INTRODUCTION: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a prevalent condition in emergency departments (EDs). Standard care involves early laparoscopic cholecystectomy
however, in cases of delayed presentation, high surgical risk, or during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) serves as an alternative management strategy. This study reports our center's experience with PC in managing AC, providing insights from a unique geographical context. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 97 patients undergoing PC operation from June 1, 2016, to January 1, 2021. The data collected included demographic details, indications for PC, clinical outcomes, ICU admissions, overall mortality, and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 61.9% male patients with a mean age of 67.2 ± 15.5 years. The primary comorbidity was hypertension (83.5%), and 88.6% had an ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) score of ≥ III. The main cause of AC was calculous type, and 15.2% of cases were acalculous cholecystitis. Main Tokyo Guidelines 18 (TG 18) grade was grade II and was found in 56.4% of patients. The readmission rate was 33.1% and overall mortality rate was 34% during follow-up. The native population in Qatar were older and burdened with more co-morbidities. High risk of surgery was the main indication for PC, followed by delayed presentation of AC. Patients with delayed presentations were younger (p = 0.051), had higher albumin levels (p = 0.005), and had lower ICU admission rates (p = 0.002) and mortality (p = 0.014) than those with multiple comorbidities. The overall Mortality rates post-PC were 34%, predominantly attributed to underlying conditions rather than the PC procedure itself. Patients who proceeded to post-PC cholecystectomy were younger, had higher albumin levels, and experienced fewer readmissions (p <
0.05). CONCLUSION: In high-risk patients or when surgical risk is prohibitive, PC is a viable and effective alternative for AC management. Post-PC cholecystectomy was associated with favorable outcomes, suggesting PC as a bridge to surgery in selected patients. This study highlights the role of PC in a high-risk population within our regional setting.