A 64-year-old man was treated with sunitinib as a first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. He was given oral sunitinib in cycles of 50 mg once daily for 2 weeks followed by a week off. During the 5th week of treatment right upper quadrant pain developed, but this resolved spontaneously during the 6th week (off treatment). However, on the 8th week of treatment, he was admitted to hospital because the acute right upper quadrant pain recurred with nausea, vomiting, and fever. Acute acalculous cholecystitis was then diagnosed by ultrasonography and CT. In addition, his laboratory findings indicated disseminated intravascular coagulation. Accordingly, sunitinib therapy was discontinued and broad-spectrum antibiotics initiated. He subsequently recovered after emergent percutaneous cholecystostomy. His Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale score was 7, indicaing a probable association of the event with sunitinib. Suspicion of sunitinib-related acute cholecystitis is required, because, although uncommon, it can be life-threatening.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Fever ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) for patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) according to severity. METHODS: A total of 325 patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 2008 and October 2010 were enrolled. Patients were classified into three groups based on severity grade according to the Tokyo guidelines for AC: grade I (mild), grade II (moderate), and grade III (severe). These groups were further classified into two subgroups based on whether or not they underwent preoperative PC. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were classified into the grade I group (57%), 135 patients were classified into the grade II group (42%), and five patients were classified into the grade III group (1%). In the grade I and II groups, the mean length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the patients who did not undergo PC than in those who received PC (10.7 ± 4.4 vs. 13.7 ± 5.8, p < 0.001; 11.8 ± 6.5 vs. 16.9 ± 12.5, p = 0.003, respectively). The mean length of preoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the patients without PC than in those with PC in the grade I and II groups (5.8 ± 3.3 vs. 8.2 ± 4.6, p = 0.001; 6.0 ± 4.4 vs. 8.8 ± 5.2, p = 0.002). In addition, the operative time was shorter in patients without PC, especially in the grade I group (94.6 ± 36.4 vs. 107.3 ± 33.5, p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PC should be reserved for only selected patients with mild or moderate AC. No significant benefit of preoperative PC was identified with respect to clinical outcome or complications.
Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Cholecystostomy* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The gold standard for treatment of acute cholecystitis is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, cholecystectomy is often not suitable for surgically unfit patients who are too frail due to various co-morbidities. As such, several less invasive endoscopic treatment modalities have been developed to control sepsis, either as a definitive treatment or as a temporizing modality until the patient is stable enough to undergo cholecystectomy at a later stage. Recent developments in endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) with endoscopic ultrasound EUS-specific stents having lumen-apposing properties have demonstrated potential as a definitive treatment modality. Furthermore, advanced gallbladder procedures can be performed using the stents as a portal. With similar effectiveness as percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy and lower rates of adverse events reported in some studies, EUS-GBD has opened exciting possibilities in becoming the next best alternative in treating acute cholecystitis in surgically unfit patients. The aim of this review article is to provide a summary of the various methods of gallbladder drainage GBD with particular focus on EUS-GBD and the many new prospects it allows.
Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy ; Drainage* ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Sepsis ; Stents ; Ultrasonography

Inspissated bile syndrome (IBS) is a relatively rare condition. Many treatment options are available, including medication, surgery, and surgical interventions, such as insertion of cholecystostomy drain, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, internal biliary drainage, and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). We herein report the first case of IBS that was successfully treated with PTBD in a two-month-old infant in Korea. PTBD was initiated on postnatal day 72. On postnatal day 105, we confirmed complete improvement and successfully removed the catheters. This report suggests that PTBD is a viable and safe treatment option for obstructive jaundice in very young infants.
Bile* ; Catheters ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystostomy ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Korea

We report a case of successfully removed gallstone by endoscopic transpapillary approach with recurrent acute cholecystitis. An 84-year-old man presented with acute calculous cholecystitis. He is concurrently diagnosed with colon cancer at the time of admission. After percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD), He was discharged. After a total of seven PTGBD exchanges for three years, we successfully removed gallstone via an endoscopic transpapillary approach, and no recurrence was reported during the 27-month follow-up period. This procedure may be performed in patients who can access to the gallbladder through the cystic duct.
Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Cholecystostomy ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones* ; Humans ; Recurrence

