Esophageal Stenting and Radiotherapy: A Multimodal Approach for the Palliation of Symptomatic Malignant Dysphagia

Background

Esophageal stents provide immediate palliation of malignant dysphagia; however, radiotherapy (RT) is a superior long-term option. We review the outcomes of combined esophageal stenting and RT for patients with malignant dysphagia.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with esophageal stents placed for palliation of malignant dysphagia from esophageal stricture, esophageal extrinsic compression, or malignant tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). We excluded patients with radiation-induced TEF in the absence of tumor. We analyzed and compared outcomes between patients with no RT, RT before stent placement, and RT after stent placement.

Results

We placed stents in 45 patients for esophageal stricture from esophageal cancer (n?=?30; 66.7?%), malignant TEF (n?=?8; 17.7?%), and esophageal compression from airway, mediastinal, or metastatic malignancies (n?=?7; 15.6?%). Twenty patients (44.4?%) had no RT; 25 patients had RT before stent placement (n?=?16; 35.6?%), RT after stent placement (n?=?8; 17.8?%), or both (n?=?1; 2.2?%). Median follow-up was 30?days. Complications requiring stent revision were similar with or without RT. Subjective symptom relief was achieved in 68.9?% of all patients, with no differences noted between groups (p?=?0.99). The 30-day mortality was 15.6?%. Patients with RT after stent placement had a longer median survival compared to those without RT (98 vs. 38?days).

Conclusions

Esophageal stent placement with RT is a safe approach for malignant dysphagia.     

Efficacy and safety of covered self-expandable metal stents for management of distal malignant biliary obstruction due to lymph node metastases

Background

Distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) due to lymph node metastases (LNM) is a common problem in advanced malignant disease. However, the role of covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in treating MBO has not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of covered SEMS for the treatment of distal MBO due to LNM.

Methods

Between November 1994 and December 2009, a total of 65 patients with distal MBO due to LNM underwent covered (n?=?44) and uncovered (n?=?21) SEMS placement.

Results

Successful drainage was achieved in all patients. There was no significant difference in patient survival. The cumulative stent patency of covered SEMS was significantly higher than that of uncovered SEMS (P?=?0.0020). Stent occlusion occurred in 5 patients (11%) with covered SEMS and in 8 (38%) with uncovered SEMS. There was no tumor ingrowth in covered SEMS, but seven in the uncovered SEMS group showed some ingrowth. Cholecystitis was not observed, but mild pancreatitis was observed in 6 (14%) of those with covered SEMS. No stent-insertion-related deaths occurred.

Conclusions

Covered SEMS are safe and effective for treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction due to LNM.     

Management of Electrothermal Injury of Common Bile Duct with a Degradable Biliary Stent: an Experimental Study in a Porcine Model

Background

Electrothermal injury of common bile duct is a frequent type of biliary injury. A long-term postoperative course and biliary leakage after removing T-tube are associated with external drainage. A method was developed to repair the injury with a degradable biliary stent instead of T-tube insertion.

Methods

Pigs were divided into a stent repair (SR) group (n?=?18), a T-tube repair (TR) group (n?=?4), and a suturing repair (SUR) group (n?=?4). An electrothermal injury model was made by electric coagulation. Pigs in the SR group were further divided into five subgroups according to the observation time (2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, and 18 months). Pigs in the TR group and SUR group were observed for 6 months. Cholangiography was repeated and bilirubin level was monitored. Pigs were reoperated for further evaluation at the end of observation.

Results

No biliary stricture, bile leakage, or bile duct necrosis occurred in the SR group. The stent could be detected in the first 2 months. No stent migration or stent-related obstruction was observed. Three pigs in the SUR group had biliary stricture with elevated bilirubin levels.

Conclusions

These results suggested that the developed method for repairing electrothermal injury of common bile duct is feasible and safe.     

Fully covered removable nitinol self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in malignant strictures of the esophagus: a multicenter analysis

Background

Fully covered esophageal self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) often are used for palliation of malignant dysphagia. However, experience and data on these stents are still limited. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fully covered nitinol SEMS in patients with malignant dysphagia.

Methods

37 patients underwent placement of a SEMS during a 3?year period. Five patients underwent SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery: one for tracheoesophageal fistula in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, one for perforation in setting of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 27 for unresectable esophageal cancer (16 adenocarcinoma, 11 squamous cell carcinoma), two for lung cancer, and one for breast-cancer-related esophageal strictures.

Results

SEMS placement was successful in all 37 patients. Immediate complications after stent deployment included chest pain (n?=?6), severe heartburn (n?=?1), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding requiring SEMS revision (n?=?1). Dysphagia scores improved significantly from 3.2?±?0.4 before stent placement to 1.4?±?1.0 at 1?month (P?P?P?=?0.0018) at 6?months. The stent was removed in 11 patients (30%) for the following indications: resolution of stricture (n?=?3), stent malfunction (n?=?5), and stent migration (n?=?3). After stent removal, three patients were restented, three underwent dilation, and two underwent PEG placement. Mean survival for the 37 patients after stent placement was 146.3?±?143.6 (range, 13–680) days.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that fully covered SEMS placement improve dysphagia scores in patients with malignant strictures, particularly in the unresectable population. Further technical improvements in design to minimize long-term malfunction and migration are required.     

Risk factors for pancreatitis following transpapillary self-expandable metal stent placement

Background

Pancreatitis is one of complications after self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for pancreatitis after endoscopic SEMS placement for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 370 consecutive patients who underwent initial transpapillary SEMS placement for biliary decompression. The characteristics of inserted SEMSs were classified according to axial and radial force.

Results

Pancreatitis following SEMS insertion was observed in 22 patients (6%). All of them were mild according to consensus criteria. Univariate analysis indicated that injections of contrast into the pancreatic duct (frequency of pancreatitis, 10.3%), the placement of an SEMS with high axial force (8.3%), and nonpancreatic cancer (16.1%) significantly contributed to the development of pancreatitis, whereas female gender, a younger age, a covered SEMS, and a SEMS with high radial force or without a biliary sphincterotomy did not. In a multivariate risk model, SEMSs with high axial force (odds ratio [OR], 3.69; p?=?0.022) and nonpancreatic cancer (OR, 5.52; p?Conclusions SEMSs with high axial force and an etiology of MBO other than pancreatic cancer were strongly associated with a high incidence of pancreatitis following transpapillary SEMS placement in patients with distal MBO.     

The role of clips in preventing migration of fully covered metallic esophageal stents: a pilot comparative study

Background

Migration is the most common complication of the fully covered metallic self-expanding esophageal stent (SEMS). This study aimed to determine the potential preventive effect of proximal fixation on the mucosa by clips for patients treated with fully covered SEMS.

Methods

In this study, 44 patients (25 males, 57%) were treated with fully covered SEMS including 22 patients with esophageal stricture (4 malignant obstructions, 6 anastomotic strictures, and 12 peptic strictures) and 22 patients with fistulas or perforations (10 anastomotic leaks, 4 perforations, and 8 postbariatric surgery fistulas). The Hanarostent (n?=?25), Bonastent (n?=?5), Niti-S (n?=?12), and HV-stent (n?=?2) with diameters of 18 to 22?mm and lengths of 80 to 170?mm were used. Two to four clips (mean, 2.35?±?0.75 clips) were used consecutively in 23 patients to fix the upper flared end of the stent with the esophageal mucosal layer. Stent migration and its consequences were collected in the follow-up assessment with statistical analysis to compare the patients with and without clip placement.

Results

No complication with clip placement was observed, and the retrieval of the stent was not unsettled by the persistence of at least one clip (12 cases). Stent migration was noted in 15 patients (34%) but in only in 3 of the 23 patients with clips (13%). The number of patients treated to prevent one stent migration was 2.23. The predictive positive value of nonmigration after placement of the clip was 87%. In the multivariate analysis, the fixation with clips was the unique independent factor for the prevention of stent migration (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.10?C0.01; p?=?0.03).

Conclusions

Anchoring of the upper flare of the fully covered SEMS with the endoscopic clip is feasible and significantly reduces stent migration.     

Duodenal metal stent placement is a risk factor for biliary metal stent dysfunction: an analysis using a time-dependent covariate

Background

Although the combination of biliary and duodenal self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is useful, the exacerbating effect of duodenal SEMS placement on biliary SEMS has not been documented. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the effect of duodenal SEMS placement on biliary SEMS.

Methods

Patients who underwent first-time biliary SEMS placement for a distal malignant biliary obstruction between September 1994 and November 2010 were included. Time to dysfunction of biliary SEMS was analyzed to identify risk factors for biliary SEMS dysfunction. Duodenal SEMS placement was analyzed as a time-dependent covariate.

Results

In total, 410 eligible patients were identified. Duodenal SEMS were placed in 33 patients (8 %). The median time to dysfunction of biliary SEMS was 170 days. Male gender (hazard ratio 1.37, 95 % confidence interval 1.03–1.83, P = 0.029) and duodenal SEMS placement (hazard ratio 2.00, 95 % confidence interval 1.16–3.45, P = 0.013) were risk factors in the multivariate Cox model. In patients undergoing duodenal SEMS, biliary SEMS dysfunction was observed in 17 (52 %) with a median time to dysfunction of 64 days after duodenal SEMS placement. As many as 60 % of the patients with biliary SEMS dysfunction after duodenal SEMS placement needed permanent percutaneous transhepatic biliary external drainage.

Conclusions

Duodenal SEMS placement is a risk factor for biliary SEMS dysfunction. Alternative methods for biliary drainage should be considered for better biliary drainage in patients with a gastric outlet obstruction.     

Treatment of hepatic hydatid disease complications using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures

Background

Liver hydatidosis may lead to serious morbidity due to biliary complications, the management for which endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and biliary drainage are very efficient. We evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment for complications of hepatic hydatid disease.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures performed between January 2000 and December 2009 and compared laboratory findings, localization of the lesions and ERCP procedures applied between patients with and without jaundice.

Results

In all, 70 ERCP procedures were performed in 54 patients (24 men, 30 women). Of the 70 procedures, 24 were performed to treat jaundice. All patients with biliary fistulas and jaundice were managed with endoscopic procedures. The 70 ERCP procedures included sphincterotomy only (n = 40); sphincterotomy and stent placement (n = 7); stent placement only (n = 4); sphincterotomy and membrane extraction (n = 9); sphincterotomy, membrane extraction and pus drainage (n = 5); and sphincterotomy and pus drainage (n = 5). Laboratory results improved in 3–7 days, and bile leakage ceased in 2–21 days.

Conclusion

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a safe and effective way to manage biliary complications of hepatic echinococcal disease. In most patients, ES is the most efficient treatment of postoperative external biliary fistulas, jaundice and accompanying cholangitis, as it enables clearing the bile ducts of hydatid remnants; ES should be performed since it accelerates the healing process by decreasing pressure in the choledochus.     

Serial insertion of bilateral uncovered metal stents for malignant hilar obstruction using an 8 Fr biliary system: a case series of 17 consecutive patients

Controversy exists over the need for unilateral versus bilateral stent placement in patients with malignant obstruction at the biliary hilum. Placement of bilateral uncovered self-expanding metal stent (UCSEMS) at this location is technically challenging, and generally associated with lower rates of procedural success. Serial insertion of side-by-side UCSEMS may be especially difficult when simultaneous deployment is not possible using larger stent delivery catheters. In this single-center, retrospective case series of all patients who underwent bilateral placement of uncovered Wallflex^TM biliary stents between July 2008 and July 2014, we evaluate the feasibility, technical success, and safety of patients undergoing serial insertion of bilateral UCSEMS using the 8 Fr Wallflex^TM biliary system for malignant hilar obstruction. A total of 17 patients were included. Primary cholangiocarcinoma, Bismuth IV, was the most common diagnosis. Mean procedure time was 54.4 minutes. Overall procedural technical success was achieved in 17/17 patients. Stricture dilation was necessary prior to Wallflex^TM insertion in 8/17 patients (47.1%). Transpapillary extension of two stents was performed in all patients. There were no cases of stent deployment malfunction, or inability to insert or deploy the 2^nd stent. Nine of 17 patients (52.9%) required inpatient hospitalization following ERCP; the most common indications were abdominal pain and need for IV antibiotics. There was one case of ERCP-related cholangitis otherwise; there were no other major complications. Bilateral, serial insertion of UCSEMS using the 8 Fr Wallflex^TM biliary system in malignant hilar obstruction is feasible with an excellent technical success profile. Using this device for side-by-side deployment of UCSEMS appears to be safe in the majority of patients.     

