Clinical comparison of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) and intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) in difficult bile duct stones

Today, nearly 90% of common bile duct stones are extracted endoscopically. Problems are encountered if there are large stones or a duct stenosis. Extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) as well as intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) serve as an alternative to surgical intervention for those few patients in whom endoscopic measures have failed. A total of 35 patients with common bile duct stones in whom conventional endoscopic treatment had failed were selected on the condition that stone visualization through ultrasound was possible and that the papilla was within easy reach of the endoscope. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly treated either by EPL or EHL. The average age of our patients was 73 years. The main reasons for failure of conventional endoscopy were due to the large size of the stones (13 patients), impacted stones (16), or the presence of a biliary stricture (6). In the EPL group, visualization of the stones by ultrasound and ensuing treatment were possible in 16 of 18 patients (89%); stones could be fragmented in 15 patients. In 13 patients, the biliary tree could then be completely freed of calculi; the success rate was 72% for all the patients (13 of 18). On average, the patients had 2.3 treatments on the lithotripter, and 3870 shock waves were applied per treatment. In the EHL group stones were successfully fragmented in 13 of 17 patients (76.5%). The average number of treatments was 1.4. Comparing both therapies, there was no difference in stone-free rates. In both groups, additional endoscopic interventions were necessary to clear the bile duct. The mean number of lithotripsy sessions was less in the EHL group (1.4 vs 2.3). There were no major differences in average hospital stay, 30-day mortality was zero in both groups. Combined treatment including EPL, EHL, and intracorporeal laser lithotripsy was finally successful in 32 patients (91.5%). It is concluded that EHL might be the method of choice for smaller, single stones in the more proximal parts of the common bile duct. In these cases, complete duct clearance in one lithotripsy session can be achieved. Multiple and large stones are probably best accessible to EPL. With a combination of the methods described, the bile duct can be cleared of concrements in almost every instance. As a result, surgery for choledocholithiasis has become the absolute exception.This work was presented in part at the 1993 Annual Meeting of the american Gastroenterological Association in Boston and published in abstract form (Gastroenterology 104:A347, 1993).     

Endoscopic gallbladder stent placement for treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with end-stage liver disease

OBJECTIVES: Symptomatic cholelithiasis is a common disease in the general population with an increased prevalence in patients with cirrhosis. While cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice for the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis, cirrhotics have an increased risk of complications associated with this therapy. We have found that placement of an endoscopic gallbladder stent is an alternative, less invasive treatment for cirrhotic patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease and describe our experience here. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of 23 patients with cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with gallbladder stent placement for symptomatic gallbladder disease from July 1994 to August 2004. RESULTS: Indications for stent placement included recurrent biliary colic (56.5%), acute calculous cholecystitis (39%), acalculous cholecystitis (8.6%), and gallstone pancreatitis (8.6%). All patients experienced resolution of their symptoms following stent placement. Twenty patients (87%) were asymptomatic from 5 days to 3 years post-procedure until transplantation, death, or end of study period. Nine patients (39%) underwent liver transplantation, 5 days to 34 months after the procedure. Eleven patients are well, with ten patients awaiting liver transplantation. Three patients developed late complications and were treated successfully with antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic stenting of the gallbladder may be a potential treatment for symptomatic gallbladder disease in patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation, considered to be high-risk for cholecystectomy.     

Intracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ISWL) in Bile Ducts under Peroral Endoscopy: Progress and Current Status

Attempting to use ISWL (intracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy) for treating large and difficult biliary stones was started in the mid 1970s, approximately 10 years before the introduction of ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). However, in contrast to ESWL, ISWL did not quickly become popular in practise. The main reason for this delayed recognition, undoubtedly, lay in the technical difficulties of the peroral applications until the mid 1980s, when the development of an improved cholangios-cope system and a thin, flexible probe allowed the use of EHL (electrohydraulic lithotripsy) under direct vision during peroral cholangioscopy. Thanks to recent advances in technology, a powerful pulsed laser has begun to be used for ISWL through a 0.2 mm sized quartz fiber. A laser version of ISWL with such a thin probe is expected to facilitate its use by minimizing the endoscope system. The automatic stone-tissue recognition system which interrupts the laser discharge in case of wall contact is another useful advance in technology which increases the safety and therapeutic efficacy. Whereas laser techniques are still in development, ISWL with a laser will be the first choice technique for treating difficult bile duct stones after failure of mechanical lithotripsy and it also promises to improve its therapeutic efficacy for intrahepatic stones in combination with ESWL. In this article, the recent progresses and results of ISWL treatment were reviewed with a respect to the success of ESWL.     

术中胆道镜联合液电碎石治疗难治性肝内胆管结石的评价

目的探讨术中胆道镜联合液电碎石治疗难治性肝内胆管结石的治疗策略和临床价值。方法11例难治性肝内胆管结石患者,术中经直视及胆道镜下对患者肝实质、肝内胆管及结石状况进行探查、评估。对拟保留肝叶内的胆管结石采用胆道镜下液电碎石、取石,一次无法取净的患者,二期经窦道胆道镜下液电碎石、取石。结果所有11例患者经术中或二期碎石,均取净结石,治疗成功率100％。手术顺利,术后无手术并发症。本组随访10例,失访1例,随访时间1～3年。3例停用熊去氧胆酸片1～2年后复发肝内胆管小结石,其余7例患者随访期间未见复发。结论术中胆道镜联合液电碎石在有效保证难治性肝内胆管结石治疗成功的同时,最大程度的保护了肝组织,降低了治疗难度及手术风险,减少了术后并发症的发生,提高了患者的生存质量。     

Peroral cholangioscopic diagnosis of biliary-tract diseases by using narrow-band imaging (with videos)

BACKGROUND: Narrow-band imaging (NBI) makes it possible to emphasize the imaging of certain features, such as mucosal structures and mucosal microvessels in GI-tract diseases. Recently, video peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) was developed as a diagnostic modality for better visualization of bile-duct lesions; however, there is no report on POCS by using NBI. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of POCS by using NBI for the diagnosis of biliary-tract diseases. DESIGN: Prospective case study. SETTING: This procedure was performed at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve consecutive patients with biliary-tract diseases, including 7 bile-duct cancers and 5 benign biliary diseases, which revealed 6 bile-duct strictures and 6 filling defects by ERCP. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent POCS by using NBI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Efficacy and safety of this technique. RESULTS: Twenty-one lesions were evaluated by using POCS with conventional white light imaging and NBI. Although visualization of only 2 lesions (9.5%) was "excellent" by conventional observation, visualization of 12 lesions (57.4%) was "excellent" by NBI observation. Identification of the surface structure and vessels of the lesions by NBI observation was significantly better than with conventional observation (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). LIMITATIONS: Maneuverability and fragility of POCS. The current POCS is not equipped with magnification. CONCLUSIONS: POCS by using NBI may be helpful for the observation of both fine mucosal structures and tumor vessels.     

Endoscopic transmural debridement of symptomatic organized pancreatic necrosis (with videos)

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of pancreatic necrosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Several weeks after an episode of a necrotizing pancreatitis, necrosis can become organized. By the time necrosis becomes organized, endoscopic therapy has the potential to offer an alternative treatment to surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic debridement of organized pancreatic necrosis and to identify procedural aspects that may improve outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients who underwent this novel endoscopic approach were included. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment started with a cystoenterostomy or a cystogastrostomy. The next steps consisted of balloon dilation, up to 18 mm; advancement of an endoscope into the retroperitoneal cavity; and endoscopic debridement of the collection under direct endoscopic vision. Debridement was repeated every 2 days until most necrotic material was evacuated. In addition, nasocystic catheter irrigation was performed manually with saline solution 6 to 8 times a day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical success, number of endoscopic procedures, and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were identified, who had undergone debridement of 27 collections. In 11, 13, 2, and 1 collections, 1, 2, 3, and 4 endoscopic debridement procedures, respectively, were performed. There was no mortality. Severe complications that required surgery occurred in 2 patients: hemorrhage in 1 case and perforation of cyst wall in the other. During a median follow-up of 16 months (range 3-38 months), the overall clinical success rate with resolution of the collection and related symptoms was 93%. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that endoscopic debridement is an effective and relatively safe minimally invasive therapy in patients with symptomatic organized pancreatic necrosis. Further comparative studies are warranted to define its definitive role in the management of these patients.     

输尿管肾镜气压弹道碎石术治疗输尿管上段结石(附68例报告)

目的探讨输尿管肾镜下气压弹道碎石术(URSL)治疗输尿管上段结石的操作技术及临床疗效。方法回顾性分析应用URSL治疗输尿管上段结石68例的临床资料,并结合文献进行讨论。结果应用URSL一次碎石成功率83．8％(57／68)。11例未成功,其中2例改开放性手术治疗,9例(包括1例术中输尿管穿孔患者)术中置人双J管,术后体外震波碎石(ESWL)治疗成功,无严重并发症发生。结论URSL是治疗输尿管上段结石的安全、高效、微创的方法,结合ESWL可治愈绝大多数输尿管上段结石。     

Gastric full-thickness suturing during EMR and for treatment of gastric-wall defects (with video)

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic full-thickness Plicator device was initially developed to provide an endoscopic treatment option for patients with GERD. Because the endoscopic full-thickness Plicator enables rapid and easy placement of transmural sutures, comparable with surgical sutures, we used the Plicator device for endoscopic treatment or prevention of GI-wall defects. OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes and complications of endoscopic full-thickness suturing during EMR and for the treatment of gastric-wall defects. DESIGN: A report of 4 cases treated with the endoscopic full-thickness suturing between June 2006 and April 2007. SETTING: A large tertiary-referral center. PATIENTS: Four subjects received endoscopic full-thickness suturing. The subjects were women, with a mean age of 67 years. INTERVENTIONS: Of the 4 subjects, 3 received endoscopic full-thickness suturing during or after an EMR. One subject received endoscopic full-thickness suturing for treatment of a fistula. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome measurements were clinical procedural success and procedure-related adverse events. RESULTS: The mean time for endoscopic full-thickness suturing was 15 minutes. In all cases, GI-wall patency was restored or ensured, and no procedure-related complications occurred. All subjects responded well to endoscopic full-thickness suturing. LIMITATIONS: The resection of one GI stromal tumor was incomplete. Because of the Plicator's 60F distal-end diameter, endoscopic full-thickness suturing could only be performed with the patient under midazolam and propofol sedation. The durable Plicator suture might compromise the endoscopic follow-up after EMR. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic full-thickness Plicator permits rapid and easy placement of transmural sutures and seems to be a safe and effective alternative to surgical intervention to restore GI-wall defects or to ensure GI-wall patency during EMR procedures.