Management of dysfunctional covered self-expandable metallic stents in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction

Background

Endoscopic placement of covered self-expandable metallic stents (CSEMSs) is effective for distal malignant biliary obstruction. However, management of dysfunctional CSEMSs has not been established.

Methods

Between March 1998 and July 2007, a total of 74 patients who underwent endoscopic re-interventions for CSEMS dysfunction were analyzed. Second stent insertion (CSEMS or plastic stent) or mechanical cleaning of the occluded CSEMS was performed endoscopically. The period between second stent insertion and stent dysfunction or patient death (time to dysfunction; TTD) was calculated. The cleaned initial CSEMSs were analyzed as second stents.

Results

Dysfunction of the second stent occurred in 17 of 37 patients (45.9 %) in the CSEMS group, 16 of 20 (80.0 %) in the plastic stent group, and 13 of 17 (76.5 %) in the cleaning group. The median TTD of each group was 176, 57, and 46 days, respectively. The cumulative TTD was significantly higher in the CSEMS group than in the plastic stent and cleaning groups (P = 0.08). From the multivariate analysis, sludge occlusion of the first CSEMS was identified as a significant risk factor for second stent dysfunction (HR, 2.51; 95 % CI, 1.19–5.46), and placement of the second CSEMS significantly reduced the risk of dysfunction (HR, 0.39; 95 % CI, 0.18–0.79).

Conclusions

Insertion of a new CSEMS should be considered as the treatment of choice for the management of dysfunctional CSEMSs.     

Self Expandable Metal Stents for Anastomotic Stricture Following Liver Transplant

Background

Endoscopic treatment for biliary strictures with plastic stent placement has been used widely. The use of covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS) has been reported in anastomotic strictures post liver transplant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different CSEMS in these subjects.

Methods

A total of 55 patients with anastomotic stricture received CSEMS, which were removed after 3–4 months. There were 19 patients in group A (partially covered SEMS), 21 patients in group B (fully covered SEMS with fins) and 15 patients in group C (fully covered SEMS with flared ends). Technical success, stricture resolution, follows up, and complications were documented.

Results

CSEMS were successfully deployed in all 55 cases. There was no evidence of significant difference with regards to stricture resolution (14 [74 %] vs. 15 [71 %] vs. 9 [60 %] p = 0.6630, df = 2) or complications between groups. Stent-related complications were as follows: three in group A (2 migration, 1 occlusion), five in group B (4 occlusions, 1 migration), and one proximal migration in group C (p = 0.3894, df = 2). Three cases required surgery (hepatico-jejunostomy) due to refractory strictures.

Conclusions

The observed clinical success rate of CSEMS (70.4 %) proved to be below the reported one for multiple plastic stents, while no significant differences between CSEMS types were observed.     

Endoscopic Treatment of Benign Biliary Strictures Using Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stents (CSEMS)

Background and Aims

Traditional endoscopic management of benign biliary strictures (BBS) consists of placement of one or more plastic stents. Emerging data support the use of covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS). We sought to assess outcome of endoscopic temporary placement of CSEMS in patients with BBS.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of CSEMS placement for BBS between May 2005 and July 2012 from two tertiary care centers. A total of 145 patients (81 males, median age 59 years) with BBS were identified; 73 of which were classified as extrinsic and were caused by chronic pancreatitis, and 70 were intrinsic. Main outcome measures were resolution of stricture and adverse events (AEs) due to self-expandable metal stents (SEMS)-related therapy.

Results

Fully covered and partially covered 8–10 mm diameter SEMS were placed and subsequently removed in 121/125 (97 %) attempts in BBS (failure to remove four partially covered stents). Stricture resolution occurred in 83/125 (66 %) patients after a median stent duration of 26 weeks (median follow-up 90 weeks). Resolution of extrinsic strictures was significantly lower compared to intrinsic strictures (31/65, 48 % vs. 52/60, 87 %, p = 0.004) despite longer median stent duration (30 vs. 20 weeks). Thirty-seven AEs occurred in 25 patients (17 %), with 12 developing multiple AEs including cholangitis (n = 17), pancreatitis (n = 5), proximal stent migration (n = 3), cholecystitis (n = 2), pain requiring SEMS removal and/or hospitalization (n = 3), inability to remove (n = 4), and new stricture formation (n = 3).

