Gallbladder interventions

Interventions of the gallbladder have significantly lost importance since the recent surge of interest in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The percutaneous technique of gallbladder ablation developed by Burhenne and Coleman has not yet proved to be a valid alternative. Percutaneous cholecystostomy currently seems the only percutaneous therapy for the gallbladder which is an established alternative to surgical procedures in poor risk patients presenting with acute cholecystitis, gallbladder empyema or cholangitis.

Christoph Zollikofer