Common gallbladder conditions like gallstones, polyps, and gallbladder inflammation are typically treated by surgically removing the gallbladder. However, surgery may be too risky for elderly patients or those with severe medical conditions, and some patients strongly prefer to keep their gallbladder.
Newer, less-invasive endoscopic treatments can drain the gallbladder to treat inflammation without surgery. However, after successful drainage, doctors currently do not know whether it is better to leave a stent inside for long-term drainage or to actively remove the gallbladder stones using an endoscope.
This multicenter study will follow patients in a real-world setting to compare these two approaches: the endoscopic treatment group (stone removal after drainage) and the non-endoscopic treatment group (long-term drainage alone). The goal is to evaluate which method is safer and more effective over the long term, helping doctors make better clinical decisions and improve patients' quality of life.