Endoscopic retreatment of recurrent choledocholithiasis after sphincterotomy

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) carries a substantial risk of recurrent choledocholithiasis but retreatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is safe and feasible. However, long term results of repeat ERCP and risk factors for late complications are largely unknown. AIMS: To investigate the long term outcome of repeat ERCP for recurrent bile duct stones after ES and to identify risk factors predicting late choledochal complications. METHODS: Eighty four patients underwent repeat ERCP, combined with ES in 69, for post-ES recurrent choledocholithiasis. Long term outcomes of repeat ERCP were retrospectively investigated and factors predicting late complications were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Complete stone clearance was achieved in all patients. Forty nine patients had no visible evidence of prior sphincterotomy. Two patients experienced early complications. During a follow up period of 2.2-26.0 years (median 10.9 years), 31 patients (37%) developed late complications, including stone recurrence (n = 26), acute acalculous cholangitis(n = 4), and acute cholecystitis (n = 1). There were neither biliary malignancies nor deaths attributable to biliary disease. Multivariate analysis identified three independent risk factors for choledochal complications: interval between initial ES and repeat ERCP < or =5 years, bile duct diameter > or =15 mm, and periampullary diverticulum. Choledochal complications were successfully treated with repeat ERCP in 29 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Choledochal complications after repeat ERCP are relatively frequent but are endoscopically manageable. Careful follow up is necessary, particularly for patients with a dilated bile duct, periampullary diverticulum, or early recurrence. Repeat ERCP is a reasonable treatment even for recurrent choledocholithiasis after ES.     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis

The efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of acute cholangitis caused by choledocholithiasis was evaluated in a consecutive series of 30 patients. Twenty-five patients (83%) were satisfactorily treated, leading to a normalization of serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and temperature. The procedure was unsuccessful in 4 patients because of large stones. All 4 were submitted to surgery. None of the patients in whom sphincterotomy had been performed had short-term complications. Follow-up with a mean observation time of 22 months showed that 84% of the patients, remained completely symptom-free. Our results are in agreement with those reported in the literature. It is concluded that treatment with instrumental extraction through endoscopic sphincterotomy is simple and fast, and that it should be considered the treatment of choice in the majority of patients with acute cholangitis. For these patients, relief of the biliary obstruction and normalization of the increased intrabiliary pressure remain an essential prerequisite for a favourable outcome.     

内镜下乳头切开术与外科手术治疗胆总管结石合并肝硬化的回顾性分析

目的探讨内镜下乳头切开术（EST）与外科手术治疗胆总管结石合并肝硬化病例疗效及并发症情况的比较。方法1985年8月至2008年5月间,胆总管结石合并肝硬化患者中139例行EST术,98例行外科手术作为对照组。结果EST组和外科手术组取石成功率分别为95％和100％。术后并发症发生率EST组为16．5％,外科手术组为62．2％;术后死亡率EST组为5．O％,外科手术组为24．5％,两组差异均有统计学意义。并发症发生率与肝功能Child—Pugh分级关系：A级,两组比较差异无统计学意义,而B级与C级,两组比较差异有统计学意义。死亡率与肝功能Child-Pugh分级关系：A级与B级,两组比较差异无统计学意义,而C级,两组比较差异有统计学差异。结论与外科手术相比,EST治疗胆总管结石合并肝硬化可显著减少术后并发症发生率和死亡率,取石成功率高达95％。     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy plus large-balloon dilation vs endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis:A meta-analysis

