Management of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy Drains

What consensus recommendations can guide indications for and management of percutaneous cholecystostomy drains (PCDs) in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC)?In this Delphi consensus study including 45 surgeons and radiologists from Ireland and the UK, consensus was achieved on 20 statements regarding PCDs. Experts agreed that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be the first-line management for AC, PCDs should primarily be reserved for medically compromised patients, drains should generally remain in situ for at least 4 to 6 weeks, and interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy is optimally performed 6 to 8 weeks after PCD insertion.These recommendations may help standardize clinical management of PCDs in patients with AC.

Corresponding Author: Mohammed Al Azzawi, MD, Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 Stephen’s Green, Dublin DO2 YN77, Ireland (mohammedalazzawi@rcsi.ie).

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