RT Journal A1 Abi-Haidar Y, Sanchez V, Williams SA, Itani KF T1 REvisiting percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis based on a 10-year experience JF Archives of Surgery JO Archives of Surgery YR 2012 FD May 1 VO 147 IS 5 SP 416 OP 422 DO 10.1001/archsurg.2012.135 UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.135 AB Objectives  To identify patient characteristics leading to percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) and to compare outcomes between PC and cholecystectomy (CCY) in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC).Design  Retrospective cohort study.Setting  Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System.Patients  All consecutive patients with AC per the Tokyo criteria who underwent PC or CCY from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010.Main Outcome Measures  Differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes between PC and CCY patients, odds of PC vs CCY use, and odds of death after PC or CCY.Results  Of 480 CCY and 92 PC procedures, 150 CCY and 51 PC procedures were performed for AC. The PC patients were older (70.4 vs 65.0 years, P = .01) and had higher leukocyte counts (16 500 vs 14 700/μL [to convert to ×109/L, multiply by 0.001], P = .046), alkaline phosphatase levels (198.2 vs 140.1 U/L [to convert to microkatals per liter, multiply by 0.0167], P = .02), Charlson comorbidity index scores (3.0 vs 1.0, P < .001), and American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P = .006) compared with CCY patients. The PC patients had longer intensive care unit stays (5.9 vs 2.3 days, P = .008), longer hospital stays (20.7 vs 12.1 days, P < .001), more complications per patient (2.9 vs 1.9, P = .01), and higher readmission rates (31.4% vs 13.3%, P = .006). On multivariate analysis, a Charlson comorbidity index score of 4 or higher was the only independent predictor of treatment with PC vs CCY (odds ratio, 1.226; 95% CI, 1.032-1.457) and was the only independent predictor of death after PC or CCY (odds ratio, 1.318; 95% CI, 1.143-1.521). No differences in survival were found between the PC and CCY groups (P = .14).Conclusion  Compared with CCY, PC is associated with higher morbidity rates and should be reserved for patients with prohibitive risks for surgery.