Conclusions

Benign biliary strictures can be effectively treated with CSEMS. Successful resolution of biliary strictures due to extrinsic disease is seen significantly less often than those due to intrinsic disease. Removal is successful in all patients with fully covered SEMS.     

Transmural Biliary Drainage Can Be an Alternative to Transpapillary Drainage in Patients with an Indwelling Duodenal Stent

Background

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are widely utilized to relieve symptoms of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), but GOO is frequently complicated by nonresectable distal biliary obstruction. The optimal endoscopic approach to biliary drainage in this setting remains controversial and has yet to be resolved.

Aims

To compare the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and transpapillary drainage in patients with an indwelling duodenal SEMS.

Methods

Patients who underwent EUS-BD or transpapillary drainage for distal malignant biliary obstruction with an indwelling duodenal SEMS between June 2007 and August 2012 at three Japanese tertiary referral centers were identified retrospectively. We compared times to stent dysfunction, causes of dysfunction, and procedural related complications between these two groups.

Results

Twenty patients were included in the study (7 EUS-BD and 13 transpapillary drainage). EUS-BD was performed via hepaticogastrostomy using a SEMS in three patients and via choledochoduodenostomy using a SEMS or a plastic stent in two patients each. Transpapillary drainage was performed using a SEMS in all patients. The stent patency rate in the EUS-BD group was higher than that in the transpapillary drainage group (100 vs. 71 % at 1 month and 83 vs. 29 % at 3 months, respectively). The rate of stent dysfunction in the EUS-BD group tended to be lower than that in the transpapillary group (14 vs. 54 %; P = 0.157). Complication rates were similar between the groups (P = 1.000), with moderate bleeding in one patient in the EUS-BD group and mild pancreatitis in one patient in the transpapillary group.

Conclusion

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural biliary drainage is an alternative to transpapillary drainage in patients with an indwelling duodenal SEMS.     

High b-value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for gallbladder lesions: differentiation between benignity and malignancy

Background

Recently, the clinical application of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has been expanding to abdominal organs. However, only a few studies on gallbladder diseases have been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of high b-value DWI for gallbladder diseases.

Methods

A total of 153 patients (mean age 60 ± 15 years, 78 males) who had undergone DWI for evaluating gallbladder wall thickening or polypoid lesions were included in this study. Of these 153 patients, 36 had gallbladder cancer and 117 had benign gallbladder diseases (67 chronic cholecystitis, 44 adenomyomatosis, four cholesterol polyp, one gallbladder adenoma, and one xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis). We evaluated the positive signal rate with DWI and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of each disease.

Results

The positive signal rate with DWI was significantly higher in gallbladder cancer (78 %) than in benign gallbladder diseases (22 %) (p < 0.001). The mean ADC value of gallbladder cancer was (1.83 ± 0.69) × 10^?3 mm²/s and that of benign gallbladder diseases was (2.60 ± 0.54) × 10^?3 mm²/s (p < 0.001). Benign gallbladder diseases with acute cholecystitis or a history of that had a higher positive signal rate with DWI (p < 0.001) and a lower ADC value (p = 0.018) than those without such conditions.

Conclusion

DWI can contribute to the improvement of the diagnostic capability for gallbladder wall thickening or polypoid lesions by compensating for weaknesses of other modalities by its many advantages, although cases with acute cholecystitis or such history sometimes show false-positive on DWI.     

Can Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Offer Clinical Benefit for Thick-Walled Gallbladders?

Background

No previous studies have compared cytology obtained under endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGD) and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for thick-walled gallbladders.

Aim

The present study investigated the diagnostic yield of bile cytology under ETGD and EUS-FNA for gallbladder tumors.

Methods

A total of 69 patients were diagnosed as having gallbladder wall thickening. Among these patients, 28 patients were diagnosed by clinical follow-up, solely by imaging such as computed tomography or by histological examination of surgical specimens. The remaining 41 patients underwent ETGD and/or EUS-FNA. In these 41 patients, the clinical data collected included gender, age, diameter of gallbladder wall, site of gallbladder wall thickening, final diagnosis, adverse events, and diagnostic yield of ETGD and EUS-FNA.

