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 pati ents 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 complicati ons ceased after stent placement, Two patients remained symptom-free u ntil they underwent successful liver transplantation, and the third aw aits transplant and is currently free of symptoms of cholelithiasis. E ndoscopic placement of gallbladder stents represents a temporizing alt ernative for the management of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasi s awaiting hepatic transplantation.