Single-stage intraoperative transhepatic biliary stenting in patients with unresectable hepatobiliary pancreatic tumors

Background

The current study was conducted to evaluate the safety and utility of intraoperative transhepatic biliary stenting (ITBS) in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (UMBO) diagnosed intraoperatively.

Methods

In this study, 50 patients who underwent ITBS for UMBO between April 2001 and May 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. For 26 patients who underwent preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), the expandable metallic stent (EMS) was inserted intraoperatively by the PTBD route in a single stage. For 24 patients, the intrahepatic bile ducts were intentionally dilated by injection of saline via the endoscopic nasobiliary drainage or the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage route, and the puncture was performed under intraoperative ultrasound guidance followed by guidewire and catheter insertion. Thereafter, the EMS was placed in the same manner. The initial postoperative complications and long-term results of ITBS were evaluated.

Results

In all cases, ITBS was technically successful. Stenting alone was performed in 22 patients and stenting combined with other procedures in 28 patients. Hospital mortality occurred for three patients (6 %), and complication-related mortality occurred in two cases (4 %). There were nine cases (18 %) of postoperative complications. The median survival time was 179 days, and the EMS patency time was 137 days. During the follow-up period, EMS occlusion occurred in 23 cases (46 %). Best supportive care was a significant independent risk factor for early mortality within 100 days after ITBS (p = 0.020, odds ratio, 9.398).

Conclusions

Single-stage ITBS is feasible for palliation of UMBO and seems to have a low complication rate.     

Outcome of palliative self-expanding metal stent placement in malignant colorectal obstruction according to stent type and manufacturer

Background

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) of varying designs and materials have been developed to reduce complications, but few comparative data are available with regard to the type of stent and the stent manufacturer. We analyzed the success rates and complication rates, according to stent type (uncovered vs. covered stent) and individual stent manufacturer, in malignant colorectal obstruction.

Methods

From November 2001 to August 2008, 103 patients were retrospectively included in this study: four types of uncovered stents in 73 patients and two types of covered stents in 30 patients. The SEMS was inserted into the obstructive site by using the through-the-scope method.

Results

Technical and clinical success rates were not different between stent type or among stent manufacturers: 100 and 100% (p?=?ns) and 100 and 96.6% (p?>?0.05), respectively, in uncovered and covered stents. Stent occlusion and migration rates were 12.3 and 3.3% (p?=?0.274) and 13.7 and 16.7% (p?=?0.761), respectively, in uncovered and covered stents, and 11.1, 5, and 9% (p?=?0.761) and 25.9, 15, and 0% (p?=?0.037) in Wallstent, Niti-S, and Bonastent uncovered stents, respectively.

Conclusions

The placement of SEMS is an effective and safe treatment for patients with malignant colorectal obstruction. Although minor differences in outcome were detected according to the type and the manufacturer of the stents, no statistically significant difference was observed, except in stent migration among the stent manufacturer.     

胆道金属支架置入治疗肝门部胆管癌的临床研究

目的:探讨经皮经肝胆道引流(PTBD)及经内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)置入胆道支架治疗肝门部胆管癌的临床应用价值。方法:对75例行金属胆道支架置入的肝门部胆管癌患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果:PTBD组31例患者中29例实施支架放置,26例(89.7%)成功置入支架并发症发生率为6.5%,中位生存时间为26周;ERCP组44例患者中38例(86.4%)成功置入支架,并发症发生率为13.6%,中位生存时间为28周。29例单侧支架置入者和35例双侧支架置入者中位生存时间均为28周。结论:经PTBD及经ERCP的胆道支架置入对肝门部胆管癌均可获得良好的治疗效果。以PTBD方式放置时可采用单侧置入,以ERCP方式放置时应进行左右侧双支架置入。     

Comparison of treatment outcomes of endoscopic stenting for colonic and extracolonic malignant obstruction

Background

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) have been used as a bridging or palliative treatment for malignant colorectal obstruction. Colonic obstruction also may arise from advanced extracolonic malignancy, but the clinical outcomes of stent placement for extracolonic malignancy are unclear. This study compared the clinical outcomes of SEMS between patients with colorectal cancer and those with extracolonic malignancy.

Methods

Patients who underwent endoscopic SEMS placement for a malignant colorectal obstruction were enrolled at Seoul National University Hospital from April 2005 and August 2011. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed in terms of success rate, complications, and duration of stent patency.

Results

Endoscopic SEMS placements were performed for colorectal cancer in 149 patients and for extracolonic malignancy in 60 patients. The causes of obstruction in extracolonic malignancy were advanced gastric cancer in 39 patients (65 %), pancreatic cancer in nine patients (15 %), ovarian cancer in three patients (5 %) and other causes in nine patients (15 %). The clinical success rates were similar between the two groups (92.6 vs 86.7 %; p = 0.688), and multivariate analysis showed no significant risk factor for unsuccessful endoscopic SEMS placement. Reobstruction in palliative endoscopic SEMS placement occurred for 16 patients with colorectal cancer (21.9 %) and 18 patients with extracolonic malignancy (30 %) during a median follow-up period of 90 days (p = 0.288). The rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (4.1 vs 8.3 %; p = 0.467). The median duration of stent patency was 193 ± 42 days for the patients with colorectal cancer and 186 ± 31 days for the patients with extracolonic malignancy (p = 0.253). The duration of stent patency was not affected by underlying malignancy, previous surgery, or palliative chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Endoscopic SEMS placement is highly effective and comparable for palliation of obstruction in extracolonic malignancy and colorectal cancer in terms of clinical success, complications, and duration of patency.     

肝门部胆管癌不同胆汁引流方式的疗效分析

目的回顾性分析不同经皮经肝胆汁引流方式对BismuthⅡ～Ⅳ型肝门部胆管癌患者术后疗效的影响。方法97例BismuthⅡ～Ⅳ型肝门部胆管癌患者按照不同引流方式分组：单侧和双侧引流组,每组又分为支架引流和引流管引流,比较各引流方式的术后疗效。结果单、双侧引流组的近期总胆红素下降程度分级差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,中位生存期分别为7.5和6.7个月,生存率差异亦无统计学意义;单侧支架引流与引流管引流、单侧与双侧支架引流的中位生存期分别为6.0、6.5、6.0、4.3个月,组间生存率差异无统计学意义,但引流管组术后近远期并发症发生率高。结论对BismuthⅡ～Ⅳ型肝门部胆管癌患者可行单侧胆管引流以减轻黄疸,以胆管内支架治疗为首选,可获得满意临床疗效,且不影响近期胆红素下降和远期生存情况。     

Outcome and safety of self-expandable metallic stents for malignant colon obstruction: a Korean multicenter randomized prospective study

Background

Newly developed uncovered stents are designed to have varied radial force and high conformability to improve clinical outcome and safety. This study aimed to determine and compare the clinical outcome and safety of the Taewoong D-type uncovered stent and the Boston Scientific Wallfex stent.

Methods

Patients with acute malignant colonic obstruction were treated with a colonic stent. For the purpose of palliation, patients were randomly allocated. For the purpose of bridging, the type of stent was determined by the discretion of the individual doctors. Technical and clinical success and complication occurrence were measured as primary outcomes.

