Choledochoscopy: An update

Choledochoscopy, or cholangioscopy, is an endoscopic procedure for direct visualization within the biliary tract for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Since its conception in 1879, many variations and improvements are made to ensure relevance in diagnosing and managing a range of intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary pathologies. This ranges from improved visual impression and optical guided biopsies of indeterminate biliary strictures and clinically indistinguishable pathologies to therapeutic uses in stone fragmentation and other ablative therapies. Furthermore, with the evolving understanding of biliary disorders, there are significant innovative ideas and techniques to fill this void, such as nuanced instances of biliary stenting and retrieving migrated ductal stents. With this in mind, we present a review of the current advancements in choledo-choscopy with new supporting evidence that further delineates the role of choledochoscopy in various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, complications, limitations and put forth areas for further study.     

Endoscopic management of difficult common bile duct stones: Where are we now? A comprehensive review

Endoscopic management for difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones still presents a challenge for several reasons, including anatomic anomalies, patients’ individual conditions and stone features. In recent years, variable methods have emerged that have attributed to higher stone removal success rates, reduced cost and lower adverse events. In this review, we outline a stepwise approach in CBD stone management. As first line therapy, endoscopic sphincterotomy and large balloon dilation are recommended, due to a 30%-50% reduction of the use of mechanical lithotripsy. On the other hand, cholangioscopy-assisted lithotripsy has been increasingly reported as an effective and safe alternative technique to mechanical lithotripsy but remains to be reserved in special settings due to limited large-scale evidence. As discussed, findings suggest that management needs to be tailored to the patient’s characteristics and anatomical conditions. Furthermore, we evaluate the management of CBD stones in various surgical altered anatomy (Billroth II, Roux-en-Y and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass). Moreover, we could conclude that cholangioscopy-assisted lithotripsy needs to be evaluated for primary use, rather than following a failed management option. In addition, we discuss the importance of dissecting other techniques, such as the primary use of interventional endoscopic ultrasound for the management of CBD stones when other techniques have failed. In conclusion, we recognize that endoscopic sphincterotomy and large balloon dilation, mechanical lithotripsy and intraductal lithotripsy substantiate an indication to the management of difficult CBD stones, but emerging techniques are in rapid evolution with encouraging results.     

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy and retrieval of vascular coils eroded into the biliary tree

Endovascular coil erosion into the biliary system after hepatic artery embolization is a rare complication which may result in inflammation, strictures, choledocholithiasis, biliary colic, and cholangitis. Removal of coils may result in cessation of these symptoms, but is challenging in patients who cannot undergo removal via standard endoscopic approaches. This case report describes the retrieval of coils placed across a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, which over several years eroded into the biliary tree, resulting in calculi formation and post-prandial pain. Using combined fluoroscopy and cholangioscopy via percutaneous transhepatic accesses, the calculi were fragmented and the coils were retrieved, resulting in cessation of symptoms.     

新型肝内胆管取石钳在纤维胆道镜直视下取石的应用(附62例报告)

目的：为了探讨较复杂的肝内胆管结石的治疗方法。方法：根据肝内胆管的解剖和肝内胆管结石的分布特点,我们研制了一种新型肝内胆管取石钳,并对６２例肝内胆管难以取出的结石和／或合并肝内胆管狭窄的病例,应用该取石钳在纤维胆道镜直视下进行钳、咬取石、钳头还可扩张部分狭窄胆管。结果：该方法不仅取石方便,而且效果满意,本组５６例结石取净,结石取净率为９０％（５６／６２）,５例大部分结石取出,取石成功率９８％,术后     

经皮经肝胆道镜治疗医源性胆管损伤后再狭窄

目的探讨医源性胆管损伤后肝外胆管再狭窄的原因和治疗方法。方法对我院1998年1月～2005年1月12例（开腹胆囊切除术5例，腹腔镜胆囊切除术7例）医源性胆管损伤后肝外胆管再狭窄，建立经皮经肝通道，采用胆道镜取石、球囊扩张、支架管置入支撑扩张狭窄段胆管。结果8例用F20 Gruntzig型球囊导管扩张狭窄段胆管，2次即可放入6～8mm塑料支架引流管；4例球囊扩张3次后置入。塑料支架引流管置管6～12个月。12例随访2～3年，平均2．6年，无腹痛、发热、黄疸再次发作，B超、MRCP检查胆管无狭窄及再发结石。结论胆道镜取石、球囊扩张支架管置入治疗医源性胆管损伤后肝外胆管再狭窄创伤小，安全可行，效果良好。     

腹腔镜联合胆道镜治疗胆总管结石的护理

目的:探讨腹腔镜联合胆道镜治疗胆总管结石的护理。方法:回顾分析72例胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者行腹腔镜联合胆道镜治疗胆总管结石的临床资料,总结手术前后的生理、心理特点,术后的相关观察及护理。结果:20例未放置T导管,其中有10例腹腔引流良好,52例放置T导管,均未发生胆汁漏。所有患者均无并发症发生,术后恢复良好。结论:加强手术前的心理护理及术后相关并发症的观察及护理,对提高疗效有重要的作用。     

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.     

三镜联合治疗胆囊及胆总管结石并发症的护理

目的探讨三镜联合治疗胆囊及胆总管结石的术后并发症及护理措施。方法对25例胆囊合并胆总管结石的患者行三镜（十二指肠镜、胆道镜及腹腔镜）联合胆总管探查术,并对术后并发症资料作护理分析。结果本组25例病人中术后并发急性胰腺炎1例,内镜术后出血1例,肩背部酸痛2例,伤口疼痛4例。结论三镜联合胆总管探查术治疗胆囊合并胆总管结石是一安全有效的微创手术方法。     

Staging cholangiocarcinoma by cholangioscopy

Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) were first developed in the 1970s, and technical developments and clinical applications have taken place gradually ever since. POCS is used to diagnose small mucosal biliary lesions in non-icteric patients and early malignant changes in patients with persistent primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Although PTCS is a more invasive diagnostic procedure than POCS, it has the advantage of precise diagnosis with mapping biopsy in defining the proximal and distal extension of superficially spreading cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or mucin-producing CCA, which is predominantly found in papillary type CCA. POCS is significantly superior to ERCP in distinguishing between malignant and benign dominant bile duct stenoses in patients with PSC. The positive rate of PTCS biopsy for CCA is 96%, while morbidity and mortality of PTCS are 9% and 0%, respectively. Although magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography may replace PTCS in determining the longitudinal spread of infiltrating type hilar CCA, the accuracy of MR cholangiography in papillary type hilar CCA is significantly lower than that of PTCS.     

肝切除联合电子胆道镜治疗肝内胆管结石

目的：探讨肝切除联合电子胆道镜治疗肝内胆管结石的疗效。方法：回顾性分析2004-01～2010-01经肝切除并联合术中及术后电子胆道镜治疗的186例肝内胆管结石病例。结果：186例患者均行相应的肝叶（段）切除和术中胆道镜取石,59例（31.7%）术后有残留结石,术后胆道镜残余结石总取净率为88.1%（52/59）,186例患者总治愈率为96.2%（179/186）,总残石率为3.8%（7/186）。结论：肝切除联合电子胆道镜是治疗肝内胆管结石的一种有效方法,电子胆道镜在治疗肝内胆管结石中起到了重要作用。