Results

Cyto-histological diagnosis with EUS-FNA was higher than that with ETGD, with a sensitivity of 100 versus 71 %, specificity of 100 versus 94 %, and accuracy of 100 versus 88 %, respectively, in the two groups. In addition, the sampling adequacy of EUS-FNA was 100 %. Adverse events were seen in five patients in the ETGD group (mild pancreatitis), although no adverse events were seen in the EUS-FNA group (P = 0.08).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that EUS-FNA can be safely performed for the diagnosis of gallbladder lesions. Further, this procedure may be the diagnostic method of choice over cytology of bile juice obtained via ETGD to obtain histological evidence of gallbladder cancer.     

Clinical and pathological features of primary carcinoma of the cystic duct

Background

According to Farrar’s criteria, a tumor restricted to the cystic duct is defined as cystic duct carcinoma, but this definition excludes advanced carcinoma originating from the cystic duct.

Patients and methods

For the purpose of this study, primary cystic duct carcinoma was defined as a tumor originating from the cystic duct. We investigated the clinicopathological features of 15 cystic duct carcinomas, including 13 that did not fit Farrar’s criteria, and compared them with those of 52 cases of gallbladder carcinoma and 161 cases of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Results

The incidence of primary cystic duct carcinoma was 6.6% among all malignant biliary tumors. The main symptom was jaundice in 67% of cases. The operative procedures employed ranged from cholecystectomy to hepatopancreatoduodenectomy. The cases of cystic duct carcinoma and bile duct carcinoma showed a high frequency of perineural infiltration. The overall 5-year survival rate of the 15 patients was 40%.

Conclusion

Patients with advanced cystic duct carcinoma show a high frequency of jaundice and perineural infiltration. Our data suggest that cystic duct carcinoma may be considered a distinct subgroup of gallbladder carcinoma. Radical surgery is necessary for potentially curative resection in patients with advanced cystic duct carcinoma.     

Prognostic Factors for Successful Endoscopic Transpapillary Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocysts

Background and Aims

The transpapillary approach can be used for draining pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) with pancreatic-duct abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for clinical success of transpapillary drainage.

Patients and Methods

Data for all patients who underwent transpapillary drainage between November 2000 and September 2009 were obtained by retrospective review and entered into a computerized database. Patient data were prospectively followed up to determine long-term outcomes.

Results

Seventy interventional ERCP procedures were performed for 43 patients. Technical success was 90.7 % (39/43). Overall clinical success was 79.5 % (31/39). Clinical success for pancreatic head pseudocyst was significantly different from that for body or tail pseudocyst (62.5 vs. 91.3 %, P = 0.043). Logistic regression analysis showed that location of the PPs predicted the success of endoscopic transpapillary pseudocyst drainage (P = 0.025).

Conclusion

Transpapillary drainage is the least traumatic approach for drainage of PPs, and is also effective for patients with no communicating pseudocysts. Clinical success for pancreatic body or tail pseudocyst drainage was higher than that for pancreatic head pseudocyst drainage. It was found that the location of PPs predicted the success of transpapillary pseudocyst drainage. None of the other factors tested was a significant predictor of clinical success.     

Bilateral Metal Stents for Hilar Biliary Obstruction Using a 6Fr Delivery System: Outcomes Following Bilateral and Side-by-Side Stent Deployment

Background and Study Aim

Controversy exists on optimal endoscopic management for palliation of malignant hilar obstruction, with advocates for metal “side-by-side” (SBS) and “stent-in-stent” (SIS) techniques. We sought to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and outcomes of bilateral biliary self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) for treatment of malignant hilar obstruction using a stent with a 6Fr delivery system.

Patients and Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective review of all patients who underwent bilateral placement of Zilver^® biliary SEMS for malignant hilar obstruction from January 2010 to August 2012. Patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with placement of stents using either the SIS or SBS stent techniques.

