Feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis patients receiving antithrombotic therapy

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) as a treatment for patients with acute cholecystitis has been shown to obtain high technical and clinical success rates and a low recurrence rate. However, the safety of EUS-GBD for patients receiving antithrombotic therapy (ATT) has not been proven. The aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-GBD in patients receiving ATT. METHODS: Twelve patients with acute cholecystitis associated with gallstones who were receiving antithrombotic therapy and underwent EUS-GBD were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients with grade II or III cholecystitis who had failed endoscopic transpapillary GBD (ETGBD) or developed recurrence after multiple ETGBD procedures underwent urgent drainage by EUS-GBD. The primary outcome was the rate of bleeding complications after the procedure and the secondary outcomes were the technical and clinical success rates, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: Eleven (91.6%) patients underwent EUS-GBD with continuation of ATT (at least 1 agent). Five of 12 patients (41.7%) were receiving more than 1 agent for ATT. The rate of bleeding complications was 0% and the technical success rate was 100%, even though some patients had high-grade (severe) cholecystitis and/or several underlying diseases. Early complications were found in 2 (16.7%) patients. The clinical success rate was 91.7% (11/12). There were no recurrences of cholecystitis during the follow-up period (mean 261 [range 5-650] days). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GBD yielded high technical and clinical success rates and a low recurrence rate. No patients receiving ATT developed bleeding complications. EUS-GBD might be a good option for patients on ATT.