Clinical outcomes of permanent stenting with endoscopic ultrasound gallbladder drainage

• Published in: Clinical endoscopy 2023-09, Vol.56 (5), p.650-657
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Eisuke, Fujita, Yuji, Hosono, Kunihiro, Koyama, Yuji, Tsujino, Seitaro, Teratani, Takuma, Nakajima, Atsushi, Matsuhashi, Nobuyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cholecystitis; cystic duct, drainage; endosonography; Original; stents
• ISSN: 2234-2400; 2234-2443
• DOI: 10.5946/ce.2022.190

Endoscopic ultrasound gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is gaining attention as a treatment method for cholecystitis. However, only a few studies have assessed the outcomes of permanent stenting with EUS-GBD. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of permanent stenting using EUS-GBD. This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study. The criteria for EUS-GBD at our institution are a high risk for surgery, inability to perform surgery owing to poor performance status, and inability to obtain consent for emergency surgery. EUS-GBD was performed using a 7-Fr double-pigtail plastic stent with a dilating device. The primary outcomes were the recurrence-free rate of cholecystitis and the late-stage complication-avoidance rate. Secondary outcomes were technical success, clinical success, and procedural adverse events. A total of 41 patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up period was 168 (range, 10-1,238) days. The recurrence-free and late-stage complication-avoidance rates during the follow-up period were 95% (38 cases) and 90% (36 cases), respectively. There were only two cases of cholecystitis recurrence during the study period. EUS-GBD using double-pigtail plastic stent was safe and effective with few complications, even in the long term, in patients with acute cholecystitis.