A novel lumen-apposing stent for transluminal drainage of nonadherent extraintestinal fluid collections

Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been continuously evolving for the past three decades and has become widely used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The efficacy of therapeutic EUS (TEUS) has proven to be superior and better tolerated than conventional percutaneous or surgical techniques. TEUS has allowed the performance of multiple procedures including gallbladder, pancreatic duct and biliary drainage as well as gastrointestinal anastomoses. TEUS procedures generally require the following critical steps: needle access, guidewire placement, fistula creation and stent deployment. The indications and contraindication for TEUS procedures vary with different procedures but common contraindications include hemodynamic instability, severe coagulopathy unable to be reversed, large volume ascites or the inability to obtain access to the target site. Proficiency and high volume in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and diagnostic EUS procedures are required for training in TEUS. The complexity of the cases performed can be seen as a pyramid with drainage of pancreatic fluid collections at the base, pancreaticobiliary decompression in the middle, and creation of digestive anastomosis at the top. The mastery of each level is crucial prior to reaching the next level of complexity. TEUS has been incorporated in our arsenal and is impacting on a daily basis the way we offer minimally invasive therapy.

Management of pancreatic fluid collections

Pancreatic fluid collections often develop as a complication of acute pancreatitis but can be seen in a variety of conditions including chronic pancreatitis, trauma, malignancy or post-operatively. It is important to classify a pancreatic fluid collection in order to optimize treatment strategies and management. Most interventions are targeted towards the management of delayed complications of pancreatitis, including pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis (WON), which often develop days to weeks after the initial episode of pancreatitis. Surgical, percutaneous, and endoscopic interventions are all possible methods for treatment of pancreatic fluid collections, however endoscopic drainage with endoscopic ultrasound has become first-line. Advances within endoscopic drainage strategies have also led to innovative changes in the specific stents used for treatment, with possible options including double pigtail plastic stents, fully covered self-expanding metal stents and lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS).

Perceived Feasibility of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gastroenteric Anastomosis: An Italian Survey

Background and Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenteric anastomosis (EUS-GEA) using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery across several indications. The aim of this survey is to investigate the perceived feasibility of this technique nationwide, within a working group skilled in interventional endosonography. Materials and Methods: Endoscopists were asked to answer to 49 items on a web-based questionnaire about expertise, peri- and intra-procedural aspects in the three main settings of EUS-GEA performance, budget/refund, and future perspectives. Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS® (IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results: Sixty endosonographers belonging to forty Italian centers were I-EUS app users and were all invited to participate. In total, 29 participants from 24 Italian centers completed the survey. All the participants were endosonographers with a broad range of experience both in the field of EUS (only 10.3% with more than 20 years of experience) and duodenal stenting (only 6.9% placed more than 10 stents in 2020), whereas 86.2% also performed ERCP. A total of 27.6% of participants performed EUS-GEA (3.4% more than 20 during their career); on the other hand, 79.3% of participants routinely performed drainage of peri-pancreatic fluid collections, 62.1% performed biliary drainage, and 62.1% performed gallbladder drainage with LAMS. A total of 89.7% of participants thought that EUS-GEA could be useful in their daily clinical practice, with 100% concluding that this procedure will need to be performed in referral centers in the near future; however, in 55.2% of cases, organizational obstacles may occur and affect the diffusion of the procedure. With regard to indications: 44.8% of participants performed the procedure with palliative intent for malignant indication (96.6% pancreatic adenocarcinoma), and 13.6% also for benign indication. A total of 20.7% of participants experienced adverse events (none severe or fatal, 66.6% moderate). A total of 62.1% of participants considered the procedure technically challenging, although 82.8% considered the risk of adverse events acceptable when considering the benefit. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first survey assessing the perceived feasibility of EUS-guided anastomoses after its advent. There are currently wide variations in practice nationwide, which demonstrate a need to define technical, qualitative, and peri-procedural requirements to carry out this procedure. Therefore, a standardization of these requirements is needed in order to overcome the technical, economical, and organizational obstacles relative to its diffusion.

Informed Consent for Endoscopic Biliary Drainage: Time for a New Paradigm

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered as the first option in the management of malignant biliary obstruction. In case of ERCP failure, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) has been conventionally considered as the preferred rescue strategy. However, the use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has proved similarly high rates of technical success, when compared to PTBD. As a matter of fact, biliary drainage is maybe the most evident paradigm of the increasing interconnection between ERCP and EUS, and obtaining an adequate informed consent (IC) is an emerging issue. The aim of this commentary is to discuss the reciprocal roles of ERCP and EUS for malignant biliary obstruction, in order to provide a guide to help in developing an appropriate informed consent reflecting the new biliopancreatic paradigm.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Specific Stents

The evolution of the endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) technique has necessitated the development of EUS-specific accessories and stents. In the earlier period, EUS-guided interventions mostly relied on borrowed accessories and stents from therapeutic endoscopy in particular ERCP. Traditional stents do not serve the purpose of EUS-guided transluminal stenting in all cases due to the length of the stent, no anchoring mechanism, and chance of migration. From 2011 onward, several EUS-specific stents became available, bringing a paradigm shift in interventional EUS. This article reviews current EUS-specific stents, indications, strengths, and weaknesses.

Futuristic Developments and Applications in Endoluminal Stenting

Endoscopic stenting is a well-established option for the treatment of malignant obstruction, temporary management of benign strictures, and sealing transmural defects, as well as drainage of pancreatic fluid collections and biliary obstruction. In recent years, in addition to expansion in indications for endoscopic stenting, considerable strides have been made in stent technology, and several types of devices with advanced designs and materials are continuously being developed. In this review, we discuss the important developments in stent designs and novel indications for endoluminal and transluminal stenting. Our discussion specifically focuses on (i) biodegradable as well as (ii) irradiating and drug-eluting stents for esophageal, gastroduodenal, biliary, and colonic indications, (iii) endoscopic stenting in inflammatory bowel disease, and (iv) lumen-apposing metal stent.