Results

Twenty-four patients (19 men, mean age 63 years) underwent bilateral stenting for malignant hilar obstruction during the study period. Seventeen and seven patients underwent the SBS and SIS technique, respectively. Cholangiocarcinoma (n = 14) was the most common cause of hilar obstruction. Initial technical success was achieved in 24/24 (100 %) of patients; however, 12 (50 %) patients required re-intervention during the study period (median 98 days). Comparison of the SBS and SIS groups revealed no statistical difference with respect to need for re-intervention (P = 0.31), successful re-intervention (P = 0.60), or procedural length (P = 0.89).

Conclusions

Use of bilateral Zilver^® SEMS in either the SBS or SIS configuration is safe, technically feasible, and effective for drainage of malignant hilar obstruction; however, duration of stent patency and procedure-free survival remain variable.     

A Multicenter Prospective Study of the Short-Term Outcome of a Newly Developed Partially Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Biliary Stent (WallFlex?)

Background

Self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement is a widely used, effective therapy for unresectable malignant stricture of the lower bile duct.

Aims

We evaluated the short-term outcome of the newly developed WallFlex^® Biliary RX Partially Covered Stent in patients with malignant lower and middle biliary stricture in five tertiary referral centers.

Methods

The subjects of this study were 52 patients in whom WallFlex^® Biliary RX Stents were inserted into the bile duct for malignant stenosis of the middle and lower bile duct at five medical facilities between April 2009 and November 2009.

Results

The stent placement success rate was 100%. Effective biliary decompression was achieved in all patients. The incidence of early complications was 7.7% (4/52). Stent occlusion occurred in two patients (3.8%) (one dislocation, one migration); cholecystitis occurred in two patients (3.8%). Neither acute pancreatitis nor stent kinking in the bile duct occurred.

Conclusions

The present results revealed that the new WallFlex^® Biliary RX Partially Covered SEMSs were useful for the short-term relief of biliary obstruction due to unresectable distal biliary malignancies.     

Intraoperative fluorescent imaging using indocyanine green for liver mapping and cholangiography

Background

Preoperative imaging is widely used and extremely helpful in hepatobiliary surgery. However, transfer of preoperative data to a intraoperative situation is very difficult. Surgeons need intraoperative anatomical information using imaging data for safe and precise operation in the field of hepatobiliary surgery. We have developed a new system for mapping liver segments and cholangiograms using intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence under infrared light observation.

Method

The imaging technique for mapping liver segments and cholangiogram based on ICG fluorescence used an infrared-based navigation system. Eighty one patients with liver tumors underwent hepatectomy from 2006, January to 2009, March. In liver surgery, 1 ml of ICG was injected via the portal vein under observation by the fluorescent imaging system. Fourteen patients were underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis with gallstones. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 5 ml of ICG was administered intravenously just before operation and the bile duct was observed using the infrared-based navigation system.

Result

This new technique successfully identified stained subsegments and segments of the liver in 73 of 81 patients (90.1%). Moreover, clear mapping of liver segments was obtained even against a background of liver cirrhosis. Fluorescent cholangiography clearly showed the common bile duct and cystic duct in 10 of 14 patients (71.4%). No adverse reactions to the ICG were encountered.

Conclusion

Application of this technique allows intraoperative identification of anatomical landmark in hepatobiliary surgery.     

Intraoperative exploration of biliary anatomy using fluorescence imaging of indocyanine green in experimental and clinical cholecystectomies

Background/purpose

We evaluated the usefulness of intraoperative exploration of the biliary anatomy using fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) in experimental and clinical cholecystectomies.

Methods

The experimental study was done using two 40-kg pigs and the clinical study was done in 12 patients for whom cholecystectomy was planned from January 2009 to June 2009. Initially we used a laparoscopic approach for the evaluation of fluorescence imaging of the biliary system in the two pigs. Then the clinical study was started on the basis of these experimental results. ICG (1.0 ml/body of 2.5 mg/ml ICG) was infused 1–2 h before surgery. With the subjects under general anesthesia we observed in real time the condition of the biliary tract under the guidance of fluorescence imaging employing an infrared camera or a prototype laparoscope. ICG was added intravenously to observe the location or flow condition of the cystic artery.

Results

We obtained a clear view of the biliary tract and the location of the cystic duct in the two pigs. Local compression with a transparent hemispherical plastic device was effective for offering a clearer view. The biliary tract, except for the gallbladder, was clearly recognized in all clinical subjects. Local compression with a transparent hemispherical plastic device for open cholecystectomy and a flat plastic device for laparoscopy provided clearer visualization of the confluence between the cystic duct and common bile duct or common hepatic duct. The location of the cystic artery was revealed after division of the connective tissues, and the flow condition of the cystic artery was confirmed 7–10 s after intravenous re-infusion of ICG. There were no adverse events related to the intraoperative procedure or the ICG itself.

Conclusions

This method is safe and easy for the identification of the biliary anatomy, without requiring cannulation into the cystic duct, X-ray equipment, or the use of radioactive materials. Although fluorescence imaging is still at an early stage of application in comparison with ordinary intraoperative cholangiography, we expect that this method will become routine, offering a lower degree of invasiveness that will help avoid bile duct injury.     

Cholecystectomy by a combined transgastric and transparietal approach using two flexible endoscopes

Objective

This experimental study was designed to assess the technical feasibility and benefits of our novel approach for transgastric NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery) cholecystectomy.

Methods

Four pigs were subjected to NOTES cholecystectomy by the combined transgastric and transparietal approach using two flexible endoscopes. Under the guidance of a transparietal endoscope inserted through a trocar placed in the right upper abdomen, a gastrotomy was constructed, and a peroral endoscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity through the gastrotomy and moved on retroflexion toward the gallbladder. Gallbladder excision with ligation of the cystic artery and duct using endoclips was performed using the peroral endoscope. After gastrotomy closure with endoclips inside the stomach, intraperitoneal lavage were carried out using the transparietal endoscope.

Results

A complete gallbladder excision was carried out without major adverse events in all cases. The gastrotomies were successfully closed using endoclips (n = 3) or by the omentum-plug method (n = 1).

Conclusion

This approach is technically feasible and makes transgastric NOTES cholecystectomy easier and safer.     

Palliative Stent for Malignant Colonic Obstruction by Extracolonic Malignancy: A Comparison with Colorectal Cancer

Background and Aim

Palliative self-expandable metal stent placement for colonic obstruction arising from an extracolonic malignancy might be as useful as that for colorectal cancer, but data are limited. The purposes of this study were to investigate success and complications of stent placement in patients with extracolonic malignancy and to compare long-term clinical outcomes for an extracolonic malignancy group with those for a colorectal cancer group.

Patients and methods

We reviewed short-term and long-term outcomes for patients treated with palliative stents for colonic obstruction by extracolonic malignancy (n = 44) or unresectable colorectal cancer (n = 53) from January 2006 to March 2011.

Results

Neither the technical success (93.2 vs. 98.1 %, respectively; P = 0.326) nor clinical success (77.3 vs. 84.9 %, respectively; P = 0.433) of stent placement differed significantly in the two groups. Complications as a result of stent placement also differed only slightly in the two groups (perforation: 4.8 % (two cases) vs. 0 %, respectively; migration: 4.8 vs. 5.8 %, respectively, P = 0.343). With regard to long-term outcomes, although stent patency was shorter in the extracolonic malignancy group (P = 0.015), because overall survival in this group was also shorter (P = 0.018), it was sufficient for palliative purposes.

Conclusions

Palliative stent placement was equally effective and safe for treatment of colonic obstruction arising from either extracolonic malignancy or unresectable colorectal cancer. Even in cases of colonic obstruction arising from extracolonic malignancy, stent placement should be considered as primary palliative therapy.     

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: the use of preoperative CT findings to differentiate it from gallbladder carcinoma

Background and aim

A retrospective analysis was performed on 32 patients with histologically confirmed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and 21 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment between 1998 and 2007.

