纤维胆道镜下钬激光碎石及狭窄矫形治疗难取性胆管结石

目的 探讨纤维胆道镜下钬激光治疗胆管残余结石及肝内胆管膜性狭窄的临床效果。方法 经T管逆行胆管造影及纤维胆道镜诊疗后判定为疑难胆管残余结石12例，共有肝内外胆管残余结石29颗，其中3例合并肝内胆管严重膜性狭窄5处，均采用钬激光碎石及膜性狭窄切开矫形术。结果 12例疑难胆管残余结石均于纤维胆道镜下钬激光碎石并取净。5处肝内胆管膜性狭窄切开矫形成功。11例获得随访未见明显的症状及结石复发。结论 胆道镜下钬激光在液体环境中粉碎胆管结石及汽化切开胆管膜性狭窄的方法简便，效果确切，安全可靠。     

THE ROLE OF PERORAL CHOLANGIOSCOPY FOR BILE DUCT LESIONS

We reviewed the current status of peroral cholangioscopy under duodenoscopic assistance, which allows direct visualization of the bile duct. Direct visual assessment may be a useful adjunct to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for distinguishing malignant from benign bile duct lesions. Several clinical studies suggest the efficacy of peroral cholangioscopy for various bile duct lesions. However, solely cholangioscopic examination may be insufficient to confirm accurate differential diagnosis between benign and malignant strictures or tumor extension of bile duct carcinoma. Directed tissue acquisition in biliary strictures by using peroral cholangioscopy is another application that has not been properly studied because of the limited maneuverability of the long babyscope. Further improvement of suitable instruments and cholangioscopes are needed.     

Endoscopic laser lithotripsy for complicated bile duct stones: is cholangioscopic guidance necessary?

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic papillotomy is successful in more than 95% of the cases of choledocholithiasis. For patients with difficult bile duct stones not responding to mechanical lithotripsy, different methods for stone fragmentation have been developed. AIM: To compare the results of laser lithotripsy with a stone-tissue recognizing system, when guided by fluoroscopy only or by cholangioscopy. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2002 we have treated 89 patients with difficult bile duct stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laser lithotripsy. Unsuccessful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic were also performed before laser in 35% and 26% of the cases, respectively. RESULTS: Laser was effective in 79.2% of 72 patients guided by cholangioscopy and in 82.4% of 17 cases steered by fluoroscopy. The median number of impulses in the latter was 4,335 and 1,800 with the former technique. Two parameters influenced the manner of laser guidance. In cases of stones situated above a stricture, cholangioscopic control was more effective (64.7% vs. 31.9%). When the stones were in the distal bile duct, fluoroscopic control was more successful. CONCLUSION: In cases of difficult stones in the distal bile duct, laser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic control is very effective and easily performed. Cholangioscopic guidance should be recommended just in cases of intrahepatic stones or in patients with stones situated proximal to a bile duct stenosis. In these cases, cholangioscopy should be performed either endoscopically or percutaneously.     

A novel technique for endoscopic sphincterotomy when using a percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscope in patients with an endoscopically inaccessible papilla

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy is difficult and sometimes impossible in patients who have undergone gastrectomy or partial gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction. For such patients, a novel technique was developed in which endoscopic sphincterotomy is performed via percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. This report describes an initial experience with this technique. METHODS: After dilation of the percutaneous fistula, a cholangioscope with a push-type sphincterotome attached was inserted into the bile duct via the fistula and then through the papilla into the duodenum. The tip of the instrument then was retroverted to obtain a frontal view of the papilla. Then, a sphincterotomy incision was extended to the proximal, orad margin of the papillary eminence. OBSERVATIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed in 3 patients with obstructive jaundice and bile duct stones. In all patients, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic sphincterotomy was performed successfully, without procedure-related complication. Thereafter, all stones and stone fragments cleared from the duct by spontaneous migration. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sphincterotomy via percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy potentially is an innovative technique for endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with an endoscopically inaccessible papilla.     

Direct insertion of an ultra‐slim upper endoscope for cholangioscopy in patients undergoing choledochoduodenostomy

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope is one modality of POC for intraductal endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the bile duct. Choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) is one modality of biliary bypass surgery that provides a new route to the bile duct. We carried out direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the use of accessories in 10 patients (four sump syndromes, three bile duct strictures and three intrahepatic duct stones) previously undergoing surgical CDS. Direct POC was successful in all patients. The use of an intraductal balloon catheter was required in one patient for advancement of the endoscope into the bile duct. Distal bile ducts with sump syndromes were cleared using baskets and water irrigation under direct POC. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient with hilar bile duct stricture after cholangioscopic evaluation and a targeting forceps biopsy under direct POC. Intrahepatic duct stones were successfully extracted after intraductal fragmentation under direct POC. Oozing bleeding occurred during intraductal lithotripsy but stopped spontaneously. Direct POC using an ultra‐slim upper endoscope without the assistance of accessories can easily be carried out in patients undergoing CDS.     

Extracorporeal piezoelectric and intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy in problematic bile duct calculi

More than 90% of all common bile duct stones are today extracted endoscopically after papillotomy with the Dormia basket in combination with the mechanical lithotripter. For patients with endoscopically unremovable stones, there are now new therapies as an alternative to surgical intervention. Ductal stones can either be fragmented by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or by peroral cholangioscopic guided electrohydraulic lithotripsy. The remaining fragments can then be easily extracted endoscopically. If the stone cannot be removed by using these new techniques, a palliative endoprosthesis can by implanted. We report on our experiences and results with the extracorporeal piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy and the intracorporeal electrohydraulic therapy in 44 patients with complicated bile duct stones. Applying extracorporeal shock wave therapy, treatment was successful in 75% of the patients with common bile duct stones, intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy was successful in 71%. By combination of both techniques, the calculi could be removed in 84% of those patients where before one of both therapies had failed. Finally, the rate of success in the above mentioned 44 patients was 93%. It could be shown by this investigation that both therapeutic methods complete each other in the treatment of the complicated common bile duct stones.     

A new peroral mother-baby endoscope system for biliary tract disorders

AIM: To investigate a new mother-baby system, consisting of a peroral cholangioscope and a duodenoscope in patients regarding its feasibility. METHODS: In the study period from January 2007 to February 2010, 76 consecutive patients(33 men, 43 women; mean age 63 years old) were included in this pilot series. Endoluminal images and biopsies were obtained from 55 patients with indeterminate strictures, while 21 patients had fixed filling defects. The diagnostic accuracy of peroral cholangioscopy(POCS) in the visualization of strictures and tissue sampling was evaluated, and therapeutic success was monitored. Followup was performed over at least 9 mo. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients had indeterminate strictures. Using the criteria "circular stenosis" and "irregular surface or margins", POCS correctly described 27 out of 28 malignant biliary strictures and 25 out of 27 benign lesions(sensitivity, 96.4%; specificity, 92.6%, diagnostic accuracy 94.5%). Visually targeted forceps biopsies were performed in 55 patients. Tissue sampling during POCS revealed malignancy in 18 of 28 cases(sensitivity: 64.3%). In 21 patients with fixed filling defects, 10 patients with bile duct stones were successfully treated with conventional stone removal. Nine patients with difficult stones(5 giant stones and 4 intrahepatic stones) were treated with visually guided laser lithotripsy. Two patients in the group with unclear fixed filling defects had bile duct adenoma or papillary tumors and were surgically treated. CONCLUSION: The new 95 cm POCS allows for accurate discrimination of strictures and fixed filling defects in the biliary tree, provides improved sensitivity of endoscopically guided biopsies and permits therapeutic approaches for difficult intrahepatic stones.     

Recent advances in endoscopic management of difficult bile duct stones

Endoscopic treatment is now recognized worldwide as the first‐line treatment for bile duct stones. Endoscopic sphincterotomy combined with basket and/or balloon catheter is generally carried out for stone extraction. However, some stones are refractory to treatment under certain circumstances, necessitating additional/other therapeutic modalities. Large bile duct stones are typically treated by mechanical lithotripsy. However, if this fails, laser or electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) is carried out under the guidance of conventional mother‐baby cholangioscopy. More recently, direct cholangioscopy using an ultrathin gastroscope and the newly developed single‐use cholangioscope system – the SpyGlass direct visualization system – are also used. In addition, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has also been used for stone fragmentation. Such fragmentation techniques are effective in cases with impacted stones, including Mirizzi syndrome. Most recently, endoscopic papillary large balloon dilationhas been introduced as an easy and effective technique for treating large and multiple stones. In cases of altered anatomy, it is often difficult to reach the papilla; in such cases, a percutaneous transhepatic approach, such as EHL or laser lithotripsy under percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy, can be a treatment option. Moreover, enteroscopy has recently been used to reach the papilla. Furthermore, an endoscopic ultrasound‐guided procedure has been attempted most recently. In elderly patients and those with very poor general condition, biliary stenting only is sometimes carried out with or without giving subsequent dissolution agents.     

Cholangioskopie

Cholangioscopy is an important component of the management of a selected group of patients with biliary diseases. Due to the advantage of direct visualization cholangioscopy provides targeted diagnostic and therapeutic procedures under endoscopic control. Thus cholangioscopy improves the differentiation of benign and malignant intraductal lesions, targeted biopsies and precise delineation of intraductal tumor spread before surgical resection. Furthermore lithotripsy of difficult bile duct stones, ablative therapies for biliary malignancies and direct biliary drainage can be carried out under endoscopic control. Recent developments of new types of conventional peroral cholangioscopy permit feasible, safe and effective procedures that can broaden the use of this technique at reasonable costs. Hence the spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions under cholangioscopic control will be further expanded in the future.     

Utility of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for Difficult Common Bile Duct Stones

Background/AimsTreatment options for difficult bile duct stones are limited. Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC)-guided lithotripsy may be an option. A newly developed multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has several structural features optimized for direct POC. We evaluated the utility of direct POC using an MB ultraslim endoscope for lithotripsy in patients with difficult bile duct stones.MethodsTwenty patients with difficult bile duct stones, in whom stone removal using conventional endoscopic methods, including mechanical lithotripsy, had failed were enrolled from March 2018 to August 2019. Direct POC-guided lithotripsy was performed by electrohydraulic lithotripsy or laser lithotripsy. The primary outcome was complete ductal clearance, defined as the retrieval of all bile duct stones after lithotripsy confirmed by balloon-occluded cholangiography and/or direct POC.ResultsThe technical success rate of direct POC was 100% (20/20), and the free-hand insertion rate was 95% (19/20). Direct POC-guided lithotripsy, attempted by electrohydraulic lithotripsy in nine patients (45%) and laser lithotripsy in 11 patients (55%), was successful in 95% (19/20) of the patients. Complete ductal clearance after direct POC-guided lithotripsy was achieved in 95% (19/20) of patients. Patients required a median of 2 (range, 1–3) endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions for complete stone removal. Adverse event was observed in one patient (5%) with hemobilia and was treated conservatively.ConclusionsDirect POC using an MB ultraslim endoscope was safe and effective for lithotripsy in patients with difficult bile duct stones.     

Peroral cholangioscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary diseases

Peroral cholangioscopy with duodenoscopic assistance can allow direct visualization of the bile duct. Several clinical studies suggest the utility of peroral cholangioscopy for the management of various bile duct lesions. Although direct visual observation may be a useful adjunct to endoscopic retro-grade cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for distinguishing malignant from benign bile duct lesions, the assessment of diagnostic accuracy needs further controlled clinical studies. Intracorporeal lithotripsy with the use of a peroral cholangioscope may be a safe and effective method for difficult-to-treat bile duct stones, including intrahepatic stones. At present, however, the fragility of the fiberscope equipment and technical difficulties hold back its popularity. Preliminary data obtained by using a new videoscope, which provides excellent quality images, are encouraging. Furthermore, it is expected that this videoscope will have longer durability of optical images and better manipulation than previous fiberscopes.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for clearance of bile duct stones resistant to endoscopic extraction

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic extraction of bile duct stones after sphincterotomy has a success rate of up to 95%. Failures occur in patients with extremely large stones, intrahepatic stones, and bile duct strictures. This study examined the efficacy and the safety of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy in a large cohort of patients in whom routine endoscopic measures including mechanical lithotripsy had failed to extract bile duct stones. METHODS: Out of 1587 consecutive patients, endoscopic stone extraction including mechanical lithotripsy was unsuccessful in 313 (20%). These 313 patients (64% women, median age, 73 years) underwent high-energy extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Stone targeting was performed fluoroscopically (99%) or by ultrasonography (1%). RESULTS: Complete clearance of bile duct calculi was achieved in 281 (90%) patients. In 80% of the patients, the fragments were extracted endoscopically after shock-wave therapy; spontaneous passage was observed in 10%. For patients with complete clearance compared with those without there were no differences with regard to size or number of the stones, intrahepatic or extrahepatic stone location, presence or absence of bile duct strictures, or type of lithotripter. Cholangitis (n = 4) and acute cholecystitis (n = 1) were the rare adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with bile duct calculi that are difficult to extract endoscopically, high-energy extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is a safe and effective therapy regardless of stone size, stone location, or the presence of bile duct stricture.     

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic color laser lithotripsy in bile duct calculi]

Tunable dye laser lithotripsy is an effective and low risk treatment in patients with bile duct stones in which transpapillary maneuvers failed. The percutaneous approach allows to introduce small caliber endoscopes (10.5 F) to fragment the calculi under vision. This technique was evaluated in 8 patients who had undergone a biliodigestive anastomosis or in whom the biliary calculi could not removed by standard retrograde treatment. Laser lithotripsy resulted in sufficient fragmentation in 7 patients. Bile duct clearance proved to be a particular problem with the percutaneous access. When a retrograde sphincterotomy is not possible an antegrade papillotomy must be attempted under fluoroscopic guidance. In bile duct strictures the implantation of expandable stents facilitates the passage of fragments and may prevent recurrent stricture and development of new stones.     

A new peroral mother-baby endoscope system for biliary tract disorders简

AIM: To investigate a new mother-baby system, consisting of a peroral cholangioscope and a duodenoscope in patients regarding its feasibility.METHODS: In the study period from January 2007 to February 2010, 76 consecutive patients (33 men, 43 women; mean age 63 years old) were included in this pilot series. Endoluminal images and biopsies were obtained from 55 patients with indeterminate strictures, while 21 patients had fixed filling defects. The diagnostic accuracy of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) in the visualization of strictures and tissue sampling was evaluated, and therapeutic success was monitored. Follow-up was performed over at least 9 mo.RESULTS: A total of 55 patients had indeterminate strictures. Using the criteria “circular stenosis” and “irregular surface or margins”, POCS correctly described 27 out of 28 malignant biliary strictures and 25 out of 27 benign lesions (sensitivity, 96.4%; specificity, 92.6%, diagnostic accuracy 94.5%). Visually targeted forceps biopsies were performed in 55 patients. Tissue sampling during POCS revealed malignancy in 18 of 28 cases (sensitivity: 64.3%). In 21 patients with fixed filling defects, 10 patients with bile duct stones were successfully treated with conventional stone removal. Nine patients with difficult stones (5 giant stones and 4 intrahepatic stones) were treated with visually guided laser lithotripsy. Two patients in the group with unclear fixed filling defects had bile duct adenoma or papillary tumors and were surgically treated.CONCLUSION: The new 95 cm POCS allows for accurate discrimination of strictures and fixed filling defects in the biliary tree, provides improved sensitivity of endoscopically guided biopsies and permits therapeutic approaches for difficult intrahepatic stones.     

Intrahepatic stones: the percutaneous approach.

Intrahepatic stones are prevalent in the Far East, whereas they are infrequently seen in Western countries. Hepatolithiasis can cause recurrent attacks of cholangitis, with a risk of liver abscesses, sepsis or hepatic failure. Immediate biliary decompression can usually be achieved by endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic drainage. Definitive treatment should aim for complete elimination of bile stasis and removal of all stones. Hepatic resection promises the best long term results when the disease is limited to segments or the left liver lobe. Endoscopic retrograde choledochopancreatography is not well established for intrahepatic stones because of frequent failures due to associated biliary strictures, angulated ducts or peripherally impacted concrements. In contrast, percutaneous procedures can be easily performed through a T tube tract for residual stones after surgery. Establishment of a transhepatic fistula allows a targeted approach to liver segments with catheters or miniscopes, without the need for laparotomy. Biliary strictures can be dilated with balloons, and intrahepatic stones can be removed with baskets under fluoroscopic or cholangioscopic control. These techniques can be combined with electrohydraulic lithotripsy or laser lithotripsy for disintegration of impacted calculi. The risk of stone recurrence is particularly high in patients with associated biliary stenoses. Temporary or long term transhepatic intubation is a promising approach in these cases. The optimal management of intrahepatic stones remains a challenging task that requires an experienced team of gastroenterologists, surgeons and radiologists.     

SpyGlass DS直视胆道镜系统在胆道疾病诊治中的初步临床研究(含视频）

目的 探讨SpyGlass DS直视胆道镜系统在胆道疾病诊治中的临床应用价值。方法 使用SpyGlass DS直视胆道镜系统对7例胆道疾病患者（包括3例胆总管巨大结石,4例不明原因胆管狭窄）进行镜下诊断和治疗。对胆总管巨大结石患者,行SpyGlass DS胆道镜直视下激光碎石,继之行常规ERCP取石;对不明原因胆管狭窄患者,在SpyGlass DS胆道镜直视下观察病变情况,必要时取活检。结果 7例患者均成功完成SpyGlass DS镜下诊治, SpyGlass DS平均操作时间12.6 min。3例胆总管巨大结石患者均成功完成碎石及取石,术后3 d鼻胆管造影显示无结石残留。4例胆管狭窄患者中,2例镜下诊断为恶性胆管狭窄,并被活检病理证实;另外2例镜下诊断为炎性狭窄,未取活检。术后2例患者出现高淀粉酶血症,均自行恢复正常。结论 SpyGlass DS能成功用于难治性胆管结石及不明原因胆管狭窄患者的诊治。     

Weitere Abklärung unklarer Gallengangsstenosen

The differentiation between malignant and benign biliary strictures remains challenging. New peroral cholangioscopes have been introduced to obtain a visual image of the strictures. Other interesting innovations are the combination of peroral cholangioscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI), confocal laser microscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and intraductal optical coherence tomography. The clinical benefit of these new diagnostic approaches was investigated in pilot studies. But in the future, the clinical benefit of these technical innovations for the accurate diagnosis of suspicious bile duct strictures has to be shown in multicenter studies.     

A New Therapeutic Approach Towards Balloon Dilatation of Biliary Strictures Using a Peroral Cholangioscope

Balloon dilatation of biliary strictures using a peroral cholangioscope was used on 10 patients who had biliary strictures accompanied by proximally located stones. A dilation sufficient for the passage of a cholangioscope was obtained in 8 of 10 patients including all of the 6 patients with extrahepatic strictures and 2 of the 4 patients with intrahepatic ones. After successful dilatation of the strictures, peroral cholangioscopic lithotripsy was performed in 4 of the 8 patients whose gallstones were too large to be removed with a conventional stone basket: electrohydraulic lithotripsy in 3 patients and Nd: YAG Laser lithotripsy in one patient. Complete stone clearance was achieved in 5 patients with extrahepatic strictures. Three patients, 1 with the extrahepatic strictures and 2 with the intrahepatic strictures had partial stone clearance. A follow-up study (27 months on average) disclosed no recurrence of symptoms or elevated laboratory tests indicative of restrictures. Balloon dilatation with a peroral cholangioscope might be a safe and effective treatment as a new approach for biliary strictures especially for extrahepatic lesions, as an alternative to surgical intervention.     

经口直接胆道进镜对ERCP残留结石的诊疗价值

目的探讨经口直接胆道进镜方法及其对ERCP残留结石的诊疗价值。方法用3-0丝线将0．533mm（0．021in）斑马导丝软头连结于取石球囊前部的导管外面上,成为引导超细胃镜进镜的球囊．导丝“引导装置”,ERCP取石后的十二指肠镜将“引导装置”的取石球囊（连同导丝并行）送至肝内胆管充气锚定,退出十二指肠镜,沿导丝经口插入超细胃镜直至胆道,观察ERCP取石后结石残留情况,如发现残留结石可直接用超细胃镜网篮取出,结石较大则液电击碎再取出。结果46例患者中42例超细胃镜成功进镜至肝门区胆管,4例失败,自口插镜到达肝门区胆管平均时间为11．3min。成功进镜的42例中发现直径i〉4mm结石6例,残留率为14．3％,最大结石直径为10mm×12mm;27例ERCP单纯取石者发现结石2例,15例ERCP网篮碎石后再取石者发现结石4例。6例残留结石中5例直接用取石网篮取出,1例液电击碎后再网篮取出。术后未见严重并发症。结论应用本方法进行经口直接胆道镜诊疗是可行的,能及时诊断ERCP残留结石并予取除,避免再次取石治疗。     

Peroral cholangioscopic treatment of hepatolithiasis: Long-term results

BACKGROUND: Peroral cholangioscopic lithotomy is an effective treatment for extrahepatic bile duct stones. However, an evaluation of the usefulness and long-term results of peroral cholangioscopic lithotomy for hepatolithiasis has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and long-term results of peroral cholangioscopic lithotomy for hepatolithiasis. METHODS: From August 1987 to July 1998, 36 consecutive patients underwent peroral cholangioscopic lithotomy for hepatolithiasis; 34 were followed for a mean of 93 months (range, 14 to 164 months). RESULTS: The rate of complete stone removal was 64%; the morbidity rate was 2.8%. The recurrence rate for patients in whom stones were completely removed was 21.7%. Two patients (5.9%) had cholangiocarcinoma develop during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although incomplete stone removal and recurrence are common, peroral cholangioscopic lithotomy is a sufficiently safe and effective method for the treatment of hepatolithiasis.