Complication Rate of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in Patients With Coagulopathy

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to compare the complication rate for ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with coagulopathy to the rate in patients with normal coagulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We performed a database search for patients who underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy from January 2000 through December 2010. Patients were divided into those with normal coagulation and those with coagulopathy, as documented by abnormal laboratory values (international normalized ratio >= 1.5 and platelet count <= 50 x 10(9)/L) or history of anticoagulant medication in the preceding 5 days. Medical records were reviewed, and complication rates and subsequent treatment was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact and chi-square tests. RESULTS. Two hundred forty-two patients underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (132 men and 110 women; mean [+/- SD] age, 73.9 +/- 15.9 years; range, 22-104 years). One hundred thirty-two patients were coagulopathic and 110 had normal coagulation. Major complications related to ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy were rare (4/242 cases [1.7%]) and included hemorrhage requiring transfusion (n = 1), death directly related to the procedure (n = 1), sepsis related to the procedure (n = 1), and abscess or biloma formation (n = 1). All of these occurred in the group with normal coagulation. Fourteen additional deaths (5.8%) that occurred within 30 days of the procedure were related to comorbidities. Minor catheter-related complications (15/242 [6.2%]) were due to catheter dislodgement (n = 11 [4.5%]), failure of placement (n = 1 [0.4%]), and hemorrhage not requiring transfusion (n = 3 [1.2%]). Two of the minor hemorrhagic complications were seen in the coagulopathic group and one in the normal coagulation group (p = 0.599). CONCLUSION. There is no difference in the complication rate for ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients who are coagulopathic compared with those who have normal coagulation.