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Outcomes of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Using Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent Performed by Early Career Advanced Endoscopists: A Multicenter Study
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Outcomes of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Using Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent Performed by Early Career Advanced Endoscopists: A Multicenter Study

Suchapa Arayakarnkul, Natalie Wilson, Amir Rumman, Nicholas McDonald, Hafiz Muzaffar Akbar Khan, Eric Montminy, Seema Gandhi, Thomas Tielleman, Munish Ashat, Amaninder Dhaliwal, …
Digestive diseases and sciences, Vol.71(4), pp.1541-1546
04/2026
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-025-09483-0
PMID: 41152606

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Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) has gained popularity for acute cholecystitis (AC) management in patients deemed unfit for surgery. Recent studies have found > 95% technical success and > 90% clinical success when performed by experienced advanced endoscopists. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) for EUS-GBD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-GBD performed by early-career advanced endoscopists in North America. This was a retrospective multicenter study of patients who underwent EUS-GBD performed by 8 early-career advanced endoscopists (defined as within 3 years of graduation from advanced endoscopy fellowship (AEF)) between January 2021 and March 2024. Primary outcomes included technical success (ability to place LAMS into the gallbladder) and clinical success (resolution of symptoms and laboratory abnormalities). Secondary outcomes included adverse events (AEs) and 30-day readmission rates. A total of 57 patients (mean age 70.7 years, 59.6% male) were included. The most common site of EUS-GBD was the duodenum (57.9%) and LAMS size 10 × 10 mm (71.9%). The technical success rate was 98.2%, and the clinical success rate was 98.2%. AEs occurred in 3.5% (n = 2), including gallbladder perforation and recurrent AC following stent migration. The 30-day readmission rate was 5.3% (n = 3). There was no procedure-related mortality. Our study demonstrates that EUS-GBD is safe and effective when performed by early-career advanced endoscopists. These outcomes are similar to previous data when performed by experienced advanced endoscopists.
Lumen-apposing metal stent Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage Endoscopic drainage Cholecystitis Early-career

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