Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis

With technological advances in endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage (EUS‐GBD) was introduced as a treatment option for acute cholecystitis. Recently, new studies have emerged, suggesting that EUS‐GBD has a lower adverse event rate and reintervention rate, when compared to percutaneous drainage and endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage. There is growing interest in the different technical aspects of EUS‐GBD, such as the puncture approach, choice of stents, and long‐term management. There are also cohorts on performing EUS‐GBD in potential surgical candidates. This review article gathers the latest evidence on EUS‐GBD, including its indications, procedural techniques, choice of equipment, outcomes, postprocedural care, and the controversial extended indications.