Should a cholecystostomy catheter be placed to external drainage indefinitely?
In the acute phase, although there is evidence of active inflammation, the catheter is maintained on external drainage. In the setting of cholecystitis secondary to obstructing biliary calculi, the catheter is maintained on external drainage. In the setting of acalculous cholecystitis, the catheter may be capped to allow for internal drainage after a cholangiogram is performed to document that there is no cystic duct obstruction.