Double pigtail stent placement as an adjunct to lumen-apposing metal stents for drainage of pancreatic fluid collections may not affect outcomes: A multicenter experience

Background and Objectives:

EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) has been increasingly performed using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). However, recent data have suggested higher adverse event rates with LAMS compared to double pigtail plastic stents (DPS) alone. To decrease risks, there has been anecdotal use of placing DPS through the LAMS. We aimed to determine whether the placement of DPS through cautery-enhanced LAMS at time of initial placement decreases adverse events or need for reintervention.

Methods:

We performed a multicenter retrospective study between January 2015 and October 2017 examining patients who underwent EUS-guided drainage of pseudocysts (PP), walled-off necrosis (WON), and postsurgical fluid collection using a cautery enhanced LAMS with and without DPS.

Results:

There were 68 patients identified at 3 US tertiary referral centers: 44 PP (65%), 17 WON (25%), and 7 PFSC (10%). There were 35 patients with DPS placed through LAMS (Group 1) and 33 with LAMS alone (Group 2). Overall technical success was 100%, clinical success was 94%, and adverse events (bleeding, perforation, stent occlusion, and stent migration) occurred in 28% of patients. Subgroup analysis compared specific types of PFCs and occurrence of adverse events between each group with no significant difference detected in adverse event or reintervention rates.

Conclusion:

This multicenter study of various types of PFCs requiring EUS-guided drainage demonstrates that deployment of DPS across cautery-enhanced LAMS at the time of initial drainage does not have a significant effect on clinical outcomes, adverse events, or need for reinterventions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE): a systematic review describing the outcomes, adverse events, and knowledge gaps

BACKGROUND : Endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (EDGE) has emerged as a viable completely endoscopic method for performing pancreaticobiliary interventions in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy. The aims of this systematic review were: (1) to describe the indications, outcomes, and complications of EDGE; and (2) to identify deficiencies in our knowledge of important technical approaches and clinical outcomes. METHODS : A systematic review was conducted via comprehensive searches of Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane to identify studies focusing on EDGE outcomes. Simple descriptive statistics were derived from case series only. Case reports were only included to qualitatively describe additional indications, techniques, and adverse events. RESULTS : The initial search identified 2143 abstracts. Nine case series and eight case reports were included. In the nine case series, 169 patients underwent EDGE. The technical success rate was 99 % (168 /169) for gastrogastrostomy/jejunogastrostomy creation and 98 % (166 /169) for subsequent ERCP. Minor adverse events specifically related to EDGE occurred in 18 % (31/169) and included intraprocedural stent migration/malposition (n = 27) and abdominal pain (n = 4). Moderate adverse events specific to EDGE occurred in 5 % (9/169): including bleeding (2 %), persistent fistula (1 %), and perforation (1 %). Severe adverse events occurred in one patient with a perforation requiring surgery. Deficiency in reporting on the clinical significance of adverse events was identified. CONCLUSION : Based on limited observational data, in expert hands, EDGE has a high rate of technical success and an acceptable rate of adverse events. As a novel procedure, many knowledge gaps need to be addressed to inform the design of meaningful comparative studies and guide informed consent.

Classification, outcomes, and management of misdeployed stents during EUS-guided gastroenterostomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Stent misdeployment (SM) has hindered the dissemination of EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) for gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) management. We aimed to provide a classification system for SM during EUS-GE and study clinical outcomes and management accordingly.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study involving 16 tertiary care centers (8 in the United States, 8 in Europe) from March 2015 to December 2020. Patients who developed SM during EUS-GE for GOO were included. We propose classifying SM into 4 types. The primary outcome was rate and severity of SM (per American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy lexicon), whereas secondary outcomes were clinical outcomes and management of dislodgement according to the SM classification type, in addition to salvage management of GOO after SM.

RESULTS

From 467 EUS-GEs performed for GOO during the study period, SM occurred in 46 patients (9.85%). Most SMs (73.2%) occurred during the first 13 EUS-GE cases by the performing operators. SM was graded as mild (n = 28, 60.9%), moderate (n = 11, 23.9%), severe (n = 6, 13.0%), or fatal (n = 1, 2.2%), with 5 patients (10.9%) requiring surgical intervention. Type I SM was the most common (n = 29, 63.1%), followed by type II (n = 14, 30.4%), type IV (n = 2, 4.3%), and type III (n = 1, 2.2%). Type I SM was more frequently rated as mild compared with type II SM (75.9% vs 42.9%, P = .04) despite an equivalent rate of surgical repair (10.3% vs 7.1%, P = .7). Overall, 4 patients (8.7%) required an intensive care unit stay (median, 2.5 days). The median length of stay was 4 days after SM.

CONCLUSIONS

Although SM is not infrequent during EUS-GE, most are type I, mild/moderate in severity, and can be managed endoscopically with a surgical intervention rate of approximately 11%.

Direct Endoscopic Necrosectomy: Timing and Technique

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is one of the local complications of acute pancreatitis (AP). Several interventional techniques have been developed over the last few years. The purpose of this narrative review is to explore such methodologies, with specific focus on endoscopic drainage and direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN), through evaluation of their indications and timing for intervention. Findings indicated how, after the introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), DEN is becoming the favorite technique to treat WOPN, especially when large solid debris or infection are present. Additionally, DEN is associated with a lower adverse events rate and hospital stay, and with improved clinical outcome.

Lumen-apposing metal stents: How far are we from standardization? An Italian survey

Background and Objectives:

EUS-guided transluminal drainage has increasingly developed, especially after the era of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS): a fully covered, barbell-shaped, metal stent with anti-migratory properties allowing direct therapeutic interventions through a wide and short channel. The aim of this survey is to investigate the current management of patients undergoing LAMS placement nationwide.

Materials and Methods:

Forty-eight questions were submitted to Italian centers about expertise, peri- and intra-procedural aspects, budget/refund, and future perspectives. Statistical analyzer was SPSS®.

Results:

Thirty-six centers completed the survey. Indications for LAMS positioning are pancreatic fluid collection drainage (PFCD, 97.2%), biliary drainage (BD, 80.5%), gallbladder drainage (GBD, 75%), and gastroentero-anastomosis (GEA, 19.4%). A total of 77.7% of the endoscopists perform only on-label procedures and 22.2% both on-label and off-label. 38.8% attended a training preliminary course, 27.7% were just supported by an expert, 22.2% had both the opportunities, and 8.3% none of them. Management of antiplatelets and sedation protocol is very heterogeneous. Only 50% involves a multidisciplinary meeting and 30.5% has a specialized clinic for follow-up. Acid suppression is usually continued after PFCD. The type and timing of postprocedural imaging varies widely. 8.3% of the endoscopists work without fluoroscopy. Refund for LAMS is mostly not guaranteed. Main future growing indications appear to be BD, GBD, and GEA (69.4%, 55.5%, and 55.5%, respectively).

Conclusions:

This is the first survey assessing the state of the art on LAMS almost 10 years after their advent. There are currently wide variations in practice nationwide, which demonstrates a pressing need to define technical, qualitative, and peri-procedural requirements to carry out this procedure, toward a standardization.

Tips and tricks for the diagnosis and management of biliary stenosis-state of the art review

Biliary stenosis may represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge resulting in a delay in diagnosis and initiation of therapy due to the frequent difficulty in distinguishing a benign from a malignant stricture. In such cases, the diagnostic flowchart includes the sequential execution of imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasound, while endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is performed to collect tissue for histopathological/cytological diagnosis or to treat the stenosis by insertion of stent. The execution of percutaneous transhepatic drainage with subsequent biopsy has been shown to increase the possibility of tissue diagnosis after failure of the above techniques. Although the diagnostic yield of histopathology and imaging has increased with improvements in endoscopic ultrasound and peroral cholangioscopy, differential diagnosis between malignant and benign stenosis may not be easy in some patients, and strictures are classified as indeterminate. In these cases, a multidisciplinary workup including biochemical marker assays and advanced technologies available may speed up a diagnosis of malignancy or avoid unnecessary surgery in the event of a benign stricture. Here, we review recent advancements in the diagnosis and management of biliary strictures and describe tips and tricks to increase diagnostic yields in clinical routine.

Efficacy of lumen-apposing metal stents or self-expandable metal stents for endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage is becoming an option for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. Lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are replacing self-expandable metal stents (SEMS). The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LAMS and SEMS for EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS).

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed using PRISMA protocols. Electronic databases were searched for studies on EUS-CDS. The primary outcome was clinical success. Secondary outcomes were technical success, reintervention, and adverse events. We used the random effects model with the DerSimonian-Laird estimation, and the results were depicted using forest plots. Subgroup analyses were also performed with data stratified by selected variable.

RESULTS

Overall, 31 studies (820 patients) were included. The pooled rates of clinical and technical success were 93.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 88.6 %-96.5 %) and 94.8 % (95 %CI 90.2 %-97.3 %) for LAMS, and 91.7 % (95 %CI 88.1 %-94.2 %) and 92.7 % (95 %CI 89.9 %-94.9 %) for SEMS, respectively. The pooled rates of adverse events were 17.1 % (95 %CI 12.5 %-22.8 %) for LAMS and 18.3 % (95 %CI 14.3 %-23.0 %) for SEMS. The pooled rates of reintervention were 10.9 % (95 %CI 7.7 %-15.3 %) for LAMS and 13.9 % (95 %CI 9.6 %-19.7 %) for SEMS. Subgroup analyses confirmed these results.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis showed that LAMS and SEMS are comparable in terms of efficacy for EUS-CDS. Clinical and technical success, post-procedure adverse events, and reintervention rates were similar between LAMS and SEMS use; however, adverse events require further investigation.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Endoscopic Management of Peripancreatic Fluid Collections

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided intervention has gradually become a standard treatment for peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). However, it is difficult to popularize the procedure in Korea because of restrictions on insurance claims regarding the use of endoscopic accessories, as well as the lack of standardized Korean clinical practice guidelines. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy appointed a Task Force to develop medical guidelines by referring to the manual for clinical practice guidelines development prepared by the National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency. Previous studies on PFCs were searched, and certain studies were selected with the help of experts. Then, a set of key questions was selected, and treatment guidelines were systematically reviewed. Answers to these questions and recommendations were selected via peer review. This guideline discusses endoscopic management of PFCs and makes recommendations on Indications for the procedure, pre-procedural preparations, optimal approach for drainage, procedural considerations (e.g., types of stent, advantages and disadvantages of plastic and metal stents, and accessories), adverse events of endoscopic intervention, and procedural quality issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This will be revised as necessary to address advances and changes in technology and evidence obtained in clinical practice and future studies.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Endoscopic Management of Peripancreatic Fluid Collections

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided intervention has gradually become a standard treatment for peripancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). However, it is difficult to popularize the procedure in Korea because of restrictions on insurance claims regarding the use of endoscopic accessories, as well as the lack of standardized Korean clinical practice guidelines. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy appointed a Task Force to develop medical guidelines by referring to the manual for clinical practice guidelines development prepared by the National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency. Previous studies on PFCs were searched, and certain studies were selected with the help of experts. Then, a set of key questions was selected, and treatment guidelines were systematically reviewed. Answers to these questions and recommendations were selected via peer review. This guideline discusses endoscopic management of PFCs and makes recommendations on Indications for the procedure, pre-procedural preparations, optimal approach for drainage, procedural considerations (e.g., types of stent, advantages and disadvantages of plastic and metal stents, and accessories), adverse events of endoscopic intervention, and procedural quality issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This will be revised as necessary to address advances and changes in technology and evidence obtained in clinical practice and future studies.

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.

EUS-guided gastroenterostomy with a lumen apposing self-expandable metallic stent relieves gastric outlet obstruction - a Scandinavian case series

BACKGROUND

EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) with lumen-apposing metallic stents (LAMS) in patients with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) has proven to be an alternative to luminal stenting in the duodenum and surgical gastroenterostomy. In severely ill patients, the method can provide improved quality of life (QoL) and symptom relief by restoration of the luminal passage of fluid and nutrients to the small intestine.

AIM

To assess the technical and clinical success and safety of EUS-GE.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A dual center retrospective case series of 33 consecutive patients with GOO due to malignant (n = 28) or non-malignant conditions (n = 5). The patients were treated with EUS-GE using cautery enhanced LAMS. Procedures were performed guided by EUS and fluoroscopy in general anesthesia or conscious sedation.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in all patients. The median procedure time was 71 min and the median hospital stay was three days. Thirty (91%) patients were able to resume oral nutrition after the procedure. Ten patients (30%) experienced adverse events (AEs), including migration of the stent, bleeding, and infection. Four patients had fatal AEs (12%). All stent-related AEs were handled endoscopically. Five patients (15%) needed re-intervention. The median survival time for patients with malignant obstruction was 8.5 weeks (0.5-76), and 13 patients with obstructing malignancies lived 12 weeks or longer.

CONCLUSION

EUS-GE is a minimally invasive and efficient method for restoration of the gastrointestinal passage and may improve palliative care for patients with GOO. The method has potential hazards and should only be offered in expert centers that regularly perform the procedure.

Endoscopic Double Stenting for the Management of Combined Malignant Biliary and Duodenal Obstruction

Periampullary cancers are often diagnosed at advanced stages and can cause both biliary and duodenal obstruction. As these two obstructions reduce patients’ performance status and quality of life, appropriate management of the disease is important. Combined malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction is classified according to the location and timing of the duodenal obstruction, which also affect treatment options. Traditionally, surgical bypass (gastrojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy) has been performed for the treatment of unresectable periampullary cancer. However, it has recently been substituted by less invasive endoscopic procedures due to its high morbidity and mortality. Thus, endoscopic double stenting (transpapillary stenting and enteral stenting) has become the current standard of care. Limitations of transpapillary stenting include its technical difficulty and the risk of duodenal-biliary reflux. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided procedures have emerged as a novel platform and have been increasingly utilized in the management of biliary and duodenal obstruction. As the prognosis of periampullary cancer has improved due to recent advances in chemotherapy, treatment strategies for biliary and duodenal obstruction are becoming more important. In this article, we review the treatment strategies for combined malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction based on the latest evidence.

Relief of biliary obstruction: choosing between endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was originally devised as a novel diagnostic technique to enable endoscopists to stage malignancies and acquire tissue. However, it rapidly advanced toward therapeutic applications and has provided gastroenterologists with the ability to effectively treat and manage advanced diseases in a minimally invasive manner. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has gained considerable attention as an approach to provide relief in malignant and benign biliary obstruction for patients when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fails or is not feasible. Such instances occur in those with surgically altered anatomy, gastroduodenal obstruction, periampullary diverticulum or prior transampullary duodenal stenting. While ERCP remains the gold standard, a multitude of studies are showing that EUS-BD can be used as an alternative modality even in patients who could successfully undergo ERCP. This review will shed light on recent EUS-guided advancements and techniques in malignant and benign biliary obstruction.

Therapeutic interventional endoscopic ultrasound in pancreato-biliary disorders: Does it really replace the surgical/percutaneous approach?

Pancreato-biliary disorders are still incredibly challenging in the field of gastroenterology, as they would sometimes require multi-approach interventional procedures. Recently, therapeutic interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has emerged as a potential alternative to surgical or percutaneous approaches. Unfortunately, considering the high cost of EUS, lack of facility and expertise, most gastroenterologists still often refer cases to undergo surgical interventions without contemplating the possibility of utilizing EUS first. EUS-guided biliary drainage has become one of the best choices for establishing access to biliary system, given the clear visualization of pancreas, gallbladder, and common bile duct. Although there are still only a few studies which directly compare EUS-guided and surgical approaches for biliary drainage, current evidence demonstrated the superiority of EUS-guided approach in terms of adverse events and re-intervention rates, with similarly high technical and clinical success rates compared to percutaneous and surgical approaches, especially in patients with history of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography attempt. Comparable success rates with shorter length of hospital stay between endoscopic and surgical approaches have also been exhibited for pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis. Recent findings about the progress of EUS approach in gastroenterostomy/jejunostomy also indicated a promising potential of EUS, as a less invasive approach, for managing gastric outlet obstruction.

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the management of peripancreatic collections. Diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Pancreatic fluid collections are surrounded by a wall of granulation tissue and may contain necrotic debris. They occur following a severe acute pancreatitis and most of the cases resolve spontaneously after several weeks. However, their management may lead to a very hardto-treat condition, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. During the last decades we assisted to a change of paradigm involving Endoscopic Ultrasonography, from a pure diagnostic technique to an interventional-therapeutic one, allowing an effective, safe and less invasive approach than other existing treatment standards, historically consisting of surgical and percutaneous drainage. Treatment of pancreatic fluid collections is indicated if they become infected or symptomatic. Over the past years, exponential developments were done in interventional endoscopic approach, making it the first line suggested modality. The use of endoscopic ultrasound allows assessment of the collection, even when it is not directly bulging on gastrointestinal wall, creation of an internal fistulous tract, checking for surrounding vessels with the use of Doppler, and deployment of a stent avoiding the discomfort of external tubes. Several types of stent have been used for endoscopic drainage: plastic double pigtail stents, fully covered self-expanding metal stents and, more recently, lumen apposing metal stents, which are considered revolutionary because of their two-side flanges and wide and short internal channel, a new design that made easier direct endoscopic necrosectomy. This review aims to go through currently available literature on the diagnostic and therapeutic role of Endoscopic Ultrasonography to handle pancreatic fluid collections.

Technical tips and recent development of endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy

Various efforts to improve technical success rates and decrease adverse event rates have also been described in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS). In particular, lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) may open novel opportunities in EUS-biliary drainage (BD). To date, various studies have been reported with EUS-CDS using LAMS, so we should clarify the benefits and limitations of recent EUS-CDS based on developments in both techniques and devices. In this review, we provide technical tips and describe recent developments in EUS-CDS, along with a review of the recent literature (between 2015 and 2020). The overall technical success rate is 95.0% (939/988), and the overall clinical success rate is 97.0% (820/845). The most frequent adverse event is cholangitis or cholecystitis (24.5%, 27/110). According to previous review, pneumoperitoneum (28%, 9/34) or peritonitis associated with bile leak (23.5%, 8/34) was most commonly observed. This difference might be based on improvements in dilation devices or the use of covered metal stents. Several randomized controlled trials comparing EUS-CDS and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for malignant biliary obstruction have recently been reported. To summarize, overall technical success rates for ERCP and EUS-CDS were 92.7% (101/109) and 91.1% (72/79), respectively (p = 0.788). Overall clinical success rates for ERCP and EUS-CDS were 94.1% (96/102) and 93.6% (72/78), respectively (p = 0.765). Further high-quality evidence is needed to establish EUS-CDS as a primary drainage technique.

Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound: Current Status and Future Directions

The evolution of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) from a diagnostic to a therapeutic procedure has resulted in a paradigm shift toward endoscopic management of disease states that previously required percutaneous or surgical approaches. The past few years have seen additional techniques and devices that have enabled endoscopists to expand its diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Some of these techniques initially were reported more than a decade ago; however, with further device development and refinement in techniques there is potential for expanding the application of these techniques and new technologies to a broader group of interventional gastroenterologists. Lack of formalized training, devices, and prospective data regarding their use in addition to a scarcity of guidelines on implementation of these technologies into clinical practice are contributing factors impeding the growth of the field of interventional EUS. In April 2019, the American Gastroenterological Association's Center for Gastrointestinal Innovation and Technology conducted its annual Tech Summit and a key session focused on interventional EUS. This article is a White Paper generated from the conference, discusses the published literature pertaining to the topic of interventional EUS, and outlines a proposed framework for the implementation of interventional EUS techniques into clinical practice. Three primary areas of interventional EUS are addressed: (1) EUS-guided access; (2) EUS-guided tumor ablation; and (3) endohepatology. There was general agreement among participants on several key components. The introduction of these novel interventions requires better tools, more data on safety/outcomes, and improved training for endoscopists. Participants also agreed that widespread implementation and use of these techniques will require support from Gastrointestinal Societies and other key stakeholders including payers. Continued work by the Gastrointestinal Societies and manufacturers to provide training programs, appropriate equipment/work environments, and policies that motivate endoscopists to adopt new techniques is essential for growing the field of interventional EUS.

Pancreatic fluid collections: Clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation and management

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFC), including pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off pancreatic necrosis, are a known complication of severe acute pancreatitis. A majority of the PFCs remain asymptomatic and resolve spontaneously. However, some PFCs persist and can become symptomatic. Persistent PFCs can also cause further complications such as the gastric outlet, intestinal, or biliary obstruction and infection. Surgical interventions are indicated for the drainage of symptomatic sterile and infected PFCs. Management of PFCs has evolved from a primarily surgical or percutaneous approach to a less invasive endoscopic approach. Endoscopic interventions are associated with improved outcomes with lesser chances of complications, faster recovery time, and lower healthcare utilization. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs using lumen-apposing metal stents has become the preferred approach for the management of symptomatic and complicated PFCs.

Perivesicular Abscess Drainage with Lumen-Apposing Self-Expanding Metal Stents

Abdominal and pelvic abscesses can occur due to a number of reasons, the most common being surgery. They are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The treatment approach for these types of collections is often the initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics, accompanied by drainage. Multiple diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have been described, including; percutaneous, transvaginal, endoscopic, and surgicaldrainage. Due to the complexity of pelvic anatomy, minimally invasive approaches such as percutaneous drainage are usually difficult. Pelvic abscesses have been historically drained through surgery. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided interventions have emerged as an alternative for the management of difficult abdominal and pelvic abscesses. Endoscopic interventions have classically included diagnostic and therapeutic aspiration, utilizing drainage catheters with or without placement of plastic stents. More recently, the use of lumen apposing self-expanding metal stents has become a treatment option for deep pelvic abscesses. Lumen opposing metal stents (LAMS) have a saddle-shaped design with two large-diameter flanges on both ends of the stent to anchor the stent edges within the respective lumens as well asa central waist that allows for communication between the two lumens. LAMS were originally designed for transmural pancreatic fluid collection drainage; however,they have been successfully implemented for numerous other off-label uses, including the drainage of pelvic and abdominal abscesses. We present the case of a 34-year-old womanwho presented with a septated abscess located between the urinary bladder and the rectum, which was successfully and definitively drained with LAMS.

Endoscopic devices and techniques for the management of bariatric surgical adverse events (with videos)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, increasing numbers of patients undergo bariatric surgery. Management of adverse events of bariatric surgery may be challenging and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Endoscopic intervention is often the first line of therapy for management of these adverse events. This document reviews technologies and techniques used for endoscopic management of adverse events of bariatric surgery, organized by surgery type.

METHODS

The MEDLINE database was searched through May 2018 for articles related to endoscopic management of adverse events of bariatric interventions by using relevant keywords such as adverse events related to "gastric bypass," "sleeve gastrectomy," "laparoscopic adjustable banding," and "vertical banded sleeve gastroplasty," in addition to "endoscopic treatment" and "endoscopic management," among others. Available data regarding efficacy, safety, and financial considerations are summarized.

RESULTS

Common adverse events of bariatric surgery include anastomotic ulcers, luminal stenoses, fistulae/leaks, and inadequate initial weight loss or weight regain. Devices used for endoscopic management of bariatric surgical adverse events include balloon dilators (hydrostatic, pneumatic), mechanical closure devices (clips, endoscopic suturing system, endoscopic plication platform), luminal stents (covered esophageal stents, lumen-apposing metal stents, plastic stents), and thermal therapy (argon plasma coagulation, needle-knives), among others. Available data, composed mainly of case series and retrospective cohort studies, support the primary role of endoscopic management. Multiple procedures and techniques are often required to achieve clinical success, and existing management algorithms are evolving.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopy is a less invasive alternative for management of adverse events of bariatric surgery and for revisional procedures. Endoscopic procedures are frequently performed in the context of multidisciplinary management with bariatric surgeons and interventional radiologists. Treatment algorithms and standards of practice for endoscopic management will continue to be refined as new dedicated technology and data emerge.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided anastomosis: Is it ready for prime time?

Significant advancements in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage procedures and EUS-guided anastomosis have recently been described. The described procedures include EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections, biliary drainage, pancreatic duct drainage, gallbladder drainage, and gastroenterostomy. These procedures have been made possible with novel devices that can reduce the difficulties of the procedures and potentially reducing the risk of adverse events. The procedures are also becoming standardized, which is essential for dissemination of the techniques. Furthermore, results from randomized studies are becoming available showing definite benefits associated with these procedures. In this paper, we will provide a review on EUS-guided anastomotic procedures.

Retrievable puncture anchor traction method for endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy: A porcine study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) is an alternative method for the surgical treatment of gastric outlet obstruction, but it is regarded as a challenging technique for endoscopists as the bowel is highly mobile and can tent away. Thus, the technique requires superb skill. In order to improve EUS-GE, we have developed a retrievable puncture anchor traction (RPAT) device for EUS-GE to address the issue of bowel tenting.

AIM

To evaluate the feasibility of RPAT-assisted EUS-GE using an animal model.

METHODS

Six Bama mini pigs each weighing between 15 and 20 kg underwent the RPAT-assisted EUS-GE procedure. Care was taken to ensure that the animals experienced minimal pain and discomfort. Two days prior to the procedure the animals were limited to a liquid diet. No oral intake was allowed on the day before the procedure. A fully covered metal stent was placed between the stomach and the intestine using the RPAT-assisted EUS-GE method. Infection in the animals was determined. Four weeks after the procedure, a standard gastroscope was inserted into the pig's intestine through a previously created fistula in order to check the status of the stents under anesthesia. The pig was euthanized after examination.

RESULTS

The RPAT-assisted EUS-GE method allowed placement of the stents with no complications in all six animals. All the pigs tolerated a regular diet within hours of the procedure. The animals were monitored for four weeks after the RPAT-assisted EUS-GE, during which time all of the animals exhibited normal eating behavior and no signs of infection were observed. Endoscopic imaging performed four weeks after the RPAT-assisted EUS-GE showed that the stents remained patent and stable in all the animals. No tissue overgrowth or ingrowth was observed in any case. Each animal had a mature fistula, and the stents were removed without significant bleeding. Autopsies of all six pigs revealed complete adhesion between the intestine and the stomach wall.

CONCLUSION

The RPAT method helps reduce mobility of the bowel. Therefore, the RPAT-assisted EUS-GE method is a minimally invasive treatment modality.

Innovation of EUS-guided transmural gallbladder drainage using a novel self-expanding metal stent

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided transmural drainage has been accepted as a modality of choice in peripancreatic fluid collection and acute cholecystitis. Each type of stent, including double-pigtail plastic stents, tubular self-expandable metal stents (SEMS), and lumen-apposing metal stents, for these procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages. To overcome their disadvantages, this animal study evaluated the feasibility of a newly designed twisted fully covered SEMS with spiral coiled ends. We performed the EUS-guided cholecystogastrostomy with a newly developed metal stent in eight mini pigs with surgically induced gallbladder distension. This novel stent is a twisted fully covered SEMS with spiral coiled ends, a diameter of 8 mm, and a length of 6 cm. The stent has been maintained for four to seven weeks after EUS-guided cholecystogastrostomy. The primary outcome was the technical success rate, and the secondary outcomes were adverse events, stent dysfunction, stent removability, and fistula formation. The stent was placed successfully between the gallbladder and the stomach in all cases without any adverse event. We observed neither stent migration nor dysfunction during the study period, and all the stents were removed easily as scheduled. We confirmed successful cholecysto-gastric fistula formation at endoscopic and histologic level in all cases. EUS-guided transmural drainage and fistula formation using a new twisted fully covered metal stent with spiral coiled ends was technically feasible without any adverse event in this animal study. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in real practice.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the same session

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an emerging option for acute cholecystitis in non-surgical candidates. Combining endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for common bile duct stones with EUS-GBD in a single session might become a non-surgical management strategy to comprehensively treat gallstone disease in selected patients.

METHODS

Single-center retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes between EUS-GBD alone (group A) and single-session ERCP combined with EUS-GBD (group B). Consecutive patients who underwent EUS-GBD with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) between June 2011 and August 2018 were analyzed. Exclusion criteria were subjects included in randomized clinical trials, patients who had had ERCP within 5 days of EUS-GBD, patients in whom ERCP or EUS-GBD was carried out for salvage of one or the other procedure, and patients who underwent concurrent EUS-guided biliary drainage.

RESULTS

One hundred and nine consecutive patients underwent EUS-GBD with LAMS during the study period. Seventy-one patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and 34 patients were in group A and 37 in group B. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in technical (97.1% vs 97.3%; P = 0.19) and clinical success rates (88.2% vs 94.6%; P = 0.42) of EUS-GBD in group A versus group B. Rate of adverse events was similar in both groups, five (14.7%) in group A versus five (13.5%) in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-session EUS-GBD combined with ERCP has comparable rates of technical and clinical success to EUS-GBD alone. A combined EUS-GBD and ERCP procedure does not appear to increase adverse events and makes possible comprehensive treatment of gallstone disease by purely endoscopic means.

EUS-Guided Biliary Drainage for Unresectable Malignant Biliary Obstruction: 10-Year Experience of 99 Cases at a Single Center

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction for cases in which endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) failed at a high-volume center.

METHODS

All 99 EUS-BD cases of unresectable malignant biliary obstruction at Sendai City Medical Center between February 2007 and September 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. ERCP is strictly prioritized over EUS-BD during the study period, and EUS-BD was performed in cases wherein ERCP was impossible or ineffective. Technical success, clinical success, adverse events, and time to recurrence of biliary obstruction were evaluated.

RESULTS

EUS-BD was technically successful in 98% of the patients (97/99). The clinical success rate was 93% (90/97). Adverse events that were definitely related to the procedure were observed in ten patients (10%; peritonitis in six, acute cholecystitis in four). Of six patients with bile peritonitis, four suffered from mild localized peritonitis that improved with conservative treatment, whereas two developed pan-peritonitis that improved with additional intervention. Other three patients with a poor performance status succumbed shortly after the successful EUS-BD, with a possible association between the procedure and death. In the 68 patients with a bilioenteric stent, the median time to recurrence of biliary obstruction was 339 days (95% confidence interval (CI), 14-664 days) during the mean follow-up period of 136 ± 173 days.

CONCLUSION

EUS-BD was found to be feasible. However, there were a few patients with an unfavorable course after successful EUS-BD.

Lumen-apposing metal stents in interventional endoscopy: a state-of-the-art review with focus on technical and clinical successes and complications

Endoscopic transmural drainage is considered the initial treatment option for pancreatic fluid collections. Recently, lumen-apposing metal stents have been introduced for pancreatic fluid collections drainage under endoscopic ultrasound guidance, in addition to evolving data in bile duct and gallbladder drainage. We aimed to perform systematic review with reporting pooled data analysis on technical success, clinical success and complications rate of endoscopic ultrasound-guided lumen-apposing metal stents uses. A MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE search for all studies on lumen-apposing metal stents uses in pancreatic, biliary and other indications was conducted. Data regarding safety, complications and yield were extracted and included in the final pooled analysis. Overall, 19 articles dealing with pancreatic fluid collections drainage, 18 articles reporting on bile duct drainage and 19 articles relevant to gallbladder drainage were identified. Technical and clinical successes in all disease conditions were high and reached more than 95%. Complications rate in pancreatic fluid collections, bile duct and gallbladder drainages were 12%, 11.2% and 9.8%, respectively. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided lumen-apposing metal stents is technically feasible with very high success rate and acceptable complications rate.

The cost of endoscopic treatment for walled-off pancreatic necrosis

BACKGROUND

Use of minimally invasive techniques has reduced mortality in walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON) but may be costly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the actual costs associated with the endoscopic management of patients with WON.

METHODS

We included a retrospective cohort of WON patients treated with endoscopic, transgastric drainage and necrosectomy (ETDN) during 2013-2014. Costs were calculated for six sub-areas based on a micro-costing model. Students T-test and non-parametric analysis of variance were performed to evaluate costs in relation to disease etiology and outcome.

RESULTS

We included 58 patients (50% men, median age 57 years). The most common etiologies were gallstones (57%) and alcohol (19%). Nine patients (16%) died during admission. The median length of stay was 50 days (IQR 31 days). Eighteen patients (31%) needed treatment in our intensive care unit with a median length of stay of 16 days (IQR 31 days). The mean costs and standard deviation of costs (SD) per patient were: diagnostic imaging $2,431 ($2,301), laboratory tests $3,579 ($2,477), blood products $982 ($1,734), endoscopic treatment $3,794 ($1,777), medicine $5,440 ($6,656), and ward cost $41,260 ($35,854). The mean total cost was $57,486 ($46,739). Post-ERCP pancreatitis and mortality predicted higher costs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study sheds light on the different costs associated with endoscopic treatment of WON. As nearly three quarters of the costs are related to ward care, initiatives aimed at reducing the length of hospital stay may have a great impact on making endoscopic treatment more cost effective.

Efficacy of a novel lumen-apposing metal stent for the treatment of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Recently, a newly designed lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) with a conventional delivery system was developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a newly designed LAMS for EUS-guided drainage to treat symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter cohort study included 34 patients with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts from 2016 to 2017. The patients underwent EUS-guided drainage with the newly designed LAMS (Niti-S SPAXUS; Taewoong Medical Co, Ltd, Ilsan, South Korea). Effectiveness outcome measurements included technical success rate, clinical success rate, successful stent removal rate, and procedural time. Safety outcome measurements included procedure and/or stent-related adverse events (AEs) and overall AEs. Patients were prospectively followed, and consecutive data were collected at discharge, at stent removal, and 20 days after stent removal.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients (mean age 51.7 ± 13.3 years, 26 men) were enrolled. The mean pseudocyst size was 9.23 ± 3.54 cm. The technical success rate was 97.1% (33/34). The clinical success rate was 94.1% (32/34). All stents were successfully removed. The mean procedural time from needle puncture to stent deployment was 10.3 ± 5.7 minutes. Four patients (11.8%) experienced procedure and/or stent-related AEs, including stent maldeployment (n = 1) and pseudocyst infection (n = 3). All patients completely recovered from the AEs. Bleeding caused by the stent or buried LAMS syndrome was not observed. No unplanned endoscopic procedures were required.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that EUS-guided drainage using the newly designed LAMS is technically feasible and effective for the treatment of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02730663.).

An alternative percutaneous technique for gallbladder drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents

BACKGROUND

Cholecystostomy is commonly performed in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. However, internal drainage may be more desirable in patients as it is associated with lower complication rates. This paper describes an image-guided, percutaneous technique for internal gallbladder drainage using a covered lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) and assesses its feasibility and safety in a porcine model.

METHODS

Procedures were performed on 30-kg pigs. Under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, a percutaneous puncture was performed through-and-through the gallbladder into the stomach. A guidewire was placed and a 12Fr sheath was advanced through which a 10-mm LAMS was deployed. Its distal flange was deployed in the gastric lumen, and its proximal flange in the gallbladder. The cholecystoenteric anastomosis was examined by means of endoscopy, laparoscopy, and necropsy.

RESULTS

Technical success was 100% (7/7). Procedure times decreased with experience and improvements in technique (median: 22 min). Contrast injection demonstrated free flow through the stent with no leakage. Necropsy confirmed appropriate stent position with good apposition of gallbladder and stomach, and no intraprocedural complications were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Image-guided, percutaneous, internal gallbladder drainage using a LAMS is safe and feasible in a porcine model. This technique may be an alternative to endoscopic ultrasound-guided stent placement and external cholecystostomy tube drainage.

Lumen-apposing metal stents for malignant biliary obstruction: Is this the ultimate horizon of our experience?

In the last years, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has evolved from a purely diagnostic technique to a more and more complex interventional procedure, with the possibility to perform several type of therapeutic interventions. Among these, EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD) is gaining popularity as a therapeutic approach after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), due to the avoidance of external drainage, a lower rate of adverse events and re-interventions, and lower costs compared to percutaneous trans-hepatic BD. Initially, devices created for luminal procedures (e.g., luminal biliary stents) have been adapted to the new trans-luminal EUS-guided interventions, with predictable shortcomings in technical success, outcome and adverse events. More recently, new metal stents specifically designed for transluminal drainage, namely lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), have been made available for EUS-guided procedures. An electrocautery enhanced delivery system (EC-LAMS), which allows direct access of the delivery system to the target lumen, has subsequently simplified the classic multi-step procedure of EUS-guided drainages. EUS-BD using LAMS and EC-LAMS has been demonstrated effective and safe, and currently seems one of the most performing techniques for EUS-BD. In this Review, we summarize the evolution of the EUS-BD in distal MBO, focusing on the novelty of LAMS and analyzing the unresolved questions about the possible role of EUS as the first therapeutic option to achieve BD in this setting of patients.

Safety and clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage with lumen-apposing metal stents in patients with dwell time over one year

Background:

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) has proved effective in patients with cholecystitis at high surgical risk. The long-term risks of gallstone-related disease and stent-related adverse events are unknown.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective evaluation of a case series including subjects who underwent EUS-GBD using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). Patients were identified from a prospective LAMS registry at a single tertiary center. Patients with a stent indwell time <1 year were excluded. Data regarding stent deployment and adverse events were retrieved from the prospective LAMS registry, while emergency room visits, admissions and causes of death were retrieved from electronic medical records.

Results:

We included 22 patients with a median age of 88.3 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 82.6-92.7), 14 (63.6%) were male. Median follow up was 24.4 months (IQR: 18.2-42.4) and median time to the last available imaging procedure was 607 days (IQR: 463-938). No LAMS-related adverse events were identified beyond the first year of follow up. During follow up, 12 patients (54.5%) visited the emergency room 34 times (1 visit/patient, IQR: 0-3) and a total of 36 hospital admissions were required, with a median of 1 admission/patient (IQR: 0-3). Fourteen (63.6%) patients died during follow up. Only 1 patient (4.5%) required new hospital admissions for gallstone-related disease.

Conclusions:

There were no adverse events beyond the first year after stent deployment, with only 4.5% of subjects requiring gallstone-related admissions. Permanent EUS-GBD with LAMS may be a definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis in patients ineligible for cholecystectomy.

Initial experience with endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage

Introduction

Patients with acute cholecystitis who are unsuitable for cholecystectomy undergo conservative treatment or percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. As these two methods are not always successful, further treatment options are needed. One increasingly popular method is endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUSGBD), whereby stents are placed so as to create a permanent fistula connecting the gallbladder to the stomach or the duodenal bulb, thus enabling drainage of its contents to the gastrointestinal tract.

Aim

To present our early experience with EUSGBD for the treatment of cholecystitis in patients who are not suitable for cholecystectomy.

Material and methods

The procedure was performed in 5 patients with acute cholecystitis. Two patients also had symptoms of biliary obstruction due to pancreatic head cancer. An ultrasound endoscope was used to create a fistula between the gallbladder and the stomach or between the gallbladder and the duodenal bulb, in which a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) was placed.

Results

All procedures were performed with no perioperative complications. In all patients, the clinical symptoms of cholecystitis subsided within 3-15 days. In those patients who also showed symptoms of biliary obstruction, these symptoms subsided within 3-6 days following the procedure.

Conclusions

The EUSGBD seems to be an effective and safe treatment for acute cholecystitis in patients unsuitable for cholecystectomy. It can also be used to treat jaundice caused by obstruction of the common bile duct, when no other methods can be used. The method is particularly promising in cases of concurrent acute cholecystitis and common bile duct obstruction.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage

"Gallbladder disease is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases encountered in clinical practice. Surgical removal and percutaneous drainage are both widely available and effective in the management of acute cholecystitis. Several endoscopic approaches exist as an alternative to these interventions. These include transpapillary approaches via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), transmural drainage and access approaches via endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and endoscopic surgical approaches using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) techniques. This article reviews the epidemiology and pathophysiology of gallbladder diseases and discusses the various percutaneous, surgical, and endoscopic approaches to managing gallbladder disease."