Research Article

Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis

Volume: 19 Number: 3 July 10, 2026
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Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is widely used. It is used in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. These patients are not suitable for immediate surgery. However, the optimal timing for removing the cholecystostomy tube and performing subsequent interval cholecystectomy (IC) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate factors affecting PC tube removal time and IC timing, and to identify predictors associated with operative outcomes. Methods: This retrospective, single-centre study included patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis between 2015 and 2025. The following data were analysed: demographic characteristics, comorbidity burden, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, Tokyo 2018 acute cholecystitis grade, gallbladder perforation, operative status, surgical approach and mortality. Factors associated with cholecystostomy tube removal time and IC timing were evaluated using comparative and regression analyses. Results: A total of 102 patients were included in the study, with an average age of 64.4 ± 15.4 years. Interval cholecystectomy was performed in 71 patients (69.6%), while 31 patients (30.4%) were managed non-operatively. Patients who underwent surgery were significantly younger and had lower ASA scores and Charlson Comorbidity Index values compared with those who did not undergo surgery (p<0.05 for all). The mean cholecystostomy tube removal time was 38.1 ± 20.4 days. The timing of tube removal was not significantly associated with sex, calculous cholecystitis, gallbladder perforation, operative approach or conversion to open surgery. Similarly, the timing of the interval cholecystectomy did not have a significant effect on either the operative approach or the conversion rates. Patients with acalculous cholecystitis had a significantly longer interval to surgery (p = 0.034). Mortality was significantly higher in non-operated patients (25.8% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.001). Increased mortality was associated with advanced age, a higher ASA score and gallbladder perforation. No perioperative or postoperative bile duct injury was observed. Conclusion Percutaneous cholecystostomy remains an effective strategy for managing high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. In this cohort, cholecystostomy tube removal time and interval cholecystectomy timing were not associated with surgical approach or conversion outcomes. Surgical decision-making appears to be driven primarily by patient-related factors such as age, comorbidity burden and clinical status rather than a fixed procedural timeline. Therefore, individualised timing strategies may be more appropriate than strict interval-based approaches following percutaneous cholecystostomy.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

General Surgery

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 10, 2026

Submission Date

May 20, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 3

APA
Yılmaz, S., Ozgen, U., Çınar, H., Giray, S., Ohtamış, B., Aslan, H. S., & Birsen, O. (2026). Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis. Pamukkale Medical Journal, 19(3), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1949782
AMA
1.Yılmaz S, Ozgen U, Çınar H, et al. Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis. Pam Med J. 2026;19(3):195-206. doi:10.31362/patd.1949782
Chicago
Yılmaz, Sevda, Utku Ozgen, Hamza Çınar, et al. 2026. “Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis”. Pamukkale Medical Journal 19 (3): 195-206. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1949782.
EndNote
Yılmaz S, Ozgen U, Çınar H, Giray S, Ohtamış B, Aslan HS, Birsen O (July 1, 2026) Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis. Pamukkale Medical Journal 19 3 195–206.
IEEE
[1]S. Yılmaz et al., “Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis”, Pam Med J, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 195–206, July 2026, doi: 10.31362/patd.1949782.
ISNAD
Yılmaz, Sevda - Ozgen, Utku - Çınar, Hamza - Giray, Serkan - Ohtamış, Betül - Aslan, Halil Serdar - Birsen, Onur. “Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis”. Pamukkale Medical Journal 19/3 (July 1, 2026): 195-206. https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1949782.
JAMA
1.Yılmaz S, Ozgen U, Çınar H, Giray S, Ohtamış B, Aslan HS, Birsen O. Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis. Pam Med J. 2026;19:195–206.
MLA
Yılmaz, Sevda, et al. “Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis”. Pamukkale Medical Journal, vol. 19, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 195-06, doi:10.31362/patd.1949782.
Vancouver
1.Sevda Yılmaz, Utku Ozgen, Hamza Çınar, Serkan Giray, Betül Ohtamış, Halil Serdar Aslan, Onur Birsen. Factors Affecting Cholecystostomy Tube Removal and Interval Cholecystectomy Timing After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy for Acute Cholecystitis. Pam Med J. 2026 Jul. 1;19(3):195-206. doi:10.31362/patd.1949782

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