Results

From 12 university hospitals, 123 patients with malignant colonic obstruction were enrolled. Of these 123 patients, 58 were treated with colonic stents for palliative purposes. The technical and clinical success rate was 100?% for both stents in the palliative group. Perforation occurred for one patient (3.6?%) in the Wallflex stent group (n?=?28) on day 5 and for no patients in the D-type stent group (n?=?30). Two cases of migration occurred: one with the Wallflex stent and one with the D-type stent. Stent restenosis occurred for one patient with the Wallflex stent. Preoperative bridging stents were placed in 65 patients. The median time to surgery was 10?days. The technical success rate was 93.4?%, and clinical success was achieved for 86.2?% of the patients. Perforation occurred for five patients: four with the Wallflex stent and one with the D-type stent. The efficacy and safety of the two stents did not differ statistically.

Conclusions

The D-type colonic uncovered stent and the Wallflex colonic uncovered stent are effective and safe for both palliative and preoperative bridging therapy used to treat acute malignant colonic obstruction.     

Combined percutaneous–endoscopic stenting of malignant biliary obstruction: results from 106 consecutive procedures and identification of factors associated with adverse outcome

Background

In patients in whom attempted endoscopic stenting of malignant biliary obstruction fails, combined percutaneous–endoscopic stenting and percutaneous stenting using expandable metallic endoprostheses offer alternative approaches to biliary drainage. Despite the popularity of the percutaneous route, there is no available evidence to support its superiority over combined stenting in this patient group. The objective of this study was to present the short- and long-term results of a large series of combined percutaneous–endoscopic stenting procedures and identify factors associated with adverse outcome.

Methods

Data were retrospectively collected on patients undergoing combined percutaneous–endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction between January 2002 and December 2006. Short- and long-term outcomes were recorded, and pre-procedure variables correlated with adverse outcome.

Results

Combined biliary stenting was technically successful in 102 (96.2%) of 106 patients. Procedure-associated mortality rate was 0%. In-hospital morbidity and mortality rates were 24.5% and 16.7%, respectively, with the majority of deaths resulting from biliary sepsis. Median survival was 100 days, with a 13.7% stent occlusion rate. On multivariable analysis, baseline American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade, decreasing serum albumin and increasing leucocyte count were independently associated with in-hospital mortality following combined stenting.

Conclusion

Combined biliary stenting is associated with short- and long-term outcomes equal to those reported in recent series of percutaneous transhepatic stenting. Randomised control trials, including cost-effectiveness analyses, are required to further compare these techniques. Outcomes following combined stenting may be further improved by early recognition and treatment of sepsis and scrupulous management of co-morbid disease.     

内镜下胆管引流术治疗恶性胆道梗阻

目的 探讨经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术（ERCP）加鼻胆管引流（ENBD）、塑料支架置入引流（ERBD）或金属支架置入引流（EMBE）治疗恶性胆道梗阻的疗效比较。方法 136例恶性胆道梗阻患者,分为：ENBD组、ERBD组和EMBE组,观察各组疗效、支架通畅时间及生存时间。结果 三组总体置管成功率95.4%;治疗1周内肝功能及临床症状较术前明显好转,引流总体有效率为91.0%;并发症发生率为5.4%。ERBD组平均通畅时间（88.0±21.9）d,EMBE组平均通畅时间（200.6±46.6）d,两组差异有统计学意义（P＜0.0 1）;ERBD组平均生存时间（215.4±111.3）d,EMBE组平均生存时间（271.8±100.8）d,两组差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 经ERCP对恶性胆道梗阻患者给予鼻胆管引流及支架置入是一种安全有效的姑息性治疗方法。     

Chronic Pancreatitis with Benign Biliary Obstruction: Management Issues

Background

Benign biliary obstruction (BBO) is an important complication in patients with advanced chronic pancreatitis (CP). Its presentation varies from an incidental finding to overt jaundice. Thus it presents certain management issues. The present study was therefore performed to analyze the clinical presentation and management of biliary obstruction in patients with CP.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was performed from a prospectively collected database of 155 CP patients managed at our institute from October 2003 to June 2012.

