Cholecystectomy vs EUS-guided GBD With Stone Removal

The EUS-guided cholecystostomy entails placing a 10 mm x 10 mm or 10mm x 15mm Electrocautery-Enhanced LAMS for direct cholecystoscopy with a transnasal gastroscope. Then, the cholecystostomy will be performed with an echoendoscope, assisted by fluoroscopy to allow the puncturing of the gallbladder form either the duodenal bulb (cholecysto-duodenoscopy) or the gastric antrum (cholecysto-gastrostomy). Subsequently, from the most optimal anatomic point it will be tutored with a 10mmx10mm or 10mm x 15mm LAMS to create anastomosis between the structures. Then, the stone clearance will be performed by endoscopy (basket catheters) or by cholangioscopy (mechanical lithotripsy with or without basket catheters).

A laparoscopic biliary exploration along with an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy will be performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons (over 100 laparoscopic procedures yearly) by three or four-trocar technique with transection of the cystic duct and artery.