Endoscopic stenting of gallbladder for symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with end-stage liver disease awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation.

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.