EUS-guided Gallbladder Drainage Instead of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis. A Feasibility Study.

Inclusion Criteria: Consecutive healthy patients aged ≥ 18 years old suffering from acute calculous cholecystitis indicated for laparoscopic cholecystectomy would be included. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Patients unwilling to undergo follow-up assessments * Patients with suspected gangrene or perforation of the gallbladder * Patients diagnosed with concomitant liver abscess or pancreatitis (defined as elevated serum amylase more than three times the upper limit of normal) * Patients with duodenal obstruction * Altered anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract due to surgery of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum * Patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and/or gastric varices * Abnormal coagulation: international normalised ratio (INR) \> 1.5 and/or platelets \< 50.000/mm3 * Previous drainage of the gallbladder