Post-ERCP clearance of bile duct stones: should the gallbladder be left in-situ?

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become the gold standard management for patients who present with common bile duct stone (CBDS). Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is generally recommended for patients who have CBDS clearance, there is still a significant proportion of patients who are managed expectantly. Our study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of expectant management (EM) versus prophylactic cholecystectomy after initial endoscopic removal of CBDS.

First in Human Evaluation of a Novel Thin Convex Probe Endobronchial Ultrasound System.

Introduction: The incidence of pulmonary imaging abnormalities continues to increase. While standard CP-EBUS is safe and accurate, it has limited reach through smaller bronchi. Olympus BF-Y0069 TCP-EBUS has smaller diameter and improved angulation.

Extrahepatic gallstones and abscess formation post-cholecystostomy: a rare complication in high-risk acute cholecystitis management.

This intriguing case report explores an interesting complication following percutaneous cholecystostomy for the management of acute cholecystitis in an elderly female with multiple comorbidities. Despite initial improvement, she later presented with recurrent symptoms, due to a collection of gallstones, that had migrated through the cholecystostomy tract, requiring exploration, stone retrieval and abscess drainage. While percutaneous cholecystostomy remains an effective treatment for managing acute cholecystitis in high-risk surgical candidates, this case highlights the rare yet critical risk of extrahepatic gallstones and abscess formation.

The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Current challenges and future directions for shared decision making for lung cancer screening.

Shared decision making (SDM) between health care professionals and patients is essential to help patients make well informed choices about lung cancer screening (LCS). Patients who participate in SDM have greater LCS knowledge, reduced decisional conflict, and improved adherence to annual screening compared with patients who do not participate in SDM. SDM tools are acceptable to patients and clinicians.