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.     

Duodenogastric reflux after choledochoduodenostomy

Duodenogastric reflux (DGR) has been implicated in several disease processes. The present study was carried out to document the incidence and evaluate the clinical significance of DGR after choledochoduodenostomy (CDD). A total of 13 patients who had undergone cholecystectomy with a standard side-to-side CDD for choledocholithiasis or chronic pancreatitis were studied by symptom evaluation, scintigraphy, endoscopy, and gastric mucosal histology at least 6 months after surgery. The scintigraphic findings were then compared with those of 10 patients who had undergone cholecystectomy alone. Only two patients (15%) had mild dyspeptic symptoms. The incidence of DGR after CDD was 69% compared to 20% in the cholecystectomy alone group (P < 0.05). In the majority of patients the DGR was only mild to moderate and the severity correlated well with the degree of endoscopic gastritis, but not with the clinical symptoms or histological findings. These results indicate that while CDD is associated with a high incidence of DGR, its occurrence does not produce significant clinical symptoms.     

Simultaneous Duodenal Metal Stent Placement and EUS-Guided Choledochoduodenostomy for Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Patients with pancreatic cancer frequently suffer from both biliary and duodenal obstruction. For such patients, both biliary and duodenal self-expandable metal stent placement is necessary to palliate their symptoms, but it was difficult to cross two metal stents. Recently, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) was reported to be effective for patients with an inaccessible papilla. We report two cases of pancreatic cancer with both biliary and duodenal obstructions treated successfully with simultaneous duodenal metal stent placement and EUS-CDS. The first case was a 74-year-old man with pancreatic cancer. Duodenoscopy revealed that papilla had been invaded with tumor and duodenography showed severe stenosis in the horizontal portion. After a duodenal uncovered metal stent was placed across the duodenal stricture, EUS-CDS was performed. The second case was a 63-year-old man who previously had a covered metal stent placed for malignant biliary obstruction. After removing the previously placed metal stent, EUS-CDS was performed. Then, a duodenal covered metal stent was placed across the duodenal stenosis. Both patients could tolerate a regular diet and did not suffer from stent occlusion. EUS-CDS combined with duodenal metal stent placement may be an ideal treatment strategy in patients with pancreatic cancer with both duodenal and biliary malignant obstruction.     

End-to-side choledochoduodenostomy: A widely applicable procedure for biliary reconstruction

End-to-side choledochoduodenostomy was originally used for reconstruction between the duodenum and the biliary tree in iatrogenic bile duct stricture. However, we believe the procedure could be applied for various biliary disorders. We have recently shown the high carcinogenicity of biliary epithelium in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, and consequently we recommend excision of the bile duct, along with appropriate reconstruction of the biliary system to divert the flow of pancreatic juice from bile fluid, to prevent carcinoma in biliary epithelium even in patients without dilatation of the bile duct. The conditions causing primary or recurrent bile duct stones must be removed. We employed this procedure for biliary reconstruction in 42 patients with pancreatico-biliary maljunction and in 30 patients with various benign biliary diseases, such as bile duct stones and benign biliary stenosis. We also used the procedure for palliation in 6 patients with malignant tumors around the head of the pancreas. Among these 78 patients over 20 years, we experienced 5 cases of reflux cholangitis with anastomotic stenosis, for which conservative dilatation was required. This procedure of end-to-side choledochoduodenostomy could be widely applicable for biliary reconstruction in terms of its being simplicity, minimal invasiveness and the establishment of a single physiological route for bile flow into the duodenum.     

胆总管十二指肠吻合术治疗老年再发性胆石症39例临床分析

目的 探讨胆总管十二指肠吻合术治疗老年再发性胆石症中的手术方式及应用价值.方法 回顾性分析了我院自1993年4月～2003年4月行胆总管十二指肠吻合术的39例老年再发性胆石症.结果 本组病例中手术顺利,无死亡,恢复顺利,无结石复发.结论 胆总管十二指肠吻合术,不失为治疗老年再发性胆石症的有效治疗方法.     

应用可降解腔内支架的无缝合吻合术在狗胆肠吻合模型的实验研究

目的 传统的手工缝合行胆肠吻合术操作困难、费时,尤其在小胆管吻合和腹腔镜手术时明显。为简化和改良手术操作,我们设计了一种新的应用可降解腔内支架的无缝合胆肠吻合术。本文拟在狗胆总管十二指肠吻合模型中评估该无缝合方法的可行性和安全性。方法 为无缝合胆总管十二指肠吻合术设计一种腔内吻合支架管,这种专利支架管直径3mm和4mm,材料为可降解聚乳酸。38条毕格犬随机分为支架组（SG n=20）和对照组（CG n=18）。SG组应用无缝合支架法行胆总管十二指肠端侧吻合,CG组行传统可吸收缝线间断一层胆总管十二指肠端侧吻合。动物分术后1、3、6、12月4个亚组,比较两组术中吻合手术时间、术中吻合口耐受压、胆漏发生率、术后吻合口爆破压差异,观察两组术后胆红素和肝酶变化、术后1,3,6,12月取材的吻合口组织病理形态学改变,包括HE染色和Masson染色,比较两组吻合口羟脯氨酸含量,观察两组吻合口疤痕纤维组织增生状况。MRCP了解术后6月,12月两组吻合口状况。结果 手术均顺利完成,支架组吻合时间明显小于对照组(SG19.2±4.3min VS CG29.2±7.1min, P 0.000);两组各有1例胆漏并死亡（SG5.0% VS CG 5.6%,P=0.695)。两组间术中吻合口耐受压、术后胆漏发生率、术后各时期吻合口爆破压、吻合口羟脯氨酸含量、胆红素和肝酶测定均无显著性差异。MRCP检查及病理检查未发现吻合口狭窄和梗阻。结论 在狗胆总管十二指肠吻合模型中,无缝合腔内可降解支架胆吻合方法具有可行性和安全性。     

Does endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage really have clinical impact?

The well established, gold standard method for treatment of obstructive jaundice involves biliary drainage under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) performed by pancreatobiliary endoscopists. Recently, interventions using endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) have been developed not only for obtaining cytological and histological diagnosis, but also for biliary drainage as alternative method. EUS-guided biliary drainage(EUSBD) was first reported by Giovannini et al. EUS-BD broadly includes EUS-guided rendezvous technique, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy, and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy. More recently, EUS-guided antegrade stenting and EUS-guided gallbladder drainage have also been reported. many case reports, series, and retrospective studies on EUS-BD have been reported. However, because prospective studies and comparisons between the different biliary drainage methods have not been reported, the technical success, functional success, adverse events, and stent patency with long-term follow up of EUS-BD are still unclear. Therefore, prospective, randomized controlled studies addressing these issues are needed. Despite this, EUSBD undoubtedly is clinically useful as an alternative biliary drainage method. EUS-BD has the potential to be a first-line biliary drainage method instead of ERCP if results of clinical trials are favorable and the technique is simplified.     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage: Are we there yet?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the mainstay procedure of choice for management of obstructive biliary disease. While ERCP is widely performed with high success rates, the procedure is not feasible in every patient such as cases of non-accessible papilla. In the setting of unsuccessful ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has become a promising alternative to surgical bypass and percutaneous biliary drainage (PTBD). A variety of different forms of EUS-BD have been described, allowing for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic approaches. Recent studies have reported high success rates utilizing EUS-BD for both transpapillary and transluminal drainage, with fewer adverse events when compared to PTBD. Advancements in novel technologies designed specifically for EUS-BD have led to increased success rates as well as improved safety profile for the procedure. The techniques of EUS-BD are yet to be fully standardized and are currently performed by highly trained advanced endoscopists. The aim of our review is to highlight the different EUS-guided interventions for achieving biliary drainage and to both assess the progress that has been made in the field as well as consider what the future may hold.     

间置空肠远端悬垂胆管十二指肠吻合术15例分析

目的间置空肠胆管十二指肠吻合术,存在着胆肠逆流问题至今仍未能理想地解决,为了解决这一难题,设计了间置空肠远端悬垂法。研究方法间置空肠远端悬垂法,就是将长2.5cm左右间置的空肠远端悬垂于十二指肠内2.5cm。术中测试胆道内压及测定胆汁生化成分并与术后所测的结果作对比;术后作钡餐检查及T管胆道造影,另还进行术后随访观察。结果临床应用15例胆石症患者,经术后胆道内压力测定均较术前明显下降。术后钡餐检查,令患者取多种体位未见有胆肠逆流的征象出现。胆管造影见间置肠管蠕动良好,不断地将造影剂自胆道推向十二指肠。术后随访14例无反流性胆管炎及结石复发的临床表现。结论间置空肠远端悬垂胆管十二指肠吻合术,具有强大的防胆肠反流的功能,同时又避免了现存的一些防胆肠反流术式的缺点,在临床上具有广泛的应用前景。