We report the successful conversion of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) to endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (ETGS) with insertion of an antegrade guidewire into the duodenum. An 84-year-old man presented with severe acute cholecystitis and septic shock. He had significant comorbidities, and emergent PC was successfully performed. Subsequent ETGS was attempted but unsuccessful owing to difficulties with cystic duct cannulation. However, via the PC tract, the guidewire was passed antegradely into the duodenum, and ETGS with a double-pigtail plastic stent was successfully performed with the rendezvous technique. The PC tube was removed, and no recurrence was reported during the 17-month follow-up period. Conversion of PC to ETGS is a viable option in patients with acute cholecystitis who are not candidates for surgery. Antegrade guidewire insertion via the PC tract may increase the success rate of conversion and decrease the risk of procedure-related complications.
Aged, 80 and over ; Catheterization ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy* ; Comorbidity ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage ; Duodenum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Plastics ; Recurrence ; Shock, Septic ; Stents*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy is an alternative treatment to resolve acute inflammation in patients with severe comorbidities. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after percutaneous cholecystostomy for the patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in patients who underwent cholecystectomy after percutaneous cholecystostomy from January 2010 through November 2014. Seventy-four patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups by the operation timing. Group I patients underwent cholecystectomy within 10 days after percutaneous cholecystostomy (n=30) and group II patients underwent cholecystectomy at more than 10 days after percutaneous cholecystostomy (n=44). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in conversion rate to open surgery, operation time, perioperative complications rate, and days of hospital stay after operation. However, complications related to cholecystostomy such as catheter dislodgement occurred significantly more often in group II than group I (group I:group II=0%:18.2%; p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after percutaneous cholecystostomy did not influence postoperative outcomes. However, late surgery caused more complications related to cholecystostomy than early surgery. Therefore, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered over late surgery after percutaneous cholecystostomy insertion.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/adverse effects ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*diagnosis/surgery ; Cholecystostomy ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an effective treatment for cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients. However, there is no definitive agreement on the need for additional cholecystectomy in these patients. METHODS: All patients who were admitted to Cheju Halla General Hospital (Jeju, Korea) for acute cholecystitis and who underwent ultrasonography-guided PC between 2007 and 2012 were consecutively enrolled in this study. Among 82 total patients enrolled, 35 underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy after recovery and 47 received the best supportive care (BSC) without additional surgery. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success rates for PC were 100% and 97.5%, respectively. The overall mean survival was 12.8 months. In the BSC group, mean survival was 5.4 months, and in the cholecystectomy group, mean survival was 22.4 months (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between these groups in multivariate analysis (relative risk [RR]=1.92; 95% CI, 0.77-4.77; p=0.16). However, advanced age (RR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; p=0.001) and higher class in the American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status (RR=3.06; 95% CI, 1.37-6.83, p=0.006) were significantly associated with survival in the multivariate analysis. Among the 47 patients in the BSC group, the cholecystostomy tube was removed in 31 patients per protocol. Recurrent cholecystitis was not observed in either group of patients during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In high-risk surgical patients, PC without additional cholecystectomy might be the best definitive management. Furthermore, the cholecystostomy drainage catheter can be safely removed in certain patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/mortality/*surgery ; Cholecystostomy ; Critical Illness ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Survival Rate

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*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic cholecystolithotomy under fluoroscopic guidance in high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three consecutive patients of high surgical risk with acute calculous cholecystitis underwent percutaneous transhepatic gallstone removal under conscious sedation. The stones were extracted through the 12-Fr sheath using a Wittich nitinol stone basket under fluoroscopic guidance on three days after performing a percutaneous cholecystostomy. Large or hard stones were fragmented using either the snare guide wire technique or the metallic cannula technique. RESULTS: Gallstones were successfully removed from 59 of the 63 patients (94%). Reasons for stone removal failure included the inability to grasp a large stone in two patients, and the loss of tract during the procedure in two patients with a contracted gallbladder. The mean hospitalization duration was 7.3 days for acute cholecystitis patients and 9.4 days for gallbladder empyema patients. Bile peritonitis requiring percutaneous drainage developed in two patients. No symptomatic recurrence occurred during follow-up (mean, 608.3 days). CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous gallstone removal using a 12-Fr sheath is technically feasible and clinically effective in high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alloys ; Cholecystitis, Acute/radiography/*surgery/ultrasonography ; Cholecystostomy/*instrumentation ; Conscious Sedation ; Equipment Design ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Radiography, Interventional ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional