EUS-guided gallbladder (GB) drainage is an advanced endoscopic procedure used to manage acute or chronic conditions involving the gallbladder, particularly when conventional methods like surgery or percutaneous drainage are not suitable or have failed. This technique utilizes endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), which combines traditional endoscopy with ultrasound imaging to provide detailed visualization of the gallbladder and surrounding structures from within the gastrointestinal tract.

During EUS-guided GB drainage, an endoscope equipped with an ultrasound probe is passed through the mouth, esophagus, and stomach until it reaches the duodenum or stomach adjacent to the gallbladder. Using real-time ultrasound guidance, the endoscopist locates a suitable puncture site on the gallbladder wall. A needle is then advanced through the endoscope and into the gallbladder, allowing for the insertion of a stent or drainage catheter to create a channel for bile to flow directly into the gastrointestinal tract.