New study tests if draining the gallbladder early prevents repeat attacks in frail patients

NCT ID NCT05893511

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether draining the gallbladder using a thin tube passed through the mouth (EUS-GBD) right away is better than starting with antibiotics alone for elderly or very sick patients with mild to moderate gallbladder infection who cannot have surgery. About 110 participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two approaches. The main goal is to see if upfront drainage reduces the chance of another gallbladder infection within one year.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) procedure
What this could lead to
If successful, upfront drainage could become a standard treatment to prevent repeat gallbladder attacks in frail patients who cannot undergo surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small Phase 3 trial (110 patients), and the procedure carries risks like bleeding or infection. The benefit over antibiotics alone may not be large enough to change practice.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Chinese Universtiy of Hong Kong

    RECRUITING

    Hong Kong, HONG KONG, 00000, Hong Kong

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