Percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis after stent insertion in patients with malignant biliary obstruction: clinical outcomes of 107 patients

Background The outcome of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in malignant patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) after biliary stent insertion has not been investigated in a large group. Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcomes of PC for AC after stent insertion in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Material and Methods From April 2007 to February 2019, 107 patients (57 men, 52 women; mean age = 67.5 years; age range = 27–93 years) who had undergone PC for AC after biliary stent insertion were retrospectively evaluated. Of the 107 patients, 86 underwent biliary stent insertion by the endoscopic approach and the remaining 21 patients by the percutaneous approach. All patients were classified into three groups: those with stent-induced AC; those with cancer-induced AC; and those with AC without mechanical cause (biliary stent, GB stone, or cancer invasion). The mean survival time, recurrence rate, symptom improvement, and cystic duct patency in each patient group were analyzed. Results Stent-induced AC (n = 40, 37.4%) developed with a mean onset time of six days (range = 0–14 days), AC without mechanical cause (n = 27, 25.2%), 87 days (range = 15–273 days), and cancer-induced AC (n = 40, 37.4%), 137 days (range = 15–447 days) after stent insertion. Symptom resolution and significant improvement in laboratory test values were achieved in 95 patients (88.8%) within four days after PC. Conclusion PC is a technically safe and effective method for the treatment of AC after biliary stent insertion in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.