Usefulness of a One‐step Semi‐deployment Flushing and Stenting Technique in Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage for Acute Cholecystitis (With Video)

ABSTRACT Objectives Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (EGBS) has demonstrated high technical and clinical success rates in endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) for acute cholecystitis. The effectiveness of a 5‐Fr endoscopic naso‐gallbladder drainage (ENGBD) tube for flushing and the internal fistula technique after tube cutting has also been reported. We developed an alternative one‐step semi‐deployed flushing and stenting technique for EGBS using a 7‐Fr pigtail stent that avoids tube resection and evaluated its effectiveness and safety compared with that of endoscopic nasogastric gallbladder drainage. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 30 patients who underwent ETGBD for acute cholecystitis between April 2023 and November 2024. Results The technical and clinical success rates of the one‐step semi‐deployment flushing and stenting techniques were 95.2% (20/21) and 100% (20/20), respectively. No adverse events were reported. The procedure time did not differ significantly from that of ENGBD. Conclusions EGBS using one‐step semi‐deployment flushing and stenting is a simple and effective treatment for acute cholecystitis in patients with ETGBD.