Background Recent evidences suggest that gallbladder drainage is the treatment of choice in elderly or high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). Despite better outcomes compared to other approaches, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is burdened by high mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate predictive factors for mortality in high-risk surgical patients who underwent EUS-GBD for AC. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed. Electrocautery-enhanced lumenapposing metal stents were used; all recorded variables were evaluated as potential predictive factors for mortality. Results Thirty-four patients underwent EUS for suspected AC and 25 (44% male, age 78) were finally included. Technical, clinical success rate and adverse events rate were 92%, 88%, and 16%, respectively. 30-day and 1-year mortality were 12% and 32%. On univariate analysis, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ), acute kidney injury (AKI) ) and clinical success ) were related to 30-day mortality. On multivariate analysis, CCI and AKI were independently related to long-term mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves showed an increased long-term mortality in patients with ) and ). Conclusions Severe comorbidities and AKI were independent predictive factors confirming of long-term mortality after EUS-GBD. Outcomes of EUS-GBD appear more influenced by patients' conditions rather than by procedure success.

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Background and Aims Pelvic fluid collections (PFCs) are frequent adverse events of abdominal surgery or inflammatory conditions. A percutaneous approach to deep PFCs could be challenging and result in a longer, painful recovery. The transvaginal approach has been considered easy but is limited by the difficulty of leaving a stent in place. The transrectal approach has been described, but issues related to fecal contamination were hypothesized. Data on EUS-guided transrectal drainage (EUS-TRD) with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) are few and suggest unsatisfactory outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-TRD with LAMSs in patients with PFCs. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database on therapeutic EUS was conducted. All EUS-TRD procedures were included. Results Five patients (2 male, age 44-89 years) were included. Four patients had postoperative PFCs, and 1 presented with a pelvic abscess complicating acute diverticulitis. Two of 5 had fecal diversion; the remaining 3 had unaltered large-bowel anatomy. One case had a concomitant abdominal collection, treated with percutaneous drainage in the same session. An electrocautery-enhanced LAMS delivery system (15 × 10 mm) was used in all cases. EUS-TRD was performed with the direct-puncture technique and lasted less than 10 minutes in 4 cases; in the remaining case, needle puncture and LAMS placement over a guidewire was required, and the procedure length was 14 minutes. The clinical success rate was 100%. LAMSs were removed after a median of 14 (range, 12-24) days. One patient reported partial proximal LAMS migration after 24 days (mild adverse event). No PFC recurrence was observed. Conclusion EUS-TRD with LAMSs is a safe and effective technique for treatment of PFCs. The use of 15- × 10-mm LAMSs allows rapid PFC resolution. EUS-TRD could be performed not only in patients with fecal diversion but also in cases of unaltered anatomy.

Study design Retrospective single-center study. Objectives Persons with spinal cord injury live with neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Difficulties with management of neurogenic bowel can increase over time with age and time post injury, with a negative impact on autonomy and quality of life. Many conservative treatments are available to improve bowel management; however, in case of failure, a colostomy may be considered.

The Covid-19 outbreak has induced dramatic changes to health care in Italy. Restrictions to intensive care units (ICU) and operating rooms to care for Covid-19 patients has limited the facilities available for infection-free patients [1, 2]. We report on a patient with sepsis due to acute cholecystitis who was managed entirely outside the operating room and ICU. An 80-year-old woman who had been admitted to a rehabilitation institute 20 days earlier following a spinal injury, developed sepsis. Liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase 89 U/L), white blood cells (27 000 /mm 3), bilirubin (2.9 mg/dL), and C-reactive protein (37.2 mg/dL) were markedly elevated. Her condition worsened overnight and she was referred to hospital. Computed tomography showed marked dilation of the gallbladder with thickened walls and multiple radio-opaque stones. Additionally, complete collapse of the left lung and findings suspicious for Covid-related pneumonia were reported (▶ Fig. 1). As ICU was unavailable, and following multidisciplinary evaluation, she was moved to the endoscopy suite for drainage. Pending Covid-19 results, she was managed as a positive case as a precaution (i. e. negative-pressure room, personal protective equipment) (▶ Fig. 2). Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) was preferred over percutaneous drainage to allow definitive treatment and, potentially, rapid discharge from hospital [3-5]. EUS-GBD was achieved by placement of a 10-mm electrocautery-enhanced lumenapposing metal stent (▶ Fig. 3, ▶ Fig. 4, ▶ Video 1). The procedure lasted 20 minutes and was conducted under deep sedation. The patient experienced prompt reduction of abdominal pain and remained afebrile. No complications developed and she was discharged 4 hours later. She resumed oral feeding the fol-E-Videos ▶ Fig. 1 Computed tomography images. a Markedly dilated gallbladder, with thickened wall and small stones. b Collapsed left lung and signs of diffuse pneumonia with ground-glass areas in the right lung.