Stirrat J, Patel NR, Stella SF, et al. - Via performing a retrospective study of percutaneous cholecystolithotomy (PCCL), researchers evaluated the value of PCCL as therapeutic option for patients with acute cholecystitis who are poor operative candidates. They identified 75 patients (52.0% male and 48.0% female; mean age 75.6 ± 13.9 years); 11 of these (14.7%), had failed prior cholecystectomy. A total of 96 PCCL procedures were undertaken resulting in achievement of complete gallstone removal in 68 of 75 patients (90.7%), including all patients with previously aborted cholecystectomy. Findings suggest that for management of symptomatic gallbladder stones in high-risk surgical patients, PCCL is a viable treatment option with a high technical success rate, even in patients with prior failed cholecystectomy. Gallstone related complications were averted in the majority of patients (77.3%) following the procedure.