Role of digital single-operator cholangioscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary disorders

Due to the need for improvement in the diagnosis and minimally invasive therapy of the bile duct disorders new technologies for cholangioscopy have been recently developed. Per-oral cholangioscopy has become an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool leading to avoidance of aggressive and unnecessary surgery in many clinical scenarios. This paper focuses on the newly developed SpyGlass DS technology, its advantages, and the technique of single-operator cholangioscopy(SOC), biliary indications and possible adverse events. We also review the available literature; discuss the limitations and future expectations.Digital SOC(D-SOC) is a useful technique, which provides endoscopic imaging of the biliary tree, optical diagnosis, biopsy under direct vision and therapeutic interventions. The implementations are diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic indications are indeterminate biliary strictures, unclear filling defects, staging of cholangiocarcinoma, staging of ampullary tumors(extension into the common bile duct), unclear bile duct dilation, exploring cystic lesions of the biliary tree,unexplained hemobilia, posttransplant biliary complications. Therapeutic indications are lithotripsy of difficult stones, retrieval of migrated stents, foreign body removal, guide wire placement, transpapillary gallbladder drainage and endoscopic tumor ablative therapy. Most studied and established indications are the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary stricture and intraductal lithotripsy of difficult stones. The adverse events are not different and more common compared to those of Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)alone. D-SOC is a safe and effective procedure, adjunct to the standard ERCP and the newly available digital technology overcomes many of the limitations of the previous generations of cholangioscopes.     

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography vs endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage: A systematic review

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that involves inserting a needle into the biliary tree, followed by the immediate insertion of a catheter. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is a novel technique that allows BD by echoendoscopy and fluoroscopy using a stent from the biliary tree to the gastrointestinal tract.AIMTo compare the technical aspects and outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic BD (PTBD) and EUS-BD.METHODSDifferent databases, including PubMed, Embase, clinicaltrials.gov, the Cochrane library, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched according to the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses to obtain studies comparing PTBD and EUS-BD.RESULTSAmong the six studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, PTBD patients underwent significantly more reinterventions (4.9 vs 1.3), experienced more postprocedural pain (4.1 vs 1.9), and experienced more late adverse events (53.8% vs 6.6%) than EUS-BD patients. There was a significant reduction in the total bilirubin levels in both the groups (16.4-3.3 μmol/L and 17.2-3.8 μmol/L for EUS-BD and PTBD, respectively; P = 0.002) at the 7-d follow-up. There were no significant differences observed in the complication rates between PTBD and EUS-BD (3.3 vs 3.8). PTBD was associated with a higher adverse event rate than EUS-BD in all the procedures, including reinterventions (80.4% vs 15.7%, respectively) and a higher index procedure (39.2% vs 18.2%, respectively).CONCLUSIONThe findings of this systematic review revealed that EUS-BD is linked with a higher rate of effective BD and a more manageable procedure-related adverse event profile than PTBD. These findings highlight the evidence for successful EUS-BD implementation.     

经皮胆管镜治疗肝内外胆管结石的探讨

目的 探讨经皮胆管镜治疗肝内外胆管结石的疗效和结石复发的防治。方法 43例经皮经肝胆管引流和窦道扩张后,经皮经肝胆管镜(PTCS)治疗肝内外胆管结石;22例术后T管留置>3周者,行术后胆管镜(POCS)治疗。该65例中肝内胆管结石(IHS)40例(I型12例,IE型28例),胆总管结石(CBI)结石)25例。结果 43例PTCS扩张窦道直径平均19.1 F,建立窦道时间平均17.1d。65例中11例直接取石,54例行液电碎石(EHL)后取石,其中25例配合乳头括约肌切开。40例IHS至结石清除每例治疗次数平均5.2次,25例CBD结石平均1.9次。37例(56.9％)有胆管或胆肠吻合口狭窄,用探条或气囊扩张,3例留置金属支架,结石清除率98.5％(64/65)。11例合并胆道感染,1例IHS伴胆汁性肝硬化合并肾功能不全死亡。 平均随访30.8个月,结石复发率7.1％。结论 经皮胆管镜和EHL是治疗胆系结石安全、有效的办法;胆管或胆肠吻合口狭窄长度<0.5 cm者,器械扩张效果良好;治疗狭窄可提高结石清除率,降低结石复发率。     

Management issues in post living donor liver transplant biliary strictures

Biliary complications are common after living donor liver transplant(LDLT) although with advancements in surgical understanding and techniques, the incidence is decreasing. Biliary strictures are more common than leaks. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) is the first line modality of treatment of post LDLT biliary strictures with a technical success rate of 75%-80%. Most of ERCP failures are successfully treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD) and rendezvous technique. A minority of patients may require surgical correction. ERCP for these strictures is technically more challenging than routine as well post deceased donor strictures. Biliary strictures may increase the morbidity of a liver transplant recipient, but the mortality is similar to those with or without strictures. Post transplant strictures are short segment and soft, requiring only a few session of ERCP before complete dilatation. Long-term outcome of patients with biliary stricture is similar to those without stricture. With the introduction of new generation cholangioscopes, ERCP success rate may increase, obviating the need for PTBD and surgery in these patients.     

A case of biliary stones and anastomotic biliary stricture after liver transplant treated with the rendez-vous technique and electrokinetic lithotritor

The paper studies the combined radiologic and endoscopic approach （rendez vous technique） to the treatment of the biliary complications following liver transplant. The ＂rendez-vous＂ technique was used with an electrokinetic lithotripter, in the treatment of a biliary anastomotic stricture with multiple biliary stones in a patient who underwent orthotopic liver transplant. In this patient, endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic management of the biliary complication failed. The combined approach, percutaneous transhepatic and endoscopic treatment （rendez-vous technique） with the use of an electrokinetic lithotritor, was used to solve the biliary stenosis and to remove the stones. Technical success, defined as disappearance of the biliary stenosis and stone removal, was obtained in just one session, which definitively solved the complications. The combined approach of percutaneous transhepatic and endoscopic （rendez-vous technique） treatment, in association with an electrokinetic lithotritor, is a safe and feasible alternative treatment, especially after the failure of endoscopic and/or percutaneous trans-hepatic isolated procedures.     

Small bowel perforation from a migrated biliary stent:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Bowel perforation from biliary stent migration is a serious potential complication of biliary stents, but fortunately has an incidence of less than 1%.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of Human Immunodeficiency virus with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis and extensive past surgical history who presented with acute abdominal pain and local peritonitis. On further evaluation she was diagnosed with small bowel perforation secondary to migrated biliary stents and underwent exploratory laparotomy with therapeutic intervention.CONCLUSION This case presentation reports on the unusual finding of two migrated biliary stents, with one causing perforation. In addition, we review the relevant literature on migrated stents.     

Non-surgical treatment of post-surgical bile duct injury: Clinical implications and outcomes

AIM:To investigate the prognostic factors determining the success rate of non-surgical treatment in the management of post-operative bile duct injuries(BDIs).METHODS:The study patients were enrolled from the pancreatobiliary units of a tertiary teaching hospital for the treatment of BDIs after hepatobiliary tract surgeries,excluding operations for liver transplantation andmalignancies,from January 1999 to August 2010.A total of 5167 patients underwent operations,and 77patients had BDIs following surgery.The primary end point was the treatment success rate according to different types of BDIs sustained using endoscopic or percutaneous hepatic approaches.The type of BDI was defined using one of the following diagnostic tools:endoscopic retrograde cholangiography,percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography,computed tomography scan,and magnetic resonance cholangiography.Patients with a final diagnosis of BDI underwent endoscopic and/or percutaneous interventions for the treatment of bile leak and/or stricture if clinically indicated.Patient consent was obtained,and study approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board in accordance with the legal regulations of the Human Clinical Research Center at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul,South Korea.RESULTS:A total of 77 patients were enrolled in the study.They were divided into three groups according to type of BDI.Among them,55 patients(71%)underwent cholecystectomy.Thirty-six patients(47%)had bile leak only(type 1),31 patients had biliary stricture only(type 2),and 10 patients had both bile leak and biliary stricture(type 3).Their initial treatment modalities were non-surgical.The success rate of non-surgical treatment in each group was as follows:BDI type 1:94%;type 2:71%;and type 3:30%.Clinical parameters such as demographic factors,primary disease,operation method,type of operation,non-surgical treatment modalities,endoscopic procedure steps,type of BDI,time to diagnosis and treatment duration were evaluated to evaluate the prognostic factors affecting the success rate.The type of BDI was a statistically significant prognostic factor in determining the success rate of non-surgical treatment.In addition,a shorter time to diagnosis of BDI after the operation correlated significantly with higher success rates in the treatment of type 1 BDIs.CONCLUSION:Endoscopic or percutaneous hepatic approaches can be used as an initial treatment in type1 and 2 BDIs.However,surgical intervention is a treatment of choice in type 3 BDI.     

经皮肝Ⅰ期胆道造瘘联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石

目的探讨经皮肝I期胆道造瘘(PTOBF)联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石的安全性和有效性,探讨胰十二指肠切除术后胆肠吻合口狭窄的原因及处理对策。方法回顾性分析2017年10月至2021年5月于山东省第二人民医院接受PTOBF联合术中硬质胆道镜、术后电子胆道镜治疗的12例胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石患者的临床资料。结果所有患者均成功行PTOBF,经胆道镜取净肝胆管结石,术中发现胆肠吻合口狭窄8例(线结性狭窄3例),经胆道气囊扩张及胆肠吻合口线结拆除,7例近期缓解(87.5%),1例再次胆肠吻合手术。结论PTOBF联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石安全有效,取净率高,可缓解胆肠吻合口狭窄。     

Comparative study of rendezvous techniques in post-liver transplant biliary stricture

AIM: To investigate the usefulness of a new rendezvous technique for placing stents using the Kumpe (KMP) catheter in angulated or twisted biliary strictures.METHODS: The rendezvous technique was performed in patients with a biliary stricture after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) who required the exchange of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheters for inside stents. The rendezvous technique was performed using a guidewire in 19 patients (guidewire group) and using a KMP catheter in another 19 (KMP catheter group). We compared the two groups retrospectively.RESULTS: The baseline characteristics did not differ between the groups. The success rate for placing inside stents was 100% in both groups. A KMP catheter was easier to manipulate than a guidewire. The mean procedure time in the KMP catheter group (1012 s, range: 301-2006 s) was shorter than that in the guidewire group (2037 s, range: 251-6758 s, P = 0.022). The cumulative probabilities corresponding to the procedure time of the two groups were significantly different (P = 0.008). The factors related to procedure time were the rendezvous technique method, the number of inside stents, the operator, and balloon dilation of the stricture (P < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, the rendezvous technique method was the only significant factor related to procedure time (P = 0.010). The procedural complications observed included one case of mild acute pancreatitis and one case of acute cholangitis in the guidewire group, and two cases of mild acute pancreatitis in the KMP catheter group.CONCLUSION: The rendezvous technique involving use of the KMP catheter was a fast and safe method for placing inside stents in patients with LDLT biliary stricture that represents a viable alternative to the guidewire rendezvous technique.     

经皮肝Ⅰ期胆道造瘘联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石

目的探讨经皮肝I期胆道造瘘(PTOBF)联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石的安全性和有效性,探讨胰十二指肠切除术后胆肠吻合口狭窄的原因及处理对策。方法回顾性分析2017年10月至2021年5月于山东省第二人民医院接受PTOBF联合术中硬质胆道镜、术后电子胆道镜治疗的12例胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石患者的临床资料。结果所有患者均成功行PTOBF,经胆道镜取净肝胆管结石,术中发现胆肠吻合口狭窄8例(线结性狭窄3例),经胆道气囊扩张及胆肠吻合口线结拆除,7例近期缓解(87.5%),1例再次胆肠吻合手术。结论PTOBF联合胆道镜治疗胰十二指肠切除术后继发胆管结石安全有效,取净率高,可缓解胆肠吻合口狭窄。     

Intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for traumatic pancreatic ductal injuries: Two case reports

BACKGROUNDIn order to successfully manage traumatic pancreatic duct (PD) leaks, early diagnosis and operative management is paramount in reducing morbidity and mortality. In the acute setting, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be a useful, adjunctive modality during exploratory laparotomy. ERCP with sphincterotomy and stent placement improves preferential drainage in the setting of injury, allowing the pancreatic leak to properly heal. However, data in this acute setting is limited. CASE SUMMARYIn this case series, a 27-year-old male and 16-year-old female presented with PD leaks secondary to a gunshot wound and blunt abdominal trauma, respectively. Both underwent intraoperative ERCP within an average of 5.9 h from time of presentation. A sphincterotomy and plastic pancreatic stent placement was performed with a 100% technical and clinical success. There were no associated immediate or long-term complications. Following discharge, both patients underwent repeat ERCP for stent removal with resolution of ductal injury.CONCLUSIONThese experiences further demonstrated that widespread adaption and optimal timing of ERCP may improve outcomes in trauma centers.     

ERCP和MRCP及PTC在胆胰疾病诊断与治疗中的应用

ERCP、MRCP、PTC作为影像学手段在胆胰疾病的诊断与治疗中起极为重要的作用。3者在临床应用中各有优缺点,应合理加以选择。     

Eosinophilic cholangitis: A case report of diagnostically challenging eosinophilic infiltrative biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND Evaluation of biliary strictures primarily focuses on ruling out malignancy in older age groups. With endoscopic tools such as endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)and cholangioscopy, improved biliary visualization has enhanced the investigation of intraluminal biliary lesions and provided modalities for targeted biopsies. Benign biliary strictures, however, may pose a diagnostic dilemma.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old female with past medial history of hypothyroidism presenting for abnormal biliary imaging. Patient's previous evaluation was concerning for common bile duct dilation with cholelithiasis, for which she underwent a cholecystectomy. Due to persistent symptoms and worsening liver function tests,she presented to our institution for further workup. Subsequently, the patient underwent an EUS and multiple ERCP's with cholangioscopy; biliary biopsies revealed no evidence of malignancy but concerning for prominent eosinophilic infiltration. After further review of multiple pathology specimens and the benign clinical course, we diagnosed the patient with eosinophilic cholangitis.CONCLUSION Eosinophilic cholangitis is a rare disease and can present as a challenging case diagnostically. This case raises the potential utility of quantitative eosinophilic infiltration reporting in creating an objective diagnostic metric for eosinophilic cholangitis.     

Management of benign biliary strictures: current status and perspective

Benign biliary strictures are common and occur either from hepato‐biliary surgery or from diseases including chronic pancreatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, among others. The treatment of many such strictures is endoscopic with evolving new approaches especially with fully covered metal stents. The only classification system available is for postoperative strictures with the intention to guide surgical correction. There is no useful classification system to guide both assessment and management of benign biliary strictures. This proposed classification is relevant to patient care in assisting diagnosis and endoscopic management.     

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with post-liver transplant biliary complications: results of a cohort study with long-term follow-up

Background/Aims

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the standard approach for the management of biliary complications in liver transplant patients; however, its safety and efficacy have not been established in this setting. This study was performed to evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of ERCP in transplant patients.

Methods

The case reports of 1,500 liver transplant patients were reviewed. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients were matched 1:2 with non-OLT patients and followed-up for long-term outcome (median, 7.4 years).

Results

Of the 1,500 liver transplant patients, 94 (6.3%) underwent 150 ERCPs after OLT. Anastomotic strictures were present in 45 patients, biliary stones in 24, biliary leaks in 7, papillary stenosis in 2, and primary sclerosing cholangitis in 1. An ERCP success rate of 90.7% was achieved; biliary stenting led to resolution of the bile leak in 7/7 (100%) patients, and biliary stones were removed in 21/24 (87.5%) patients. In addition, 34 of 45 patients with anastomotic stricture underwent endoscopic dilation. We obtained complete resolution in 22/34 (64.7%) patients. OLT patients did not show a higher probability of complications (odds ratio [OR], 1.04), of pancreatitis (OR, 0.80) or of bleeding (OR, 1.34).

Conclusions

ERCP is safe and effective for the treatment of post-OLT biliary complications, has a low rate of pancreatitis and results in a durable effect.