Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) has emerged as an effective minimally invasive treatment for acute cholecystitis in patients who are poor surgical candidates. Although the procedure is commonly performed under deep sedation or general anesthesia, many patients eligible for EUS-GBD are elderly and have significant comorbidities, making anesthesia management particularly challenging. Data regarding the use of endoscopist-directed conscious sedation for EUS-GBD remain limited.
The investigators designed this prospective single-center study to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of EUS-GBD performed under endoscopist-directed conscious sedation in a cohort of elderly, high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. The study focuses on procedural outcomes and sedation management, with particular attention to ketamine-based conscious sedation as a potential strategy for minimizing anesthesia-related risks in this vulnerable population.