Methods

All patients underwent preoperative CT scanning. The CT features analyzed were: the presence of intramural hypoattenuated nodules or bands, mucosal line, the patterns of wall thickening and enhancement, and the presence of stones in the gallbladder. The variables of the CT findings with XGC were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Intramural hypoattenuated nodules were observed in 21 patients (65%) with XGC, but in only six patients (29%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.01). The mucosal line was observed in 27 patients (84%) with XGC and in only four patients (19%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.0001). Gallstones were noted in 24 patients (75%) with XGC and five patients (24%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the pattern of gallbladder wall thickening (diffuse or focal) and the presence of changes outside the gallbladder. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed from the CT features that the enhanced continuous mucosal line (P = 0.0013) and the presence of gallstones (P = 0.0072) were independently correlated with XGC.

Conclusion

CT features of the enhanced continuous mucosal line in a thickened gallbladder wall, together with gallstones in a patient with chronic gallbladder disease, are highly suggestive of XGC. Accurate diagnosis of XGC may therefore indicate the need to select a less aggressive surgical approach.     

Efficacy of a Metallic Stent Covered with a Paclitaxel-Incorporated Membrane Versus a Covered Metal Stent for Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Prospective Comparative Study

Background

The placement of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) is a widely used nonsurgical treatment method in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstructions but SEMS is susceptible to occlusion by tumor ingrowth or overgrowth.

Aim

The efficacy and safety of a metallic stent covered with a paclitaxel-incorporated membrane (MSCPM) in which paclitaxel provided an antitumoral effect was compared prospectively with those of a covered metal stent (CMS) in patients with malignant biliary obstructions.

Methods

Patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary obstructions (n = 106) were prospectively enrolled in this study at multiple treatment centers. A MSCPM was inserted endoscopically in 60 patients, and a CMS was inserted in 46 patients. Patients underwent systemic chemotherapy regimens alternatively according to disease characteristics.

Results

The two groups did not differ significantly in mean age, male to female ratio, or mean follow-up period. Stent occlusion due to tumor ingrowth occurred in 12 patients who received MSCPMs and in eight patients who received CMSs. Stent patency and survival time did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.116, 0.981). Chemotherapy had no influence on stent patency, but gemcitabine-based chemotherapy was a significant prognostic factor for survival time (p = 0.012). Complications, including cholangitis and pancreatitis, were found to be acceptable in both groups.

Conclusions

Although the use of a MSCPM produced no significant differences in stent patency or patient survival in patients with malignant biliary obstructions compared with the use of a CMS, this study demonstrated that MSCPM can be used safely in humans.     

Single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy: a bridge between laparoscopic and translumenal endoscopic surgery

Background and objective

The intentional puncture of the normal viscera is likely the most important issue limiting the widespread use of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). We developed a new procedure for cholecystectomy using a flexible endoscope via a single port placed in the abdominal wall without visceral puncture (single-port endoscopic cholecystectomy; SPEC) as a bridge between laparoscopic surgery and NOTES. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of SPEC.

Methods

Five pigs were subjected to SPEC. An endoscope was inserted through a 12-mm port placed in the right upper abdomen. After grasping and retracting the gallbladder using a 2-mm retractor that was directly introduced into the peritoneal cavity, gallbladder excision with ligation of the cystic artery and duct using endoclips was carried out.

Results

A complete gallbladder excision was carried out easily and safely in all cases. No major adverse events occurred. The mean operating time was 67 min (range 52–84 min).

Conclusions

SPEC is a technically feasible procedure. It is simpler, easier, and safer than NOTES cholecystectomy. SPEC could be a less invasive alternative to the conventional four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Preventing Stricture Formation by Covered Esophageal Stent Placement After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Esophageal Cancer

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fully covered esophageal stent placement for preventing esophageal strictures after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Methods

Twenty-two patients with a mucosal defects that exceeded 75 % of the circumference of the esophagus after ESD treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas were grouped according to the type of mucosal defect and randomized to undergo fully covered esophageal stent placement post-ESD (group A, n = 11) or no stent placement (group B, n = 11). In group A, the esophageal stents were removed 8 weeks post-ESD. Endoscopy was performed when patients reported dysphagia symptoms and at 12 weeks post-ESD in patients without symptoms. Savary–Gilliard dilators were used for bougie dilation in patients experiencing esophageal stricture in both groups, and we compared the rates of post-ESD strictures and the need for bougie dilation procedures.

Results

The proportion of patients who developed a stricture was significantly lower in group A (18.2 %, n = 2) than in group B (72.7 %, n = 8) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of bougie dilation procedures was significantly lower in group A (mean 0.45, range 0–3) than in group B (mean 3.9, range 0–17) (P < 0.05). The two patients in group A who experienced stricture also had stent displacement.

Conclusions

Esophageal stents are a safe and effective method of preventing esophageal strictures in cases where >75 % of the circumference of the esophagus has mucosal defects after ESD treatment for early esophageal cancer.     

The role of the Tokyo guidelines in the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis

Background

Acute calculous cholecystitis is a condition in which the gallbladder becomes inflamed due to cholelithiasis. Early diagnosis reduces both mortality and morbidity. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of the Tokyo guidelines in patients with acute cholecystitis.

Methods

The medical records of patients admitted for acute calculous cholecystitis proven by pathological findings were collected between January 2007 and June 2008. Exclusion criteria included: acalculous cholecystitis, hepatobiliary malignancy, patients younger than 18 years and mortality unrelated to cholecystitis. A total of 235 patients were classified into three groups according to the severity grading in the Tokyo guidelines. Clinical characteristics among these patients were analyzed for comparison.

Results

Among all diagnostic criteria, right upper quarter (RUQ) abdominal pain (97.9%) and thickened gallbladder wall (92.3%) had the highest sensitivity rates, whereas pericholecystic fluid collection (18.3%) and RUQ abdominal mass (0.8%) had the lowest sensitivity rates. Higher sensitivity rates of diagnostic criteria were related to severe cholecystitis, except for Murphy’s sign and white blood cell (WBC) count. The presence of both RUQ abdominal pain and elevated C-reactive protein (55.1%), or both RUQ abdominal pain and elevated WBC count (53.7%), accounted for the highest sensitivity rates in making the definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Seventeen patients (7.2%) without comparable typical image findings were prone to be afebrile and had normal C-reactive protein values compared to those with typical image findings.

Conclusion

Among all diagnostic criteria in the Tokyo guidelines for acute cholecystitis, RUQ abdominal pain and thickened gallbladder wall had the highest sensitivity rates, and RUQ abdominal mass had the lowest sensitivity rate. A combination of diagnostic criteria with different pathophysiologic findings, as noted in the Tokyo guidelines, can help clinicians make the correct diagnosis for patients with acute calculous cholecystitis.     

Evaluation of Endoscopic Transpapillary Brushing Cytology for the Diagnosis of Bile Duct Cancer Based on the Histopathologic Findings

Background and Aim

Diagnosis of the bile duct cancer still needs more accuracy. Studies on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided brushing cytology were carried to evaluate the role of the endoscopic transpapillary brushing cytology for the diagnosis of bile duct cancer.

Patients and Method

The study involved 76 consecutive patients who underwent ERCP-guided bile duct cytology for the diagnosis of bile duct cancer from 2008 to August 2012. Three types of cytological specimens were obtained using different sampling methods, i.e., bile aspiration cytology (BAC), brush tip cytology (BTC), and post brushing bile cytology (PBC), to investigate their diagnostic abilities, and comparatively studied with each macroscopic type of the surgically resected specimens.

Results

The cancer-positive rate was 67.1 % (BAC alone: 41.9 %), and the use of BTC and PBC in addition to BAC yielded a statistically significant increase of the cancer-positive rate (p = 0.0031). In 34 resected cases, the cancer-positive rate in relation to the macroscopic type was improved by the addition of BTC and PBC to BAC alone for the papillary (87.5 vs. 40.0 %, p = 0.071) and nodular (100 vs. 70.0 %, p = 0.0603) types, but not for the flat type (62.5 vs. 57.1 %; p = 0.7651).

Conclusion

The diagnostic ability of ERCP-guided brushing cytology could be improved by the addition of PBC. However, the cancer-positive rate was the lowest for the flat type of bile duct cancer.