EUS-guided biliary drainage or enteroscopy-assisted ERCP in patients with surgical anatomy and biliary obstruction: an international comparative study

Controversies in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage

In this 14th document in a series of papers entitled "Controversies in Endoscopic Ultrasound" we discuss various aspects of EUS-guided biliary drainage that are debated in the literature and in practice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is still the reference technique for therapeutic biliary access, but EUS-guided techniques for biliary access and drainage have developed into safe and highly effective alternative options. However, EUS-guided biliary drainage techniques are technically demanding procedures for which few training models are currently available. Different access routes require modifications to the basic technique and specific instruments. In experienced hands, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage is also a good alternative. Therefore, in this paper, we compare arguments for different options of biliary drainage and different technical modifications.

Advanced technical tips and recent insights in ERCP using balloon-assisted endoscopy

Pancreatobiliary endoscopic interventions using balloon-assisted endoscopes have been widely acknowledged as the first-line therapy for pancreatobiliary diseases in postoperative patients with reconstructed gastrointestinal anatomy (excluding the Billroth I procedure). However, there are many technical difficulties, and the procedural completion rates vary in a wide range among institutions, indicating the procedural technique is yet to be standardized. This article aims to provide technical tips of procedures and insights into the advanced aspects, including the management of extremely difficult cases and troubleshooting of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography using balloon endoscopy, along with a review of recent advancements in this field.

Safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction and ascites

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is useful for patients with biliary cannulation failure or inaccessible papillae. However, it can lead to serious complications such as bile peritonitis in patients with ascites; therefore, development of a safe method to perform EUS-HGS is important. Herein, we evaluated the safety of EUS-HGS with continuous ascitic fluid drainage in patients with ascites.

METHODS

Patients with moderate or severe ascites who underwent continuous ascites drainage, which was initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after the procedure at our institution between April 2015 and December 2022, were included in the study. We evaluated the technical and clinical success rates, EUS-HGS-related complications, and feasibility of re-intervention.

RESULTS

Ten patients underwent continuous ascites drainage, which was initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after completion of the procedure. Median duration of ascites drainage before and after EUS-HGS was 2 and 4 days, respectively. Technical success with EUS-HGS was achieved in all 10 patients (100%). Clinical success with EUS-HGS was achieved in 9 of the 10 patients (90 %). No endoscopic complications such as bile peritonitis were observed.

CONCLUSION

In patients with ascites, continuous ascites drainage, which is initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after completion of the procedure, may prevent complications and allow safe performance of EUS-HGS.

Transluminal antegrade drill dilation technique for hepaticojejunostomy stricture with cholangioscopic evaluation (with video)

Background and study aims Balloon dilation and plastic stent deployment have been performed as hepaticojejunostomy stricture (HJS) treatment techniques under endoscopic ultrasound guidance (EUS). Although these techniques have shown favorable clinical results, the treatment period can be long because stent deployment is required. In addition, HJS may recur even after treatment because the scar tissue itself remains. To overcome these challenges, we developed an EUS-guided antegrade drill dilation technique for treating HJS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of this technique in terms of the pre- and post-cholangioscopic findings. Patients and methods This retrospective study included consecutive patients whose conditions were complicated with symptomatic HJS between November 2022 and February 2023. Transluminal antegrade drill dilation (TAD) using a novel drill dilator was attempted within 14 days after EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (HGS). HJS was diagnosed with cholangioscopy before TAD, and resolution was evaluated after TAD using cholangioscopy. Results TAD was attempted at approximately 11 days after EUS-HGS. The cholangioscope was inserted successfully in all patients after this procedure. Cholangioscopy revealed stricture without evidence of malignancy in 19 patients. In the remaining three patients, stricture was not observed and these patients underwent stent exchange rather than TAD. Among the 19 patients, passage of the guidewire across the HJS into the intestine was unsuccessful in four patients, and the technical success rate for this procedure was 78.9%. TAD was successful in all 15 patients in whom passage of the guidewire was achieved. Conclusions In conclusion, TAD appears to be technically feasible and safe.

Current paradigm of endoscopic ultrasound in biliary and pancreatic duct drainage: an update

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the workhorse for biliary and pancreatic ductal interventions. Despite advances in both endoscopes and accessories for ERCP, it still has limitations in the presence of altered anatomy, luminal obstruction hindering access to the papilla, and proximal duct obstructions by tight stricture, calculi or intraductal growth. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and EUS-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) have expanded the rescue procedures after failed ERCP. This review discusses the techniques and results of various EUS-BD procedures, as well as EUS-PDD.

Endoscopic Biliary Drainage in Surgically Altered Anatomy

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered the preferred method for managing biliary obstructions. However, the prevalence of surgically modified anatomies often poses challenges, making the standard side-viewing duodenoscope unable to reach the papilla in most cases. The increasing instances of surgically altered anatomies (SAAs) result from higher rates of bariatric procedures and surgical interventions for pancreatic malignancies. Conventional ERCP with a side-viewing endoscope remains effective when there is continuity between the stomach and duodenum. Nonetheless, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or surgery has historically been used as an alternative for biliary drainage in malignant or benign conditions. The evolving landscape has seen various endoscopic approaches tailored to anatomical variations. Innovative methodologies such as cap-assisted forward-viewing endoscopy and enteroscopy have enabled the performance of ERCP. Despite their utilization, procedural complexities, prolonged durations, and accessibility challenges have emerged. As a result, there is a growing interest in novel enteroscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) techniques to ensure the overall success of endoscopic biliary drainage. Notably, EUS has revolutionized this domain, particularly through several techniques detailed in the review. The rendezvous approach has been pivotal in this field. The antegrade approach, involving biliary tree puncturing, allows for the validation and treatment of strictures in an antegrade fashion. The EUS-transmural approach involves connecting a tract of the biliary system with the GI tract lumen. Moreover, the EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) procedure, combining EUS and ERCP, presents a promising solution after gastric bypass. These advancements hold promise for expanding the horizons of comprehensive and successful biliary drainage interventions, laying the groundwork for further advancements in endoscopic procedures.

The Role of Endoscopy in the Palliation of Pancreatico-Biliary Cancers: Biliary Drainage, Management of Gastrointestinal Obstruction, and Role in Relief of Oncologic Pain

Therapeutic endoscopy permits many and various treatments for cancer palliation in patients with bilio-pancreatic cancers, enabling different options, supporting patients during their route to oncologic treatments, and trying to improve their quality of life. Therefore, both endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided techniques are performed in this scenario. We performed a literature review focusing on the role of endoscopy in the palliation of those advanced pancreatic and biliary cancers developing malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), and pain unresponsive to medical therapies. Therefore, we explored and focused on the clinical outcomes of endoscopic procedures in this scenario. In fact, the endoscopic treatment is based on achieving biliary drainage in the case of MBO through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), while GOO is endoscopically treated through the deployment of an enteral stent or the creation of EUS-guided gastro-entero-anastomosis (EUS-GEA). Furthermore, untreatable chronic abdominal pain is a major issue in patients unresponsive to high doses of painkillers, so EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) or celiac ganglia neurolysis (CGN) helps to reduce dosage and have better pain control. Therefore, therapeutic endoscopy in the palliative setting is an effective and safe approach for managing most of the clinical manifestations of advanced biliopancreatic tumors.

Covered self-expandable metallic stents versus plastic stents for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Covered self-expandable metallic stents (cSEMS) have become popular for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with transmural stenting (EUS-HGS). We compared the time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO), complications, and reintervention rates between EUS-HGS using plastic stent (PS) and cSEMS in patients with unresectable malignancies at multicenter institutions in Japan.

METHODS

Patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction who underwent EUS-HGS between April 2015 and July 2020 at any of the six participating facilities were enrolled. Primary endpoint: TRBO; secondary endpoints: rate of complications other than recurrent biliary obstruction and technical success rate of reintervention were evaluated.

RESULTS

PS and cSEMS were used for EUS-HGS in 109 and 43 patients, respectively. The TRBO was significantly longer in the cSEMS group than in the PS group (646 vs. 202 days). Multivariate analysis identified two independent factors associated with a favorable TRBO: combined EUS-guided antegrade stenting with EUS-HGS and the use of cSEMS. No significant difference was observed in the rate of complications other than recurrent biliary obstruction between the two groups. The technical success rate of reintervention was 85.7% for PS and 100% for cSEMS (p=0.309).

CONCLUSION

cSEMS might be a better option for EUS-HGS in patients with unresectable malignancies, given the longer TRBO.

EUS-Guided Choledocho-duodenostomy Using Lumen Apposing Stent Versus ERCP With Covered Metallic Stents in Patients With Unresectable Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (DRA-MBO Trial)

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Several studies have compared primary endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with insertion of metal stents in unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO) and the results were conflicting. The aim of the current study was to compare the outcomes of the procedures in a large-scale study.

METHODS

This was a multicenter international randomized controlled study. Consecutive patients admitted for obstructive jaundice due to unresectable MDBO were recruited. Patients were randomly allocated to receive EUS-guided choledocho-duodenostomy (ECDS) or ERCP for drainage. The primary outcome was the 1-year stent patency rate. Other outcomes included technical success, clinical success, adverse events, time to stent dysfunction, reintervention rates, and overall survival.

RESULTS

Between January 2017 and February 2021, 155 patients were recruited (ECDS 79, ERCP 76). There were no significant differences in 1-year stent patency rates (ECDS 91.1% vs ERCP 88.1%, P = .52). The ECDS group had significantly higher technical success (ECDS 96.2% vs ERCP 76.3%, P < .001), whereas clinical success was similar (ECDS 93.7% vs ERCP 90.8%, P = .559). The median (interquartile range) procedural time was significantly shorter in the ECDS group (ECDS 10 [5.75-18] vs ERCP 25 [14-40] minutes, P < .001). The rate of 30-day adverse events (P = 1) and 30-day mortality (P = .53) were similar.

