First in-Human Gallbladder Cryoablation in a Patient with Acute Calculous Cholecystitis Initially Treated with a Cholecystostomy Tube

J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2019 Aug;30(8):1229-1232. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2018.12.011. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Abstract

A 71-year-old poor surgical candidate with acute calculous cholecystitis was initially managed with cholecystostomy tube drainage for 28 days. He subsequently underwent gallbladder cryoablation under moderate sedation with 3 cryoprobes and 2 separate 10-8-10 freeze-thaw cycles targeting the gallbladder neck/body and fundus followed by cholecystostomy tube removal. He was discharged 1 day after ablation. Magnetic resonance and hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan 1 month postablation demonstrated a thick-walled, distended gallbladder and no filling of the cystic duct. Magnetic resonance 3 months postablation demonstrated retraction of the gallbladder wall with luminal collapse. The patient denied any pain after discharge and is asymptomatic 3 months after ablation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cholecystitis, Acute / diagnostic imaging
  • Cholecystitis, Acute / surgery*
  • Cholecystostomy / instrumentation*
  • Cryosurgery*
  • Device Removal
  • Gallstones / diagnostic imaging
  • Gallstones / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome