Role of Cholecystostomy Drain in Severe Acute Cholecystitis in Critically Ill Patients

Aims: To investigate the outcome of Cholecystostomy drains in the management of Acute Cholecystitis at Cumberland Infirmary. To develop a Cholecystostomy Pathway for patient selection, management and post procedure management. Method: A retrospective study of all patients with Cholecystostomy drains over the last 3 years at Cumberland Infirmary. 58 Inpatients at Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital who had cholecystostomy drains inserted for Acute Cholecystitis from January 2019 to January 2022 were included in the study. The patient list was collected from the Information Department at Cumberland Infirmary, with the Cholecystostomy code J 24.1 used in the search. Results: CRP ranged from 10-450 (mean 200) pre-insertion and on 5th post-procedure day, 37(63.79%) patients had a CRP of less than 50. Similar trends have been observed with the WBC counts. Follow-up investigations post drain insertion varied between CT abdomen, ultrasound abdomen and tubogram. The overall morality in the study group was 8(13.79%). Non of the mortalities were Cholecystostomy related. Reported over all complications were 2 (3.44%) which were sub-phrenic abscess and Cholo-Cutaneous fistula. Conclusion: We conclude that Insertion of a Cholecystostomy drain is a useful and safe procedure for the management of Severe Cholecystitis, especially in critically ill patients, with good early and late outcomes, and a low mortality rate. It can be used as a temporary management option with plan for Interval Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, or can be the Definitive Management, especially in those patients with High Operative Risk