AIM:To perform a meta-analysis of large-balloon dilation(LBD)plus endoscopic sphincterotomy(EST)vs EST alone for removal of bile duct stones.METHODS:Databases including PubMed,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library,the Science Citation Index,and important meeting abstracts were searched and evaluated by two reviewers independently.The main outcome measures included:complete stone removal,stone removal in the first session,use of mechanical lithotripsy,procedure time,and procedure-related complications.A fixed-effects model weighted by the Mantel-Haenszel method was used for pooling the odds ratio(OR)when heterogeneity was not significant among the studies.When a Q test or I2statistic indicated substantial heterogeneity,a random-effects model weighted by the DerSimonian-Laird method was used.RESULTS:Six randomized controlled trials involving835 patients were analyzed.There was no significant heterogeneity for most results;we analyzed these using a fixed-effects model.Meta-analysis showed EST plus LBD caused fewer overall complications than EST alone(OR=0.53,95%CI:0.33-0.85,P=0.008);sub-category analysis indicated a significantly lower risk of perforation in the EST plus LBD group(Peto OR=0.14,95%CI:0.20-0.98,P=0.05).Use of mechanical lithotripsy in the EST plus LBD group decreased significantly(OR=0.26,95%CI:0.08-0.82,P=0.02),especially in patients with a stone size larger than 15 mm(OR=0.15,95%CI:0.03-0.68,P=0.01).There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding complete stone removal,stone removal in the first session,post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis,bleeding,infection of biliary tract,and procedure time.CONCLUSION:EST plus LBD is an effective approach for the removal of large bile duct stones,causing fewer complications than EST alone.     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy vs. endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for choledocholithiasis in patients with liver cirrhosis and coagulopathy

BACKGROUND: To determine whether endoscopic papillary balloon dilation decreases the risk of hemorrhage without increasing the risk of acute pancreatitis, the results of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation were compared with those of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in patients with cirrhosis and coagulopathy. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with liver cirrhosis with coagulopathy had endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for choledocholithiasis from January 2001 to September 2003. Twenty patients with cirrhosis and coagulopathy who underwent endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy from January 1998 to December 2000, served as a historical control group. RESULTS: The rate of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy related hemorrhage was 30% (6/20), whereas the rate for endoscopic papillary balloon dilation related hemorrhage was 0% (p=0.009). With regard to rates of hemorrhage in relation to Child-Pugh class, most (n=5) of the bleeding complications occurred in patients with Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis; bleeding occurred in only one patient with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis. There was no significant difference between the endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy and the endoscopic papillary balloon dilation groups for procedure-related pancreatitis (10% vs. 4.7%, respectively; p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation may significantly reduce the risk of bleeding compared with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in patients with advanced cirrhosis and coagulopathy. In these patients, the substitution of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy is recommended for treatment of choledocholithiasis.     

内镜下括约肌切开治疗老年胆总管结石的临床应用

目的 探讨内镜下括约肌切开术(EST)对老年胆总管结石患者的治疗价值,并对其安全性进行评估. 方法 回顾性分析4年来105例≥65岁胆总管结石患者进行EST切开取石的成功率和并发症发生率. 结果 取石获得成功102例,取石成功率97.1%.未成功3例,其中插管造影失败2例,因心肺功能异常终止手术1例.术后并发症:急性胰腺炎4例,活动性出血1例,急性胆管炎1例,心律失常1例. 结论 EST治疗老年胆总管结石是一种创伤小、疗效确切、安全系数高的治疗方法,娴熟的内镜操作技术与规范的治疗可以减少并发症的发生.     

内镜治疗肝硬化合并胆总管结石的临床研究

目的探讨内镜治疗肝硬化合并胆总管结石的疗效及安全性。方法104例肝硬化合并胆总管结石患者行内镜治疗,对比术前、术后2周肝功能Child．Pugh分级和终末期肝病积分（MELD积分）,记录并发症发生情况及死亡病例数。结果104例患者中96例（92．3％）完全取出结石,8例（7．7％）未取出结石者放置支架内引流。术后2周MELD积分为（10．1±6．3）分,明显低于术前的（11．9±6．2）分（t=2．22,P〈0．05）;术后2周肝功能Child—Pugh分级例数比（A级／B缈C级）为40／52／12,明显优于术前的28／52／24（X2=6．12,P〈0．05）。内镜治疗过程中无一例穿孔,发生术后消化道出血9例、术后胰腺炎8例;住院期间无死亡病例,出院后3个月内有2例（8．3％）Child—Pugh分级C级患者死亡。结论内镜治疗肝硬化合并胆总管结石有较好疗效,采取有效的预防和止血等措施后是安全可行的。     

Gallbladder motility and lithogenicity of bile in patients with choledocholithiasis after endoscopic sphincterotomy

Background/Aims: Ablation of the sphincter of Oddi has been shown to inhibit gallstone formation in the prairie dog model, probably by allevaiting gallbladder bile stasis. The effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) on gallbladder emptying and lithogenicity of bile has not been studied adequately in humans. We, therefore, studied the changes in gallbladder emptying and lithogenicity of bile following ES in patients with choledocholithiasis and gallbladder in situ.Methods: Thirteen patients with choledocholithiasis with intact gallbladder underwent ES and common bile duct clearance. Eight patients had concomitant gallstones. Gallbladder emptying was studied by real time ultrasonography after stimulation by ceruletid infusion. Fasting gallbladder bile was collected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography by placing a 7F or 8F catheter in the common bile duct and after ceruletid stimulation of gallbladder for bile microscopy and cholesterol nucleation time determination. Gallbladder emptying, nucleation time and bile microscopy were performed before ES and again between 4 and 8 weeks after ES after cholangiographic confirmation of clearance of common bile duct stones.Results: Fasting and residual gallbladder volumes decreased and ejection fraction increased significantly following ES, suggesting decreased stasis and improved emptying of gallbladder. Nucleation time was prolonged and cholesterol crystal index in bile decreased after ES, suggesting decreased lithogenicity. The decrease in gallbladder volumes and increase in ejection fraction after ES were observed in both groups of patients, with or without concomitant gallstones.Conclusions: ES decreases the stasis of gallbladder bile, improves gallbladder emptying and decreases the lithogenicity of bile in patients with gallstone disease as reflected by prolongation in nucleation time. ES may find a role as an adjunct to oral bile acid therapy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in addition to a prophylactic role of preventing gallstone formation in high risk groups.     

Endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis in patients with cirrhosis

Treatment of choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis in patients with cirrhosis often requires diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Patients with underlying cirrhosis may have coagulopathy, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites and other comorbidities associated with cirrhosis that can make endoscopic therapy challenging and can be associated with a higher risk of adverse events. Given the unique derangements of physiologic parameters associated with cirrhosis this population requires a truly multifaceted and multidisciplinary understanding between therapeutic endoscopists, hepatologists and anesthesiologists. For therapeutic endoscopists, it is critical to be aware of the specific issues unique to this population of patients to optimize outcomes and avoid adverse events. The epidemiology of gallstone disease, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to patients with varying degree of hepatic dysfunction, and a review of the available literature in this area are presented.     

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation versus endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment for choledocholithiasis: a meta-analysis

Background and Aim: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) are two common nonsurgical treatments endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of EPBD and EST in the treatment for choledocholithiasis, confining the analysis to work reported in the last decade. Methods: The rate of overall postoperative complications was chosen as the primary outcome, and 10 other outcomes were secondary outcomes. Relative risk (RR) or Peto odds ratio (OR) were computed as the measures of pooled effects. We planned sensitivity analyses a priori for examining the change in robustness of the sensitivity to excluding studies with some inappropriate objects, technique defects or without full‐text acquisition. Results: For complete stone removal, EPBD was similar to EST (95% vs. 96%, P = 0.36) and overall postoperative complications (14.0% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.53). The incidence of post‐ERCP cholangitis (2.5% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.40), basket impaction (0.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.16) and perforation (0.0% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.17) were equivalent between EPBD and EST. On the other hand, EPBD caused more post‐ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (9.4% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.00001), but less hemorrhage (0.1% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.00001). People undergoing EPBD required more use of endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy (35.0% vs. 26.2%, P = 0.0004). The results of sensitivity analyses showed no substantial change. Conclusion: EPBD is comparable to EST for stone extraction, though it requires more endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy (EML). EPBD may outweigh EST for patients with coagulopathy; however, it may cause more PEP.