Results

Among 43 (28 %) CP patients with biliary obstruction, 3 patients had evidence of malignancy on follow-up examination and were excluded from the final analysis. The various presentations include chronic nonprogressive elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) (n = 15), a progressive increase in SAP with episodes of jaundice (n = 17), and persistent jaundice (n = 8). Of 15 patients with chronic nonprogressive elevation of SAP, 5 were managed conservatively, and the remaining 10 underwent only a pancreatic drainage procedure. During a median follow-up of 41 months (range 11–90 months), none of the 15 patients developed complications related to biliary obstruction. All patients with progressive increase in SAP levels and persistent jaundice underwent the biliary drainage procedure [choledochojejunostomy (CDJ, n = 20) and choledochoduodenostomy (CDD, n = 3)]. During a median follow-up of 30 months (range 10–89 months), two patients died of unrelated causes and two patients had an asymptomatic elevation of SAP.

Conclusions

BBO is common in patients with CP; however, biliary drainage is not indicated for chronic nonprogressive elevation of SAP. In patients with a progressive increase in SAP or persistent jaundice, both CDJ and CDD provide effective biliary drainage.     

Preoperative biliary drainage for biliary tract and ampullary carcinomas

We posed six clinical questions (CQ) on preoperative biliary drainage and organized all pertinent evidence regarding these questions. CQ 1. Is preoperative biliary drainage necessary for patients with jaundice? The indications for preoperative drainage for jaundiced patients are changing greatly. Many reports state that, excluding conditions such as cholangitis and liver dysfunction, biliary drainage is not necessary before pancreatoduodenectomy or less invasive surgery. However, the morbidity and mortality of extended hepatectomy for biliary cancer is still high, and the most common cause of death is hepatic failure; therefore, preoperative biliary drainage is desirable in patients who are to undergo extended hepatectomy. CQ 2. What procedures are appropriate for preoperative biliary drainage? There are three methods of biliary drainage: percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) or endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD), and surgical drainage. ERBD is an internal drainage method, and PTBD and ENBD are external methods. However, there are no reports of comparisons of preoperative biliary drainage methods using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Thus, at this point, a method should be used that can be safely performed with the equipment and techniques available at each facility. CQ 3. Which is better, unilateral or bilateral biliary drainage, in malignant hilar obstruction? Unilateral biliary drainage of the future remnant hepatic lobe is usually enough even when intrahepatic bile ducts are separated into multiple units due to hilar malignancy. Bilateral biliary drainage should be considered in the following cases: those in which the operative procedure is difficult to determine before biliary drainage; those in which cholangitis has developed after unilateral drainage; and those in which the decrease in serum bilirubin after unilateral drainage is very slow. CQ 4. What is the best treatment for post-drainage fever? The most likely cause of high fever in patients with biliary drainage is cholangitis due to problems with the existing drainage catheter or segmental cholangitis if an undrained segment is left. In the latter case, urgent drainage is required. CQ 5. Is bile culture necessary in patients with biliary drainage who are to undergo surgery? Monitoring of bile cultures is necessary for patients with biliary drainage to determine the appropriate use of antibiotics during the perioperative period. CQ 6. Is bile replacement useful for patients with external biliary drainage? Maintenance of the enterohepatic bile circulation is vitally important. Thus, preoperative bile replacement in patients with external biliary drainage is very likely to be effective when highly invasive surgery (e.g., extended hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma) is planned.     

双金属支架对于晚期恶性肝门部梗阻的疗效分析

目的对比内镜双金属支架和塑料支架引流治疗晚期肝门部胆管恶性梗阻的安全性和疗效。方法回顾性分析2007年1月至2013年10月收治的41例采用内镜支架引流治疗的晚期肝门部胆管恶性梗阻的临床资料。结果双金属支架相对于单塑料及双支架有更长的支架通畅时间(187±10 d vs 139±8.8 d;P0.05)。两组之间的术后并发症比较无明显统计学差异。双金属支架可以明显增加肝脏的容积。结论采用内镜双金属支架引流治疗晚期肝门部胆管恶性梗阻是安全可行的,同时可以明显改善肝脏的功能。