Complication of cardiac air embolism during ERCP and EUS-assisted cyst-gastrostomy for pancreatic pseudocyst

When in Trouble Think of the Bubble: Paradoxical Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Air embolism (a result of direct communication with the vasculature and an external pressure gradient from the gastrointestinal or the biliary tract), although rare, is a potentially devastating adverse event seen in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Whether venous, arterial, or paradoxical, the clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic patients to cardiorespiratory arrest. This is of particular importance because it makes the diagnosis of air embolism even more difficult in an already sedated patient. Since early recognition increases the chances of patients' survival, endoscopists should be highly motivated and trained to recognize this complication as early as possible. With only 60 cases of air embolism reported (and even fewer related to paradoxical air embolism), we aimed to report a case of paradoxical cerebral air embolism in a patient undergoing ERCP due to a common bile duct stricture and to provide a mini-review of this clinical entity that can serve as a bedside quick reference guide for endoscopists worldwide.

Gas embolism during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: diagnosis and management

Air embolism is rarely diagnosed and is often fatal. The diagnosis is often not made in a timely manner given the rapid and severe clinical deterioration that often develops, frequently leading to cardiac arrest. Many patients are only diagnosed post-mortem. With the increasing use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, air embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients who experience sudden clinical deterioration during or immediately after the procedure. Clinical suspicion is key in the diagnosis and management of air embolism. Use of precordial Doppler ultrasound and transesophageal echocardiogram can aid in the diagnosis of air embolism. Once the diagnosis is made, supportive management of airway, breathing and circulation is pivotal. Advanced cardiac life support should be initiated when necessary. Fluid resuscitation and vasopressors can improve cardiac output. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be considered when possible in cases of suspected cerebral air embolism cases to improve neurological outcome. A multidisciplinary team approach and effective communication with experts, potentially including an anesthesiologist, cardiologist, intensivist, radiologist and surgeon, can improve the outcome in air embolism.

Asian consensus statements on endoscopic management of walled-off necrosis. Part 2: Endoscopic management

Walled-off necrosis (WON) is a new term for encapsulated necrotic tissue after severe acute pancreatitis. Various terminologies such as pseudocyst, necroma, pancreatic abscess, and infected necrosis were previously used in the literature, resulting in confusion. The current and past terminologies must be reconciled to meaningfully interpret past data. Recently, endoscopic necrosectomy was introduced as a treatment option and is now preferred over surgical necrosectomy when the expertise is available. However, high-quality evidence is still lacking, and there is no standard management strategy for WON. The consensus meeting aimed to clarify the diagnostic criteria for WON and the role of endoscopic interventions in its management. In the Consensus Conference, 27 experts from eight Asian countries took an active role and examined key clinical aspects of WON diagnosis and endoscopic management. Statements were crafted based on literature review and expert opinion, employing the modified Delphi method. All statements were substantiated by the level of evidence and the strength of the recommendation. We created 27 consensus statements for WON diagnosis and management, including details of endoscopic procedures. When there was not enough solid evidence to support the statements, this was clearly acknowledged to facilitate future research. Proposed management strategies were formulated and are illustrated using flow charts. These recommendations, which are based on the best current scientific evidence and expert opinion, will be useful for guiding endoscopic management of WON. Part 2 of this statement focused on the endoscopic management of WON.

Uncommon complications of therapeutic endoscopic ultrasonography: What, why, and how to prevent

There is an increasing role for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided interventions in the treatment of many conditions. Although it has been shown that these types of interventions are effective and safe, they continue to be considered only as alternative treatments in some situations. This is in part due to the occurrence of complications with these techniques, which can occur even when performed by experienced endosonographers. Although common complications have been described for many procedures, it is also crucial to be aware of uncommon complications. This review describes rare complications that have been reported with several EUS-guided interventions. EUS-guided biliary drainage is accepted as an alternative treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. Most of the uncommon complications related to this procedure involve stent malfunction, such as the migration or malposition of stents. Rare complications of EUS-guided pancreatic pseudocyst drainage can result from air embolism and infection. Finally, a range of uncommon complications has been reported for EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis, involving neural and vascular injuries that can be fatal. The goal of this review is to identify possible complications and promote an understanding of how they occur in order to increase general awareness of these adverse events with the hope that they can be avoided in the future.

Endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts and necrosis

Over the last several years, there have been refinements in the understanding and nomenclature regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis. Patients with acute pancreatitis frequently develop acute pancreatic collections that, over time, may evolve into pancreatic pseudocysts or walled-off necrosis. Endoscopic management of these local complications of acute pancreatitis continues to evolve. Treatment strategies range from simple drainage of liquefied contents to repeated direct endoscopic necrosectomy of a complex necrotic collection. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocysts may arise as a consequence of pancreatic ductal obstruction that then leads to pancreatic ductal disruption. In this review, we focus on the indications, techniques and outcomes for endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis.

Fatal Cerebral Air Embolism Due to a Patent Foramen Ovale during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Fatal air embolism to the cerebrum during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has not been reported in a patient with a biliodigestive anastomosis and multiresistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBL) bacteremia. A 59-year-old woman with a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and iatrogenic injury of the right choledochal duct, choledochojejunostomy (biliodigestive anastomosis), recurrent cholangitis, revision of the biliodigestive anastomosis, recurrent liver abscesses, and recurrent stenting of stenotic bile ducts, was admitted because of fever and tenderness of the right upper quadrant. On ERCP, a previously deployed covered Wallstent was replaced. Blood cultures grew ESBL. After stent removal 8 days later, the patient did not wake up and developed arterial hypotension and respiratory insufficiency, requiring mechanical ventilation. Computed tomography scans showed extensive air embolism to the liver, heart, and cerebrum. She died 1 day later. Although the exact pathogenesis of the fatal cerebral air embolism remains speculative, the nonphysiological anatomy and chronic infection with ESBL may have been contributory factors.

Uncommon and rarely reported adverse events of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a primary tool for the treatment of biliary and pancreatic ductal diseases. It is essential for the endoscopist carrying out the ERCP to have a thorough understanding of the potential adverse events. Typically, endoscopists are well familiar with common adverse events such as post-ERCP pancreatitis, cholangitis, post-sphincterotomy bleeding, post-sphincterotomy perforation, and sedation-related cardiopulmonary compromises. However, there are other less common adverse events that arecritical to promptly recognize in order to provide appropriate therapy and prevent disastrous outcomes. This review focuses on the presentation and management of the less common and rare adverse events of an ERCP from the perspective of the practicing endoscopist.

Carbon dioxide insufflation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The role of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is debated. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation for ERCP.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in multiple databases composed of Pub-Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, science citation index expanded, Google scholar, and CNKI China series full-text database. Outcome measurements are listed below: ERCP procedural data, post-ERCP abdominal discomfort, radiographic evaluation of bowel gas volume, and CO2 safety data concerning CO2 elimination.

RESULTS

Seven published randomized clinical trials involving 756 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for meta-analysis, almost all of high quality. The incidence of ERCP-related complications was reduced by CO2 insufflation, so were the events of 1-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour post-ERCP abdominal pain, based on their corresponding statistical results. Besides, CO2 insufflation was associated with less gas volume in the bowel lumen after the procedure. There were no significant differences between CO2 and air insufflation in total procedure time, the success rate of selective cannulation, post-ERCP abdominal distension, respectively. Subsequent sensitivity and subgroup analyses produced conflicting results.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with air insufflation, CO2 insufflation during ERCP reduces post-ERCP abdominal pain, post-ERCP bowel remnant gas volume, and ERCP-related complications, without clinically significant systematic CO2 retention.

Air embolism complicating gastrointestinal endoscopy: A systematic review

Gastrointestinal endoscopy has become an important modality for the diagnosis and treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. One of its major advantages is that it is minimally invasive and has an excellent safety record. Nevertheless, some complications do occur, and endoscopists are well aware and prepared to deal with the commonly recognized ones including bleeding, perforation, infection, and adverse effects from the sedative medications. Air embolism is a very rare endoscopic complication but possesses the potential to be severe and fatal. It can present with cardiopulmonary instability and neurologic symptoms. The diagnosis may be difficult because of its clinical presentation, which can overlap with sedation-related cardiopulmonary problems or neurologic symptoms possibly attributed to an ischemic or hemorrhagic central nervous system event. Increased awareness is essential for prompt recognition of the air embolism, which can allow potentially life-saving therapy to be provided. Therefore, we wanted to review the risk factors, the clinical presentation, and the therapy of an air embolism from the perspective of the practicing endoscopist.

Endoskopische Drainage von Pankreaspseudozysten

<b><i>Hintergrund: </i></b>Die Pankreaspseudozyste ist eine häufige Komplikation der akuten oder chronischen Pankreatitis. Bei symptomatischer Zyste mit Vorliegen von abdominellen Schmerzen, einer Magenausgangsstenose, Gewichtsverlust, Ikterus, Infektion oder Größenzunahme stellt die endoskopische Drainage (transpapillär und/ oder transmural) eine effektive Erstlinientherapie dar. <b><i>Methode: </i></b>Die Übersicht basiert auf einer strukturierten Analyse der aktuellen, in Pubmed gelisteten Studien. <b><i>Ergebnisse: </i></b>Die Langzeitregressionsraten liegen bei 71–90%; die Komplikationsrate beträgt 3–35% mit einer geringen Mortalität von 0–1%. Die wesentlichen Komplikationen der endoskopischen Pseudozystendrainage sind Blutungen in bis zu 9%, Infektionen in bis zu 8%, retroperitoneale Perforation in bis zu 5% und Zystenrekurrenz in bis zu 14% der Fälle. Differenziert zu betrachten sind die infizierte Nekrose und der Pankreasabszess (walled-off necrosis) nach akuter Pankreatitis. In diesen Fällen ist die endoskopische Therapie technisch komplexer und im Vergleich zur unkomplizierten Pankreaspseudozyste mit höherer Morbidität und geringerem Langzeitansprechen verbunden. Dennoch stellt die endoskopische Drainage bei technischer Machbarkeit für beide Entitäten die Methode der ersten Wahl dar. Dies basiert insbesondere auf der nach aktuellen Daten geringeren Morbidität der Methode im Vergleich zu chirurgischen Drainageverfahren. <b><i>Schlussfolgerung: </i></b>Der vorliegende Review gibt einen Überblick über Therapieindikation und Differenzialdiagnose von Pankreaspseudozysten, erläutert die Drainagetechniken und stellt die Daten zu Effektivität und Komplikationen der endoskopischen Zystendrainage umfassend dar.