Transpapillary Gallbladder Stents Can Stabilize or Improve Decompensated Cirrhosis in Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation.

Goals: To describe the short-term and long-term outcomes in 34 consecutive decompensated cirrhotic patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease undergoing transpapillary gallbladder stent (TGS) placement.

Background: Endoscopic TGS placement is a minimally invasive means of treating symptomatic gallbladder disease in poor surgical candidates.

Study: Between June 2005 and June 2011, 34 patients with cirrhosis and symptomatic gallbladder disease underwent attempted TGS placement.