995 and June 1999, 15 patients were operated on within 72 hours of symptom onset. Those patients were classified as the early laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. The 18 patients who underwent a delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy after a percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy (PTCS) and conservative management were classified as the delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in the conversion rate (1 case in the delayed group), the operation time (early group 107.3 min., delayed group 118.6 min.), postoperative complications (early group 20.0%, delayed group 16.7%), and the postoperative hospital stay (early group 4.7 days, delayed group 7.1 days). The early group had significantly more frequent operation modifications and decreased total hospital stays than the delayed group: 86.7% and 7.0 days, for the early group and 44.4% and 22.8 days for the delayed group. CONCLUSION: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis did not increase the operation time, the morbidity, or the conversion rate. Although this study was not a randomized study and the sample size was small, an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be safe and feasible for patients with acute cholecystitis, having the benefit of a decreased total hospital stay.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Cholecystostomy ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sample Size

PURPOSE: We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and complications of percutaneous cholecystostomy in acalculou s acute cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed percutaneous cholecystostomy under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of 18 patients with acalculous acute cholecystitis. We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic efficacy and complications. RESULTS: A dramatic improvement in clinical condition was observed in 16(88%) patients within 24 --48 hours. One patient was successfully treated with second trial because of technical failure at initial trial. No major complications occured except a gallbladder laceration. Most of patients complained minor symptoms such as fever, pain, mild dyspnea and refered pain to right shoulder, and these symptoms were resolved within one week. There was no complications related to vasovagal reflex. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of acalculous acute cholecystitis, percutaneous cholecystostomy is a safe and effective method.
Acalculous Cholecystitis* ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy* ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Reflex ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Ultrasonography

Salmonella infections can cause a variety of diseases, but acute acalculous cholecystitis complicated by gallbladder perforation occurs very rarely in adults. Here, we report a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis with gallbladder perforation after non-typhoidal group D Salmonella infection. A 71-year-old man was admitted with fever, chills, and watery diarrhea. Blood cultures taken on admission were positive for non-typhoidal group D Salmonella. The patient subsequently developed acute acalculous cholecystitis, and abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography revealed gallbladder perforation. Because of other medical problems, cholecystectomy could not be performed. The patient's symptoms and signs were not resolved, even after parenteral antibiotic injection and percutaneous cholecystostomy. Despite meticulous supportive care, the patient died after progression to multiple organ dysfunction.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Adult ; Aged ; Chills ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystostomy ; Diarrhea ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections