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Gallbladder Cryoablation in High-Risk Patients

Not Applicable
Conditions
Gallstone; Cholecystitis
Biliary Colic
Gallbladder Diseases
Cholecystitis
Gallstone
Gall Bladder Pain
Biliary Dyskinesia
Interventions
Device: Gallbladder Cryoablation
Registration Number
NCT04915651
Lead Sponsor
University of Arizona
Brief Summary

Benign gallbladder disease, including acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, and biliary colic, is very common, with over 300,000 surgical cholecystectomies performed per year in the US. Unfortunately, complication rates in elderly patients or patients with many comorbidities are high. These patients are often managed with percutaneous tube drainage of the gallbladder (percutaneous cholecystostomy). The recurrence rate of calculous cholecystitis after cholecystostomy tube removal is as high as 35% at 1 year. These patients are thus faced with permanent cholecystostomy tube drainage, high-risk surgery, or cholecystostomy tube removal and risk of repeat cholecystitis. Gallbladder cryoablation is an alternative to surgical cholecystectomy which is performed percutaneously and does not require general anesthesia. Published evidence on the outcomes of gallbladder cryoablation is however limited at this point in time. The purpose of the proposed study is to follow the outcomes of high-risk patients who undergo gallbladder cryoablation.

Detailed Description

The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate the outcomes of gallbladder cryoablation in high-risk surgical candidates with benign gallbladder disease (acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, biliary colic).

Specific Aim:

Aim 1: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of gallbladder cryoablation in high-risk surgical candidates. Patients who undergo gallbladder cryoablation will be followed long-term according to standard of care. This includes scheduled clinic follow up, laboratory analysis, and imaging as needed. We hypothesize that gallbladder cryoablation is a safe and effective treatment for high-risk surgical patients with benign gallbladder disease. Clinically, we hypothesize that patients will be free from any clinical symptoms or signs after gallbladder cryoablation and removal of a cholecystostomy tube. These include, but are not limited to right upper quadrant pain, fever, chills, and jaundice.

Aim 2: To evaluate the imaging changes seen in the gallbladder after cryoablation. Imaging is part of routine follow up after percutaneous ablation and may include CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine studies as needed. We hypothesize that after cryoablation, patients will be functionally acholecystic, which occlusion of the cystic duct and involution and fibrosis of the gallbladder demonstrated by imaging.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • High-risk surgical candidates with benign gallbladder disease who are not eligible for surgical cholecystectomy and are able to consent to study inclusion.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with benign gallbladder disease who are eligible for surgical cholecystectomy or who are unable to provide informed consent.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Gallbladder CryoablationGallbladder CryoablationHigh-risk patients who undergo gallbladder cryoablation
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Symptomatic reliefUp to 2 years after procedure

Absence of right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea and absence of repeat episodes of cholecystitis, which would manifest as right upper quadrant abdominal pain associated with a fever (\>100 C) and leukocytosis.

ComplicationsUp to 2 years after procedure

Clavien-Dindo classification complications

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
ImagingUp to 2 years after procedure

Imaging evidence of gallbladder devitalization and fibrosis

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Arizona

🇺🇸

Tucson, Arizona, United States

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