A Pilot Study of Percutaneous Cholecystoenteric Anastomosis: A New Option for High-Risk Patients with Symptomatic Gallstones.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cholecystoenteric anastomosis (PCEA) creation in patients with indwelling cholecystostomy tubes who are high-risk surgical candidates.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen (male, 10; female, 4) patients with a mean age of 79 years (range, 53-92 years) with previously inserted cholecystostomy tubes underwent PCEA with the adjacent duodenum using a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) between January 2015 and October 2022. Intraprocedural adverse events and postprocedural safety and effectiveness outcomes were evaluated. Nine procedures were performed under sedation and 5 under general anesthesia.

Results: Technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients. In 12 patients (86%), the existing cholecystostomy tube was removed after the insertion of the LAMS. Three patients (21%) had a pre-existing cholecystoduodenal fistula, in which the stent was placed, and 11 (79%) underwent creation of a de novo anastomosis. The mean procedure time was 1.5 hours (range, 1-2 hours). The mean length of stay after the procedure was 2.4 days (range, 1-10 days). There were no intraprocedural adverse events. One patient with severe pre-existing cardiac comorbidities died during his postprocedural stay despite a technically successful procedure. One patient had delayed closure of the long-standing cholecystocutaneous tract.

Conclusions: Early clinical experience with PCEA using an LAMS suggests that it is a safe and effective option for the creation of internal gallbladder drainage in patients who are not candidates for surgical cholecystectomy.