Management of common bile duct stricture caused by chronic pancreatitis with metal mesh self expandable stents

Biliary tract obstruction in chronic pancreatitis

Bile duct strictures are a common complication in patients with advanced chronic pancreatitis and have a variable clinical presentation ranging from an incidental finding to overt jaundice and cholangitis. The diagnosis is mostly made during investigations for abdominal pain but jaundice may be the initial clinical presentation. The jaundice is typically transient but may be recurrent with a small risk of secondary biliary cirrhosis in longstanding cases. The management of a bile duct stricture is conservative in patients in whom it is an incidental finding as the risk of secondary biliary cirrhosis is negligible. Initial conservative treatment is advised in patients who present with jaundice as most will resolve once the acute on chronic attack has subsided. A surgical biliary drainage is indicated when there is persistent jaundice for more than one month or if complicated by secondary gallstones or cholangitis. The biliary drainage procedure of choice is a choledocho-jejunostomy which may be combined with a pancreaticojejunostomy in patients who have associated pain. Since many patients with chronic pancreatitis have an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas, a Frey procedure is indicated but a resection should be performed when there is concern about a malignancy. Temporary endoscopic stenting is reserved for cholangitis while an expandable metal stent may be indicated in patients with severe co-morbid disease.

Endoscopic therapy for chronic pancreatitis: an evidence-based review

In the setting of chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic ductal obstruction, and ductal leak, pseudocyst formation and biliary obstruction present many challenges for endoscopists. Although chronic pancreatitis has a variety of clinical manifestations, most commonly patients present with intermittent or chronic abdominal pain. Recent studies suggest stenting of pancreatic ductal strictures has a significant impact on reducing chronic pain. The removal of ductal calculi, presumably from relieving obstruction, also improves abdominal pain. When the site of leak is bypassed, ductal leaks may be cured by endoscopic stenting. Multiple plastic bile duct stents to treat chronic pancreatitis-associated bile duct stricture can delay the need for surgery. Although these endoscopic techniques have been beneficial for many patients, further study is warranted to better define their role in chronic pancreatitis compared with well-established surgical techniques.

Long-term outcome of endoscopic metallic stenting for benign biliary stenosis associated with chronic pancreatitis

AIM: Endoscopic metal stenting (EMS) offers good results in short to medium term follow-up for bile duct stenosis associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP); however, longer follow-up is needed to determine if EMS has the potential to become the treatment of first choice.

METHODS: EMS was performed in eight patients with severe common bile duct stenosis due to CP. After the resolution of cholestasis by endoscopic naso-biliary drainage three patients were subjected to EMS while, the other five underwent EMS following plastic tube stenting. The patients were followed up for more than 5 years through periodical laboratory tests and imaging techniques.

RESULTS: EMS was successfully performed in all the patients. Two patients died due to causes unrelated to the procedure: one with an acute myocardial infarction and the other with maxillary carcinoma at 2.8 and 5.5 years after EMS, respectively. One patient died with cholangitis because of EMS clogging 3.6 years after EMS. None of these three patients had showed symptoms of cholestasis during the follow-up period. Two patients developed choledocholithiasis and two suffered from duodenal ulcers due to dislodgement of the stent between 4.8 and 7.3 years after stenting; however, they were successfully treated endoscopically. Thus, five of eight patients are alive at present after a mean follow-up period of 7.4 years.

CONCLUSION: EMS is evidently one of the very promising treatment options for bile duct stenosis associated with CP, provided the patients are closely followed up; thus setting a system for their prompt management on emergency is desirable.

Endoscopic therapy for chronic pancreatitis

When endoscopic therapy is used for the treatment of patients with painful chronic pancreatitis, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) can be proposed as a first-line approach when obstructive ductal stone(s) induce upstream dilation of the main pancreatic duct. Stone fragmentation by ESWL is followed by endoscopic ductal drainage using pancreatic sphincterotomy, fragmented stone(s) extraction, and pancreatic stenting in case of ductal stricture. After completion of endoscopic pancreatic ductal drainage, long-term clinical benefit can be expected for two thirds of the patients. Best clinical results are associated with absence or cessation of smoking and with early treatment in the course of chronic pancreatitis, while alcohol abuse increases the risks of diabetes, steatorrhea and mortality. The complications of chronic pancreatitis are mainly the development of pseudocyst secondary to the downstream ductal obstruction, and biliary obstruction caused by fibrotic changes in the head of the pancreas. Successful endoscopic pseudocyst drainage is currently obtained in most patients, and carries a low complication rate. Biliary stenting is a safe and effective technique for the short-term treatment of symptomatic bile duct stricture due to chronic pancreatitis, but permanent resolution is obtained in only 25% of cases. In conclusion, endoscopic management is now considered to be the preferred interventional treatment of chronic pancreatitis, for patients selected on the basis of the anatomical changes caused by the disease. This treatment is generally safe, minimally invasive, often effective for years, does not prevent further surgery, and can be repeated.

Systematic appraisal of the role of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign bile duct stricture

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a systematic appraisal of the current status of the use of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures.

METHODS

A computerized search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases identified 37 studies providing detailed clinical course data on outcome of metallic endobiliary stent placement in 400 patients. Pooled data were examined for etiology of stricture, indications for stent placement, procedure-related complications, and outcome with reference to stent patency.

RESULTS

The median (range) number of patients per report was 8 (2-54) with a median recruitment period of 44 (9-126) months. The most frequent indications were postoperative biliary strictures in 123 (31%), stenosed biliary-enteric anastomoses in 79 (20%), and biliary strictures following liver transplantation in 88 (22%). During a median follow up of 31 (1-111) months, 139 (35%) stents occluded, and there are little patency data beyond 2 years after deployment, with 99 (25%) known to be patent at 3 years from stent placement.

CONCLUSIONS

These pooled data on 400 patients constitute the largest collective report to date on the use of metallic endobiliary stents for benign biliary strictures. The results show a critical lack of data on long-term patency such that at the present time, metallic endobiliary stents should not be used for benign stricture in those patients with a predicted life expectancy greater than 2 years.

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopy offers an alternative to surgery for the treatment of ductal complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment on pain, cholestasis and pseudocysts in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients (37 M, 2 F, mean age 44), were included in the study. All patients had at least one of the following criteria demonstrated by imaging tests: dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) with or without stricture (N = 13), bile duct stricture (N = 12), or pancreatic pseudocyst (N = 14) with pancreatic duct stricture (N = 11) or biliary stricture (N = 3). Pancreatic or biliary sphincterotomy, insertion of pancreatic or biliary stent, pseudocyst drainage with stent placement were performed according to ductal abnormalities. Patients were evaluated early and followed up during the stenting period, and after stent removal.

RESULTS

Patients underwent a median of 3.5 endoscopic procedures with an interval of 2.2 months between 2 stenting sessions. A pancreatic or biliary stent was inserted in 25 patients with ductal abnormalities and in 11 patients with pseudocysts. Endoscopic pseudocyst drainage was performed in 6 cases. The mean stenting time was 6 months (range: 3-21). Mean follow-up after stent removal was 9.7 (2-48) months. Complications of endoscopic treatment were encountered in 7% of patients with no deaths. Pain relief was achieved after the first endoscopic procedure and during the overall stenting period in all patients. Recurrence of pain was observed after stent removal in 5/11 patients, requiring surgery in 4. Cholestasis decreased and biochemical values normalized within one month after biliary stenting. Recurrence of cholestasis was observed early after stent removal in 4/9 patients who required complementary surgical treatment. No recurrence of pancreatic pseudocyst was observed after endoscopic drainage and stent removal during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic treatment of pain from pancreatic pseudocysts or ductal strictures is effective in the short-term and in the period of ductal stenting. However, the optimal duration of the latter remains to be determined.

Systematic appraisal of the role of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign bile duct stricture

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a systematic appraisal of the current status of the use of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures.

METHODS

A computerized search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases identified 37 studies providing detailed clinical course data on outcome of metallic endobiliary stent placement in 400 patients. Pooled data were examined for etiology of stricture, indications for stent placement, procedure-related complications, and outcome with reference to stent patency.

RESULTS

The median (range) number of patients per report was 8 (2-54) with a median recruitment period of 44 (9-126) months. The most frequent indications were postoperative biliary strictures in 123 (31%), stenosed biliary-enteric anastomoses in 79 (20%), and biliary strictures following liver transplantation in 88 (22%). During a median follow up of 31 (1-111) months, 139 (35%) stents occluded, and there are little patency data beyond 2 years after deployment, with 99 (25%) known to be patent at 3 years from stent placement.

CONCLUSIONS

These pooled data on 400 patients constitute the largest collective report to date on the use of metallic endobiliary stents for benign biliary strictures. The results show a critical lack of data on long-term patency such that at the present time, metallic endobiliary stents should not be used for benign stricture in those patients with a predicted life expectancy greater than 2 years.

Treatment of symptomatic distal common bile duct stenosis secondary to chronic pancreatitis: comparison of single vs. multiple simultaneous stents

BACKGROUND

Common bile duct stenosis occurs in up to 30% of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Most such stenoses are found incidentally during ERCP, but others manifest as obstructive jaundice, recurrent cholangitis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, or choledocholithiasis. Operative drainage has been the main treatment despite the potentially high morbidity in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic biliary drainage with a single stent has been successful in the short term. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term benefit of a single stent vs. multiple simultaneous stents for treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis and symptoms because of distal common bile duct stenosis.

METHODS

Twelve consecutive patients with chronic pancreatitis and common bile duct stenosis underwent endoscopic placement of multiple simultaneous stents and were followed prospectively (Group II). Results were compared with a group of 34 patients in whom a single stent was placed before the start of the present study (Group I). All 46 patients (35 men, 11 women; age range 30-71 years) had chronic pancreatitis and common bile duct stenosis, and presented with symptoms indicative of obstruction (abdominal pain, jaundice, elevated biochemical tests of liver function, acute pancreatitis, cholangitis). The 34 patients in Group I had single stent (10F, 7-9 cm) placement, with exchange at 3 to 6 month intervals (1-4 exchanges) over a mean of 21 months. The 12 patients in Group II underwent placement of multiple simultaneous stents at 3-month intervals (single 10F stents added sequentially) over a mean of 14 months. Mean follow-up was 4.2 years in Group I and 3.9 years for Group II. Factors assessed included symptoms, biochemical tests of liver function, diameter of common bile duct stenosis, and complications.

RESULTS

In Group I, (34 patients), a total of 162 single stent placement/exchanges were performed (mean 5/patient). In Group II (12 consecutive patients), 8 patients had 4 (10F) stents placed simultaneously, and 4 patients had 5 (10F) stents. At the end of the treatment period, near normalization of biochemical tests of liver function was observed for all patients in Group II, whereas only marginal benefit was noted for patients in Group I. Four patients in Group I had recurrent cholangitis (6 episodes), whereas no patient in Group II had post-procedure cholangitis. In the 12 patients with multiple stents, distal common bile duct stenosis diameter increased from a mean of 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm after treatment; no change in diameter was noted in patients treated with a single stent.

CONCLUSIONS

Distal common bile duct stenosis secondary to chronic pancreatitis can be treated long term by stent placement. Multiple, simultaneous stents appear to be superior to single stent placement and may provide good long-term benefit. The former resulted in near normalization of biochemical tests of liver function and an increase in distal common bile duct diameter. Multiple stent placement may obviate the need for surgical diversion procedures.

Endoscopic technique for the management of pancreatitis and its complications

Therapeutic endoscopy is now increasingly used to treat gallstone pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis of other aetiologies, chronic pancreatitis and complications associated with acute or chronic pancreatitis. This chapter is a brief review of the endoscopic interventions currently performed in patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis. These interventions include biliary and pancreatic endoscopic sphincterotomy at the major or minor papilla, stricture dilatation on the common bile duct or main pancreatic duct, stent placement in the biliary or pancreatic ducts, stone extraction with or without extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and transmural or transpapillary drainage of pancreatic fluid collections. As most of the studies reported were uncontrolled and retrospective, uncertainties persist with regard to the best approaches for treating the patients concerned. Appropriate patient selection, adequate expertise, and a supporting multidisciplinary infrastructure are essential prerequisites of a high success rate in improving the clinical condition of these patients.

Endoscopic therapy of chronic pancreatitis

We present an overview of endoscopic therapies for chronic pancreatitis (CP) and its associated conditions. It is evident that endoscopy can be a definite therapy for pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic ascites and pancreatic duct (PD) disruption. Endoscopic therapy has also been useful in the short-term and medium therapy of common bile duct strictures due to CP, the best results being obtained if there are no calcifications in the head of the pancreas. Although most experts agree that obstruction to the outflow of pancreatic juice and the resulting increased pressure within the main PD is one of the major factors contributing to pain and that endoscopic therapy has been proven effective to remove stones as well as to dilate PD strictures and place stents across the PD, there is no convincing evidence from randomized trials that the patient's dominant symptom of CP, i.e. pain, is resolved in an appropriate and long-term fashion. We believe that there are other factors which are important in the etiology of chronic pain such as pancreatic inflammation and peripancreatic fibrosis with resulting nerve entrapment around the gland. The reader is reminded that endoscopic therapy is associated with significant and important complications, therefore appropriate patient selection and patient information are of paramount importance. Nevertheless, it is important to consider that one advantage of endoscopic management of CP is that it is less invasive as compared with surgery, often effective for years, does not hinder further surgery, and can be repeated. Finally we want to emphasize that there are many valid surgical, radiological and endoscopic techniques to treat the complications of CP. Therefore, the approach to CP and its complications should be by a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, endoscopists and pain specialists.

Emergency complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a common disease with a relatively high morbidity and mortality. In contrast, chronic pancreatitis is a recurrent disease with multiple potential complications that occasionally require urgent intervention. This article focuses on the emergency complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis that require urgent intervention. Recent developments in the diagnosis and management of such complications are discussed.

Risk factors for failure of endoscopic stenting of biliary strictures in chronic pancreatitis: a prospective follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to investigate the value of interventional endoscopy in patients with strictures of the common bile duct (CBD) caused by chronic pancreatitis (CP), and to define the subset of patients who may be at risk for failure of endoscopic intervention, in a prospective follow-up study.

METHODS

A total of 61 patients with symptomatic CBD strictures caused by alcoholic CP were treated by endoscopic stent insertion for 1 yr with scheduled stent changes every 3 months. After the treatment period, all patients entered a follow-up program.

RESULTS

Initial endoscopic drainage was successful in all cases, with complete resolution of obstructive jaundice. After 1 yr from the initial stent insertion, in 19 patients (31.1%) the obstruction was resolved, and stents were removed without any need of additional procedures. During a median follow-up of 40 months (range 18-66 months), 16 patients had no recurrence of symptomatic CBD stricture (long term success rate 26.2%). Of 45 patients who needed definitive therapy, 12 patients (19.7%) were treated with repeated plastic stent insertion and three (4.9%) with insertion of a metal stent, and 30 patients (49.2%) underwent surgery. Among the variables tested, calcification of the pancreatic head was the only factor that was found to be of prognostic value. Of 39 patients with calcification of the pancreatic head, only three (7.7%) were successfully treated by a 1-yr period of plastic stent therapy, whereas in 13 of 22 patients (59.1%) without calcification, this treatment was successful (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic drainage of biliary obstruction provides excellent short term but only moderate long term results. Patients without calcifications of the pancreatic head benefit from biliary stenting. Patients with calcifications were identified to have a 17-fold (95% CI=4-74) increased risk of failure of a 12 month course of endoscopic stenting.

Management of Biliary and Duodenal Complications of Chronic Pancreatitis

Biliary stricture and duodenal obstruction have been increasingly recognized as complications of chronic pancreatitis. The anatomical relationship of the distal common bile duct and the duodenum with the head of the pancreas is the main factor for their involvement in chronic pancreatitis. In hospitalized patients with pancreatitis, the incidence of biliary stricture and duodenal obstruction is reported to be about 6% and 1.2%, respectively. For patients requiring an operation for chronic pancreatitis the incidence increases to 35% for biliary stricture and 12% for duodenal obstruction. Fibrosis around the distal common bile duct can cause stenosis with obstruction of bile flow. Clinically, the presentation of these patients ranges from being asymptomatic with elevated alkaline phosphatase or bilirubin, or both, to being septic with cholangitis. Jaundice, cholangitis, hyperbilirubinemia, and persistent elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase occur more frequently in patients with pancreatitis with a biliary stricture. A twofold elevation of alkaline phosphatase is a marker of possible common duct stenosis in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The incidence of both biliary cirrhosis and cholangitis in these patients is about 10%. ERCP reveals a characteristic long, smoothly tapered stricture of the intrapancreatic common bile duct. In duodenal obstruction, the factors that convert self-limiting edema to chronic fibrosis and stricture formation are unknown, but ischemia superimposed on inflammation may be the major cause. These patients present with a prolonged history of nausea and vomiting. Barium studies typically show a long constricting lesion of the duodenum, and endoscopy reveals reactive inflammatory changes in a narrowed duodenum. Operation is indicated in patients with common bile duct strictures secondary to chronic pancreatitis when there is evidence of cholangitis, biliary cirrhosis, common duct stones, progression of stricture, elevation of alkaline phophatase and/or bilirubin for over a month, and an inability to rule out cancer. The operation of choice is either choledochoduodenostomy or choledochojejunostomy. A cholecystoenterostomy is less favored because of its higher failure rate (23%). Endoscopic stenting plays a role in patients who are unfit for surgery, but it is not recommended as definitive therapy. For duodenal obstruction, failure to resolve the obstruction with 1-2 weeks of conservative therapy is an indication for bypass. The operation of choice is a gastrojejunostomy. Not uncommonly, combined obstruction of the pancreatic duct, common bile duct, and duodenum will develop. Combined drainage procedures or resection are used to manage these problems.

Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopic management of CP is generally safe, minimally invasive, and often effective for years, does not hinder further surgery, and can be repeated. It should be applied as a first-line approach to improving the clinical condition of patients with this chronic disease. The best results are obtained when endoscopic treatment is performed early in the course of CP. Proper patient selection, adequate expertise, and a supporting multidisciplinary infrastructure are essential. New technologies will continue to be developed and to extend the scope of therapeutic pancreatic endoscopy.

Use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign GI diseases

BACKGROUND

The self-expandable metallic stent is of proven benefit in patients with malignant disease; however, its use in patients with benign disease is not well established. There are few data available regarding long-term complications and outcomes with use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign disease and virtually none regarding attempted removal once the acute problem is resolved.

METHODS

Thirteen patients who had a self-expandable metallic stent placed for benign GI disorders were included in a retrospective analysis. Data collected included patient demographics, indication for procedure, type of stent used, complications, and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (7 women, 6 men; mean age 67 years, range 34-84 years) had one or more self-expandable metallic stents placed for benign disease and were followed for a mean of 3.4 years (3 weeks to 10 years). Of the 13 patients, 8 had esophageal stents, 4 biliary stents, and 1 had dual stents placed in the pancreaticobiliary tree. Complications developed in 8 (62%) patients; 4 (31%) ultimately died, either from the primary disease process (3) or from stent-related complications (1).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-expandable metallic stent placement is effective treatment for benign esophageal leaks, providing the stent can be removed. It also may be used in either the esophagus or biliary tree in patients who are poor candidates for surgery and short expected survival. However, a self-expandable metallic stent should not be placed in a patient with a benign GI disorder who has a significant life expectancy and is a good candidate for surgery.

Epidemiology of pancreatic diseases in Lüneburg County. A study in a defined german population

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Worldwide, the incidence of pancreatic cancer is very well known, that of acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis not. Our study sought to determine the incidence of all three pancreatic diseases in a well-defined population in Germany.

METHODS

Records of all patients treated for acute (first attacks only) and chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreatic cancer from 1988 to 1995 and who resided in the county of Lüneburg were evaluated.

RESULTS

The crude incidence rates for acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer per 100,000 inhabitants/year were 19.7, 6.4, and 7.8. In acute and chronic pancreatitis the male gender dominated, whereas in pancreatic carcinoma the gender ratio was almost even. Peak incidence for acute pancreatitis was in the age group of 35-44 years, for chronic pancreatitis 45-54, and for pancreatic cancer 65-75. Etiology of acute pancreatitis was biliary in 40%, alcohol abuse in 32%, unknown in 20%, and other in 8% of the patients. In chronic pancreatitis alcohol abuse was the etiology in 72% and unknown (idiopathic) in 28%.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, epidemiological data obtained in a well-defined German population are being published relating to all three pancreatic diseases: acute pancreatitis (incidence rate, etiology and severity), chronic pancreatitis (incidence rate and etiology), and pancreatic carcinoma (incidence rate). A peak incidence of chronic pancreatitis occurring in an age group 10 years older than the peak age group for acute pancreatitis suggests that chronic pancreatitis develops during this time-frame following first attacks of acute pancreatitis.

Expandable metal stents in chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Biliary obstruction in chronic pancreatitis may be relieved by the insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis. Stenting is usually achieved with a plastic device, but self-expandable metal stents may also be used.

CASE OUTLINES

Two patients are described with severe chronic pancreatitis complicated by biliary obstruction and portal vein thrombosis, who underwent insertion of metallic biliary endoprostheses. In both patients the endoprostheses became occluded, at 12 and 7 months respectively, which necessitated open operation. Both patients experienced surgical complications and one patient died postoperatively.

DISCUSSION

The use of metal endoprostheses in chronic pancreatitis may result in occlusion, necessitating open operation. Such stents should be used with caution in these patients, who are likely to be high-risk surgical candidates.

Interventional treatment of chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis is becoming a reality: more and more endoscopy centres are developing the technique, and it is no longer a matter of extreme specialization. Among treatments which have been shown to be feasible, it is possible to distinguish between those approaches that are now considered as efficient with good results and very low risk (e.g. MPD drainage), or are efficient but with risks that seem to be lower than those of surgery (e.g. drainage of cysts), and drainage of the main bile duct, which is easy to perform, but, so far, has not been demonstrated enough as useful.

EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy

BACKGROUND

The pain of chronic pancreatitis can be caused by pancreatic ductal hypertension, and endoscopic drainage of the main pancreatic duct can provide relief. When transpapillary access to a dilated portion of the main duct cannot be obtained, conventional endoscopic drainage is not possible. The use of interventional EUS to perform a pancreaticogastrostomy in such cases is described.

METHODS

Four patients presented with pain and a dilated main pancreatic duct proximal to a complete obstruction. EUS was used to access the dilated duct and create a pancreaticogastrostomy. Patency of the latter was maintained by placement of a pancreaticogastric stent.

OBSERVATIONS

EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy was performed without major complication. Three of 4 patients had satisfactory relief of pain at a median follow-up of 1 year.

CONCLUSION

EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy may be a promising new technique for pancreatic drainage and pain relief when conventional transpapillary access to the pancreatic duct is not possible.

ERCP and MRCP--when and why

Since the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the 1970s, gastroenterologists have a wide spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic options in the biliopancreatic ductal system at their disposal. With its arrival in the 1990s, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) developed as a potent diagnostic tool in biliopancreatic pathology. Currently, MRCP is widely replacing diagnostic ERCP and thereby avoiding complications related to endoscopic technique.We summarize evidence-based data and demonstrate indications and differential indications for MRCP and ERCP in pancreatic disease. Complications related to the procedures and possible medical prevention are discussed. The feasibility of interventional endoscopy in pancreatic disease is reported in detail. The role of gastroenterologists in performing MRCP is outlined on the basis of practical examples.

Endoscopic stenting for common bile duct stenoses in chronic pancreatitis: results and impact on long-term outcome

OBJECTIVES

The overall incidence of common bile duct strictures due to chronic pancreatitis is reported to be approximately 10-30%. It remains a challenging problem for gastroenterologists and surgeons. The exact role of endoscopic stenting has not yet been clearly defined.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis and symptomatic common bile duct stenoses underwent endoscopic stenting and were studied retrospectively. We were particularly interested in how many patients would achieve resolution of the stricture and tolerate removal of the stents in the long term.

RESULTS

Indications for endoscopic stenting were symptomatic cholestasis, jaundice or cholangitis. The initial serum bilirubin was 8.3 mg/dl and the diameter of the common bile duct was 14.2 mm before stenting. Within 3-7 days of stenting, all patients presented improvement of jaundice and cholestasis. After a median stenting time of 9 months (range 1-144 months), 46% of the patients demonstrated regression of the stricture and clinical improvement, 26% required further stenting, and 28% were referred to surgery. Five patients received a self-expandable metal Wallstent. Thirty-one per cent demonstrated complete clinical recovery of the stricture as well as 10.2% a complete, radiologically verified stricture regression in a median follow-up of 58 months.

CONCLUSIONS

There seems to be a therapeutic benefit for short-term endoscopic treatment but medium-term and long-term outcome remains questionable. Endoscopic stenting should be applied as an initial therapy before surgery, but it can be the definitive approach for older and morbid patients or cases with complete stricture regression after stent removal. Overall, it should not be considered as a routine procedure for symptomatic cases.

Surgery and chronic pancreatitis

It is hoped that, in this millennium, chronic pancreatitis will be diagnosed earlier in the course of the disease process. Improved axial imaging of the pancreatic duct and pancreatic parenchyma will diminish the need for other invasive tests. Surgical procedures are directed at pancreatic duct decompression or resection of the pancreas (head, body or tail) or, infrequently, total pancreatectomy. Pain relief in 75% to 90% is the general rule, with diabetes developing subsequently in as many as 33% of patients. Surgery for chronic pancreatitis is effective in correcting sequelae of pancreatic fibrosis. Endoscopic stenting of the pancreatic and bile duct is used more frequently today. Until their place is ascertained, careful performance of surgery will continue to be a mainstay of treatment.

Regression of liver fibrosis after biliary drainage in patients with chronic pancreatitis and stenosis of the common bile duct

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstruction of the common bile duct may cause hepatic fibrosis and secondary biliary cirrhosis.

METHODS

We studied liver-biopsy specimens from 11 patients with chronic stenosis of the common bile duct due to chronic pancreatitis; all the patients had undergone liver biopsy before or at the time of surgical biliary decompression and underwent a subsequent liver biopsy for various clinical reasons. The patients were followed as part of a prospective study of 501 patients who had been treated for chronic pancreatitis. Two pathologists, who were unaware of the sequence of specimens, graded fibrosis on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (cirrhosis).

RESULTS

The 11 patients were all men. Chronic pancreatitis was due to alcohol abuse in 10 of the men; 1 had idiopathic disease. The median age at diagnosis was 38 years. The median interval between the first and second liver biopsies was 2.5 years (range, 0.3 to 9.0). The two patients who had restenosis of the biliary anastomosis were excluded from the analysis of fibrosis. In the group of nine patients without restenosis, the second specimen showed significant improvement in fibrosis (P=0.01). The fibrosis improved by two grades in two patients and by one grade in four patients; in three patients, the grade did not change. The pathologists agreed on the grading of specimens from 10 of the 11 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic pancreatitis and stenosis of the common bile duct, liver fibrosis may regress after biliary drainage.

Successful removal of a stone and an expandable metallic stent from the biliary tract of a patient with acute occlusive pyogenic cholangitis

We removed a biliary stone and the metallic stent placed two years previously in a patient with benign biliary strictures. An 80-year-old woman who had been inplanted with an expandable metallic stent (EMS) to prevent obstruction by a large common bile duct stone about two years before as an emergency measure in another hospital, was afficted with acute occlusive pyogenic cholangitis (AOPC) and hospitalized in our hospital. After treating the AOPC, we successfully removed the EMS with a cholangioscope and normal biopsy forceps through the percutaneous transhepatic channel under fluoroscopy. The type of the EMS was Accufulex stent. To remove it was easier than expected. Once it started to unravel, it was removed from the common bile duct within a few minutes.

Interventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic surgery

Interventional endoscopic techniques have been indespensible in almost every area of modern surgery. As surgeons, we need to continue to advance our skills in these areas if we expect to continue to be involved in these aspects of patient care.

Is endoscopic drainage of common bile duct stenoses in chronic pancreatitis up-to-date?

OBJECTIVE

Common bile duct (CBD) stenoses often complicate chronic pancreatitis (CP). Although endoscopic drainage is employed as a standard procedure in malignant CBD stenoses, it is not yet the approved standard therapy of CBD stenosis in CP.

METHODS

The records of 31 patients with CBD stenosis in CP who had undergone endoscopic placement of plastic endoprostheses into the bile duct between January 1991 and February 1997 were analyzed retrospectively. In all, 18 patients suffered from jaundice and 13 patients exclusively showed serological cholestasis. Upstream dilation of the CBD (19 +/- 6.6 mm, 12-35 mm) was detected by ERCP in all patients. In total, 101 endoprostheses were implanted endoscopically, exchanged after 3 +/- 2 months, and removed after 10 +/- 8 months.

RESULTS

All jaundiced patients showed immediate improvement of cholestasis after drainage. At the time of last exchange or after stent removal, prestenotic CBD dilation was reduced in 55% of all patients. Complete regression of stenosis and prestenotic dilation was accomplished only in 13%; dilation remained unchanged in 10%, and even showed progression in 22%. A total of 29 patients were followed-up over 24 months. Cholestatic parameters remained normal in all patients with complete normalization of the CBD, and were only moderately increased in another 10 patients, 7 and 28 months after stent removal, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Technical and immediate clinical success of CBD stenting in patients with CBD stenoses due to CP is high; however, long-term complete normalization of the bile duct is rare. Endoscopic drainage of CBD-stenosis in patients with CP can be recommended to alleviate acute cholestasis, but not yet as a definite treatment.

Percutaneous transhepatic placement of metallic stents in the treatment of complicated intrahepatic biliary stricture with hepatolithiasis: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to study the effect of the metallic modified Gianturco-Rosch Z-stent in the management of refractory intrahepatic long-segment biliary strictures with hepatolithiasis.

METHODS

Six symptomatic patients with hepatolithiasis and coexisting intrahepatic long-segment biliary strictures, who failed to respond to the silastic external-internal biliary stenting, were selected. The metallic modified Gianturco-Rosch Z-stent was placed via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography at the strictured site. Patients were followed regularly to evaluate for recurrence of cholangitis, stones, or strictures.

RESULTS

No complications were observed during the procedures. No recurrent strictures or formed calculi were found in these six patients during follow-up periods of 29 to 64 months. However, cholangitis and intrahepatic biliary muddy sludge occurred at 7 and 30 months in two patients after the placement of the metallic Z-stent. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy was used to clear sludge completely.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience suggests that the metallic stent is a well-tolerated and promising alternative in the management of refractory intrahepatic long-segment biliary strictures with hepatolithiasis. Though biliary sludge may develop, it can be detected and cleared early. Repeated surgery can thus be avoided.

The role of endoscopy in acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

Endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreatic cancer. Sphincterotomy and stone removal in biliary pancreatitis, stone extraction and drainage in chronic pancreatitis, and stent implantation in pancreatic cancer are the predominant procedures. With endoscopy, minimal invasive techniques are at hand to solve urgent and long term problems.

Long term treatment of biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis with a metallic stent

The exact role of endoprostheses in the management of chronic pancreatitis-associated biliary strictures has not yet been clearly established. We report an unusual case of a patient with this condition who was treated for an unexpectedly long term with a self-expanding metallic endoprosthesis. There has only been one previous report of the use of metallic stents in this situation. It appears that metallic endoprostheses may have a role to play in the management of selected patients who have chronic pancreatitis-associated bile duct stricture.

Interventional radiology and the use of metal stents in nonvascular clinical practice: a systematic overview

PURPOSE

The intent of this systematic overview was to describe the clinical role of metal stents in nonvascular health care interventions and the level of evidence supporting their use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Structured searches of Medline were conducted and limited to original peer-reviewed articles published in English.

RESULTS

Clinical practice involving metal stents was reported in more than 109 clinical series involving 4,753 patients. Stents were placed mainly for palliation of malignant biliary, esophageal, and airway obstruction in patients who were untreatable or had surgically unresectable lesions. Assessment of these interventions has so far centered on safety and technical success. Efficacy, quality of life, and costing factors were not routinely reported. Randomized trial evidence was available but limited; six randomized trials involving metal stents have been reported. Three trials involved biliary malignant obstruction, and all three reported metal stent (132 patients) palliation to be superior to plastic stent palliation (136 patients) based on longer patency and lower reintervention costs. Safety and complication differences between stents, however, were inconsistent across trials. In three trials involving esophageal malignant obstruction, metal stent (82 patients) palliation was reported to be superior to plastic stent (41 patients), based on lower complication and reintervention rates, and superior to laser therapy (18 patients), based on better dysphagia relief.

CONCLUSION

Use of metal stents has been reported for obstructed ducts and passageways of most body systems. There is, however, limited controlled trial evidence confirming the advantages of their use over plastic stents or other forms of treatment.

A guiding catheter to facilitate accurate stent length determination

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic stenting is widely used for drainage in benign and malignant strictures of the bile and pancreatic ducts. Accurate fitting of the stent to the anatomic ductal features is essential, although this is often done by visual assessment alone.

METHODS

A new guiding catheter, the measuring-mounting catheter, with radiopaque bands at 1 cm intervals from its distal end, was used in 10 patients. Visual estimates, based on fluoroscopic images, of the length of the duct segments considered for stenting were compared with measurements obtained with the catheter.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between duct length estimations based on visual assessment and lengths determined objectively using the catheter (mean +/- SD, 17 +/- 11 mm; p < 0.0005). In one half of the cases, the operator rejected the stent he chose before using the catheter.

CONCLUSIONS

The measuring-mounting catheter improves the precision of plastic stent implantation without loss of time during the procedure. It is particularly useful in technically difficult situations such as hilar or main pancreatic duct strictures.

Progress in the endoscopic management of benign biliary strictures

Benign biliary strictures can now be effectively treated with endoscopic therapy in a variety of clinical situations. Despite recent developments in imaging techniques (endoscopic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging), it is often difficult to differentiate benign from malignant biliary strictures. The sensitivity of tissue diagnosis (cytology and needle biopsy) at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains poor (40-50%), and further diagnostic methods are required. Endoscopic therapy offers a definitive treatment in 70-90% of patients following post-operative biliary stricture, including anastomotic strictures following liver transplant. Endoscopic therapy successfully achieves symptomatic, biochemical, and cholangiographic response, and may improve survival in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Strictures secondary to chronic pancreatitis are resistant to standard endoscopic therapy and metallic endoprotheses have been trialed with varying success. Endoscopic therapy is technically difficult and should be performed in specialized centres using a multidisciplinary approach.

Plastic and metal stents for postoperative benign bile duct strictures: the best and the worst

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic treatment of postoperative benign bile duct strictures (BBDS) is technically challenging, and the long-term outcome after stricture dilation remains poorly defined.

METHODS

Forty-eight cases of postoperative BBDS with attempted endoscopic treatment (either transient plastic stenting or definitive metal stent insertion) were reviewed.

RESULTS

Endoscopic stricture dilation succeeded in 47 of 48 cases (98%). No procedure-related mortality was observed; 16 (33%) procedure-related or stent-associated complications were observed during treatment. Endoscopic treatment was interrupted in five patients. Stricture relapse occurred in 6 of 6 (100%) and 7 of 36 (19%) patients after metal stent insertion and plastic stent removal, respectively (p < 0.001) (mean follow-up periods 50+/-12 and 44+/-34 months, respectively). After plastic stent removal, stricture relapses were more frequent among patients with strictures related to liver transplantation as opposed to other surgical procedures (p < 0.05); these recurrent strictures were successfully treated by repeated insertion of plastic stents on a temporary basis. At the end of follow-up, all but one patient treated with plastic stents had normal serum alkaline phosphatase values.

CONCLUSION

Metal stents proved to be inadequate for treating postoperative BBDS. Temporary insertion of a plastic stent (possibly repeated) provided long-term results equal or superior to those reported for surgical biliary drainage. Repeated insertion of plastic stents was more frequently indicated for strictures related to liver transplantation compared with other surgical procedures.

Long-term results of endoscopic stenting and surgical drainage for biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis

A retrospective evaluation was made of the long-term results of endoscopic stenting in 58 patients with benign biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis. Immediate relief of jaundice and cholestasis was achieved in all patients after endoscopic stent insertion. Median follow-up was 49 months. Five (9 per cent) of the 58 patients had complications following therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Late stent-related complications occurred in 37 (64 per cent) of 58 patients. There were no deaths. Sixteen (28 per cent) of the 58 patients had regression of the biliary stricture and permanent removal of the stent. Forty-two patients had persistent biliary stricture: 26 had continued stenting and 16 underwent surgical procedures. Early morbidity after surgery was found in six of 16 patients, with no deaths. Postoperative relief of jaundice was achieved in 15 of the 16 patients. In conclusion, endoscopic stenting and surgery are both effective treatments for biliary stricture in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic stenting is associated with fewer early complications. However, late stent-related complications remain a major limitation. Endoscopic stenting offers definitive treatment in more than one-quarter of patients (28 per cent).

The challenge of therapy for pancreatitis-related common bile duct stricture

BACKGROUND

Opinions regarding the appropriate clinical management of pancreatitis-related common bile duct (CBD) stricture vary considerably.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nineteen patients with chronic pancreatitis and proven stricture of their CBD were included in this study. Their mean duct diameter was 16 mm, bilirubin was 8.4 mg/dL, and alkaline phosphatase was 784 mIU/mL.

RESULTS

Five patients initially treated with endoscopic biliary stent placement are doing well at a mean follow-up of 7 months with only 1 patient requiring a biliary-enteric bypass. Four patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy and the other 10 patients underwent a biliary-enteric bypass. Mean bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase at 13 months after therapy were 0.9 mg/dL and 144 mIU/mL.

CONCLUSION

An endoscopically placed biliary stent will relieve obstruction due to the stricture for several months and allow the inflammatory process to follow its natural course. In patients with long-standing permanent biliary stricture, pancreatitis limited to the head of the pancreas, duodenal obstruction, or suspected pancreatic head carcinoma, pancreaticoduodenectomy is the operation of choice. Biliary-enteric bypass in association with gastric or pancreatic bypasses should be reserved for patients with severe inflammatory changes preventing a safe pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Endoscopic transpapillary drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts has been reported mainly in small series.

METHODS

The results of endoscopic transpapillary cyst drainage (ETCD) were evaluated prospectively in 30 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts.

RESULTS

There were 24 men and 6 women with an average age of 45 years (SD 16). Twenty-eight had chronic pancreatitis (25 with alcoholic pancreatitis). Transpapillary cystopancreatic stents, with the tip into the cyst cavity, were inserted in 12 patients. Pancreatic stents with the tip as close as possible from the cyst cavity were inserted in the remaining 18 patients. Ten patients underwent an additional endoscopic cystenterostomy. The average duration of stenting was 4.4 months (range 15 days to 12 months). Patients were followed up for 15 months (range 2 to 60 months). All pseudocysts communicated with the pancreatic ductal system. The size of the pseudocysts ranged from 15 to 120 mm (average 50 mm). Pseudocysts were mainly located in the head of the pancreas (17 cases). Four minor complications occurred. There were no deaths. Twenty-six patients had pseudocyst resolution by ETCD, but 7 ultimately required surgery, 3 for early recurrence and 4 for failure of initial therapy.

CONCLUSION

ETCD appears to be a safe and efficient modality for the drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts communicating with the pancreatic ductal system.

Expandable metallic biliary stents

Eighteen expandable metallic biliary stents were inserted in patients with malignant (16 patients) or benign (two patients) biliary strictures. Four were the Gianturco-Rosch biliary Z-stents and the remaining 14 were the Wallstent. The stents were delivered through either the endoscopic transpapillary (10 patients), percutaneous transhepatic (five patients) or combined percutaneous-endoscopic (three patients) route. No failure in implantation was encountered. Bile drainage was successful in all patients. Stent occlusions were observed in four patients with hilar obstruction due to tumour overgrowth above the stents at 30-67 days (mean 47.75 days) after insertion. The occlusions were drained percutaneously (two patients) or endoscopically (two patients). Migration of stent did not occur. After a median follow-up period of 170.5 days (range 57-731 days), 11 patients were still alive and free of jaundice. The median patency period of the stents for common bile duct and hilar obstruction was 288.5 days (range 117-731 days) and 61.5 days (range 30-188 days), respectively. The overall median patency period was 165 days. It is concluded that expandable metallic biliary stent is a useful adjunct to the treatment of malignant biliary obstructions with a better result in distal obstruction.