EUS-guided Gall Bladder Drainage in Severe Liver Disease: A Single-center Experience in Critically Ill Cirrhotics

Background and Aims: Acute calculous cholecystitis with impending gall bladder perforation in severe liver diseases including decompensated cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is difficult to manage, due to the procedures such as cholecystectomy and per cutaneous cholecystostomy being associated with high risk and complications in these patients. Methods: Four cases of severe liver disease with acute calculous cholecystitis who presented to the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (New Delhi, India) for further management were included in the study if they underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided gall bladder drainage (EUS-GBD). The patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months and outcomes were recorded. Results: Four cases of severe liver disease (three ACLF and one decompensated cirrhosis), with model for end-stage liver disease scores of 24, 26, 23 and 25 respectively, presented with acute calculous cholecystitis (Tokyo grade III) and systemic sepsis (high total leukocyte counts). Their international normalized ratios were 2.3, 2.6, 2.2 and 2.9 respectively, and two were in shock, requiring inotropes at presentation. Ultrasonography of the abdomen confirmed hugely distended gall bladder with stone impacted at the neck and moderate ascites. All these cases underwent EUS-GBD by linear echo endoscope, and had the gastric wall punctured in the antrum using a 19G access needle followed by dilatation of the tract using controlled radial expansion balloon and Sohendra dilator. In three cases, the plastic stents were placed. In the fourth case, a Nagi stent was placed. All the patients recovered and were discharged within a week. Conclusions: EUS-GBD is challenging in severe liver disease but represents a life-saving procedure, and hence can be attempted in such critically ill patients with utmost care and precaution.