title: Percutaneous aspiration of the gall bladder for the treatment of acute cholecystitis: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been established as the best treatment for acute cholecystitis. However, conservative treatment is advocated for high-risk patients. Failure of conservative treatment can result in high-risk operations with relatively high rates of operative morbidity. Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a good option for these patients. Recently, percutaneous aspiration of the gall bladder without drain has been described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A protocol of initial conservative management in high-operative-risk patients admitted with acute cholecystitis was prospectively assessed. Patients who did not respond to antibiotics were treated with percutaneous trans-hepatic aspiration of the gall bladder under ultrasound guidance. Following discharge, the patients were seen in the outpatient clinic and elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy was considered and scheduled as necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 2011 and December 2012, 33 patients with persistent clinical and sonographic signs of acute cholecystitis after failure of initial antibiotic treatment underwent gall bladder aspiration under ultrasound guidance. No complications related to the procedure were reported. In 25 patients (76 %), the procedure was successful and they were discharged. Seven patients needed repeated aspiration. Eight patients (24 %) who did not improve underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy and were discharged with a drain and later reevaluated for elective surgery. The mean hospital stay of patients with successful aspiration was 3 days. During the follow-up period, 23 patients underwent elective interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Two were converted to open surgery (8.7 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative treatment and delayed operation is an acceptable option for acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous gall bladder aspiration is a simple and effective procedure, with a high success rate and low morbidity. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy after drainage of the gall bladder has low morbidity with a relatively low conversion rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Elon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahat
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Ygal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Griton
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shmulevsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shichman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elad
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Chagay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kammar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yaslovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kendror
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Ari
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Meir Medical Center, 59 Tschernihovsky St., 44281, Kfar Sava, Israel. Paranh@clalit.org.il.
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paran
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002767:Cholecystostomy; D000072700:Conservative Treatment; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000379:methods*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013396:Suction; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Acute cholecystitis; Cholecystostomy; Gall bladder; Percutaneous aspiration