Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Endoscopic ultrasound -assisted transmural chole cystoduodenostomy or 
cholecystogastrostomy as a bridge for per -oral cholecystoscopy therapy using double -flanged 
fully covered metal stent  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Oct 2015  
 
Reviewer: Chen Shuan  Chung  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This is a novel transluminal endoscopic method for management of gallbladder stones. However, 
there is no control group for comparison between surgical intervention and due to small sample 
size, this study should be submitted as "case series" rather than "original articles".  
Some questions should be raised before consideration for publication.  
1. How to de fine "symptomatic" gallbladder stones? By clinical symptoms only, or combining 
laboratory test (such as alkaline phosphatase and rGT)? If so, please show the laboratory tests 
of study subjects before procedure.  
2. Please describe the distance of contact zo ne under EUS -guided puncture.  
3. Please describe the diet suggestion after procedure and during fistulization by metallic 
stenting.  
4. Please describe the strategy of antibiotics usage.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some langu age corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the  future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents rela ting to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is acc epted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acce ss Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommon s.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Endoscopic ultrasound -assisted transmural chole cystoduodenostomy or 
cholecystogastrostomy as a bridge for per -oral cholecystoscopy therapy using double -flanged 
fully covered metal stent  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Oct 2015  
 
Reviewer: Chen Shuan  Chung  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This is a novel transluminal endoscopic method for management of gallbladder stones. However, 
there is no control group for comparison between surgical intervention and due to small sample 
size, this study should be submitted as "case series" rather than "original articles".  
Some questions should be raised before consideration for publication.  
1. How to de fine "symptomatic" gallbladder stones? By clinical symptoms only, or combining 
laboratory test (such as alkaline phosphatase and rGT)? If so, please show the laboratory tests 
of study subjects before procedure.  
2. Please describe the distance of contact zo ne under EUS -guided puncture.  
3. Please describe the diet suggestion after procedure and during fistulization by metallic 
stenting.  
4. Please describe the strategy of antibiotics usage.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some langu age corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the  future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents rela ting to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is acc epted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acce ss Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommon s.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Endoscopic ultrasound -assisted transmural chole cystoduodenostomy or 
cholecystogastrostomy as a bridge for per -oral cholecystoscopy therapy using double -flanged 
fully covered metal stent  
 
Version: 0 Date: 27 Oct 2015  
 
Reviewer: Chen Shuan  Chung  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This is a novel transluminal endoscopic method for management of gallbladder stones. However, 
there is no control group for comparison between surgical intervention and due to small sample 
size, this study should be submitted as "case series" rather than "original articles".  
Some questions should be raised before consideration for publication.  
1. How to de fine "symptomatic" gallbladder stones? By clinical symptoms only, or combining 
laboratory test (such as alkaline phosphatase and rGT)? If so, please show the laboratory tests 
of study subjects before procedure.  
2. Please describe the distance of contact zo ne under EUS -guided puncture.  
3. Please describe the diet suggestion after procedure and during fistulization by metallic 
stenting.  
4. Please describe the strategy of antibiotics usage.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some langu age corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the  future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents rela ting to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is acc epted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acce ss Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommon s.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant