Bouncing off the balloon: A new trick for selective cystic duct cannulation

Current status of endoscopic management of cholecystitis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the standard treatment for acute cholecystitis (AC) although it is always not suitable for patients who are poor candidates for surgery. Recently, endoscopic gallbladder (GB) drainage was found to be a potentially revolutionary alternative for cholecystectomy for the control of symptoms, definitive treatment, or bridging therapy until surgery is possible. Two endoscopic methods have been established using either the trans-mural or trans-papillary drainage approach. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided GB drainage (EUS-GBD; trans-mural approach) is a novel technique that allows stent placement between the GB and duodenum or stomach via fistula track, effectively enabling GB drainage. For endoscopic trans-papillary GB drainage (ETGBD; trans-papillary approach), attempts of selective cannulation to the cystic duct should be made to place the stent in the same manner as an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In comparison, EUS-GBD has higher clinical success and lower recurrence rates than ETGBD due to the use of larger-caliber stents, which allow for effective drainage when performed by skilled practitioners at high-volume centers. Advantages of ETGBD over EUS-GBD include more affordable costs and physiologic drainage, which preserves naive anatomy for possible future cholecystectomy. Although the field of endoscopic treatment for AC is rapidly advancing, important questions regarding which method improves clinical outcomes and safety more effectively remain unaddressed. Herein, the current status of endoscopic treatment for AC, including a technical review on clinical outcomes, adverse events, and advantages and disadvantages of each technique are reviewed, as well as other future prospects.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage

The mainstay of management of acute cholecystitis is surgical. Despite the advances in anesthesia and laparoscopic surgery, there is a significant pool of patients that are not candidates for surgery given their significant comorbidities and limited functional reserve. Historically percutaneous gallbladder drainage has been utilized to temporize these patients. Recently, endoscopic approaches are being explored with transpapillary and transmural drainage. In this article, we discuss the background, current status, technical challenges, adverse events, and outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage for management of acute cholecystitis.

Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage for Acute Cholecystitis

The mainstay of management of acute cholecystitis has been surgical, with percutaneous gallbladder drainage in patients deemed high risk for surgical intervention. Endoscopic management of acute cholecytitis with transpapillary and transmural drainage of the gall bladder is emerging as a viable alternative in high-risk surgical patients. In this article, we discuss the background, current status, technical challenges and strategies to overcome them, adverse events, and outcomes of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for management of acute cholecystitis.