title: Endoscopic stenting of gallbladder for symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with end-stage liver disease awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation.
abstract: Cholecystectomy in patients with advanced cirrhosis is associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. Symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation poses unique management issues. Three patients with end-stage liver disease, severe enough to warrant hepatic transplantation, developed symptoms and complications of cholelithiasis requiring intervention. Each underwent placement of a biliary stent from gallbladder to duodenum at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram. In each case, biliary symptoms and complications ceased after stent placement. Two patients remained symptom-free until they underwent successful liver transplantation, and the third awaits transplant and is currently free of symptoms of cholelithiasis. Endoscopic placement of gallbladder stents represents a temporizing alternative for the management of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis awaiting hepatic transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bilir
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Everson
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents