ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS TREATED WITH PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC GALLBLADDER DRAINAGE

ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS TREATED WITH PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC GALLBLADDER DRAINAGE

An 85-year-old female patient was admitted with fever, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. Her medical history included type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease.

Based on abdominal CT imaging and laboratory tests, the patient was diagnosed with Grade II acute calculous cholecystitis. Given her advanced age, multiple comorbidities, and high surgical risk, medical therapy alone was considered unlikely to adequately control the infection.

Following a comprehensive assessment, the medical team opted for percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) — a minimally invasive procedure that allows effective drainage of a large amount of purulent fluid, reduces intragallbladder pressure, and helps control the local infection.
Following treatment, the patient's condition stabilized, and she was discharged from the hospital. Three weeks later, once her general condition had improved and her underlying medical conditions were well controlled, elective cholecystectomy was planned.

 ADVANTAGES OF THE PROCEDURE
- Minimally invasive, making it suitable for patients at high surgical risk.
- Helps decompress the gallbladder and facilitate drainage of inflammatory fluid.
- Supports infection control within the gallbladder.
- Can serve as a temporary treatment or bridge to surgery when the patient's condition is not yet suitable for definitive surgical intervention.

 For elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and a high risk of surgery, selecting an appropriate treatment approach requires not only effective management of the underlying condition but also careful consideration of the patient's overall health and safety.

At Tam Tri Nha Trang General Hospital, treatment decisions are individualized based on each patient's clinical condition, disease severity, underlying medical conditions, and surgical risk, with the goal of achieving effective disease control while ensuring safety throughout the course of treatment.

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For consultation and further information, please contact:

TAM TRI NHA TRANG GENERAL HOSPITAL
 57–59 Cao Thang Street, Nam Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam
 Website: bvtamtrinhatrang.com.vn
 Phone: 0906 557 535
 24/7 Emergency Hotline: 0935 088 802