No benefit of PC over emergency cholecystectomy in Acute cholecystitis: Study

Written By : Dr. Nandita Mohan |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2020-11-29T16:15:08+05:30 | Updated On 30 Nov 2020 3:48 PM IST

Researchers have found in a new study that Percutaneous cholecystostomy was associated with an increased risk of mortality at 30 and 90 days, more readmissions, and longer hospital stay. The research has been published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

About 20% of patients with acute cholecystitis need emergency surgery. Such surgery is indicated if the patient's condition deteriorates or when generalized peritonitis or emphysematous cholecystitis is present. However, percutaneous cholecystostomy can be performed at the bedside under local anesthetic and is suitable for patients in intensive care units.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a minimally invasive procedure that can benefit patients with serious comorbidity who are at high risk from major surgery.

Hence, Marina Garcés-Albir and associates from the Liver, Biliary and Pancreatic Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Clínico, University of Valencia Biomedical Research Institute, Spain conducted the present study with the main objective to investigate whether percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) for the treatment of acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) had better results than emergency cholecystectomy (EC) in elderly and high-risk surgical patients.

A total of 461 patients greater than 70 years of age treated with PC or EC between 2005 and 2016 were included in the study and retrospectively reviewed. Both techniques were compared regarding morbi-mortality, hospital stay, complications, and readmissions. A subgroup analysis in higher-risk patients were also performed and analysis is done. The parameters like 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, length of stay (days), and readmission rate were assessed.

Following findings were noted-

a. Complications were lower for PC, but there were no significant differences in the number of severe complications.

b. Higher-risk subgroup analysis showed similar results to the whole series.

c. Patients with ACC for more than 3 days had more risk of severe complications in both groups.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "PC was associated with an increased risk of mortality at 30 and 90 days, more readmissions and longer hospital stay. Although the PC presents a lower risk of complications, the percentage of severe complications does not show significant differences."

For further reference log in to:

Garcés-Albir, M., Martín-Gorgojo, V., Perdomo, R. et al. Acute cholecystitis in elderly and high-risk surgical patients: is percutaneous cholecystostomy preferable to emergency cholecystectomy?. J Gastrointest Surg 24, 2579–2586 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-019-04424-5

Cholecystectomycholecystitisacutepercutaneous cholecystostomyelderly

Source : Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

Dr. Nandita Mohan

Dr. Nandita Mohan is a practicing pediatric dentist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Along with this, she is equally interested in keeping herself up to date about the latest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry which is the driving force for her to be in association with Medical Dialogues. She also has her name attached with many publications; both national and international. She has pursued her BDS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and later went to enter her dream specialty (MDS) in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences. Through all the years of experience, her core interest in learning something new has never stopped. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751