UnknownNot Applicable

Gallbladder Cryoablation in High-Risk Patients

United States20 participantsStarted 2021-07-01

Plain-language 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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

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.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Symptomatic relief

Timeframe: Up to 2 years after procedure

Complications

Timeframe: Up to 2 years after procedure

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04915651

SponsorUniversity of Arizona

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2022-07-01

Contact for this trial

Hugh McGregor, MD

520-626-1069 hughcjmcgregor@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Gallbladder Diseases trials