CONCLUSION

Both procedures could be options for primary biliary drainage in unresectable MDBO. ECDS was associated with higher technical success and shorter procedural time then ERCP. Primary ECDS may be preferred when difficult ERCPs are anticipated. This study was registered to Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03000855.

Comprehensive review on small common bile duct stones

Common bile duct stones are among the most common conditions encountered by endoscopists. Therefore, it is well researched; however, some items, such as indications for endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD), safety of EPBD and endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy or direct oral anticoagulant, selection strategy for retrieval balloons and baskets, lack adequate evidence. Therefore, the guidelines have been updated with new research, while others remain unchanged due to weak evidence. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the standard methods in guidelines and new findings from recent studies on papillary dilation, stone retrieval devices, difficult-to-treat cases, troubleshooting during the procedure, and complicated cases of cholangitis, cholecystolithiasis, or distal biliary stricture.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) are currently first- and second-line therapeutic options, respectively, for the relief of biliary obstruction. In recent years, however, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has become an established alternative therapy for biliary obstruction. There are multiple different techniques for EUS-BD, which can be distinguished based on the access point within the biliary tree (intrahepatic versus extrahepatic) and the location of stent placement (transenteric versus transpapillary). The clinical and technical success rates of biliary drainage for EUS-BD are similar to both ERCP and PTBD, and complication rates are favorable for EUS-BD relative to PTBD. As EUS-BD becomes more widely practiced and endoscopic tools continue to advance, the outcomes will likely improve, and the breadth of indications for EUS-BD will continue to expand.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage in surgically altered anatomy: A comprehensive review of various approaches

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the preferred modality for drainage of the obstructed biliary tree. In patients with surgically altered anatomy, ERCP using standard techniques may not be feasible. Enteroscope assisted ERCP is usually employed with variable success rate. With advent of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), biliary drainage procedures in patients with biliary obstruction and surgically altered anatomy is safe and effective. In this narrative review, we discuss role of EUS guided biliary drainage in patients with altered anatomy and the various approaches used in patients with benign and malignant biliary obstruction.

Comparison between transpapillary versus transmural endoscopic ultrasound-guided decompression for biliary obstruction: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent advances have led to the development of transmural endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) for cases where the duodenal papilla cannot be accessed.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a meta-analysis comparing efficacy and complications of both approaches for biliary drainage.

REVIEW METHODS

English articles were searched in PubMed. Primary outcomes included technical success and complications. Secondary outcomes were clinical success and subsequent stent malfunction. Patient demographics and etiology of obstruction were collected and relative risk ratios and 95% CIs were calculated. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Initial database search yielded 245 studies from which 7 were chosen based upon inclusion criteria for final analysis. There was no statistically different relative risk for technical success when comparing primary EUS-BD to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (RR: 1.04) or overall procedural complication rate (RR 1.39). EUS-BD did have increased specific risk of cholangitis (RR: 3.01). Likewise, primary EUS-BD and ERCP had similar RR for clinical success (RR: 1.02) and overall stent malfunction (RR: 1.55), but stent migration was higher in the primary EUS-BD group (RR: 5.06).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary EUS-BD may be considered when the ampulla cannot be accessed, when there is gastric outlet obstruction, or presence of a duodenal stent.

Endoscopic ultrasound‑guided biliary drainage in patients with surgically altered anatomy: a systematic review and Meta‑analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is technically challenging to perform in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA). For these patients, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is one of the good indications. The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify and evaluate evidence of the efficacy and safety of EUS-BD in patients with SAA.

METHODS

A systematic review of the PubMed was conducted through to December 2021 to identify studies performing EUS-BD in patients with SAA. The primary outcome was the pooled technical success proportion in patients with SAA. The pooled clinical success and adverse event proportions in patients with SAA were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The search identified 1195 possible records, with 18 studies meeting our criteria for analysis, reporting data for 409 patients with SAA who underwent EUS-BD. The pooled technical success, clinical success and adverse event proportions in patients with SAA were 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95.8-99.7%), 94.9% (95% CI, 91.8-98.1%), and 12.8% (95% CI, 7.4-18.1%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-BD is effective for patients with SAA. However, adverse events should be considered when performing EUS-BD in these patients.

Outcomes of patients with hepaticojejunostomy anastomotic strictures undergoing endoscopic and percutaneous treatment

Background and study aims  The increase in hepaticojejunostomies has led to an increase in benign strictures of the anastomosis. Double balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (DBE-ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) are treatment options; however, there is lack of long-term outcomes, with no consensus on management. We performed a retrospective study assessing the outcomes of patients referred for endoscopic management of hepaticojejunostomy anastomotic strictures (HJAS). Patients and methods  All consecutive patients at a tertiary institution underwent endoscopic intervention for suspected HJAS between 2009 and 2021 were enrolled. Results  Eighty-two subjects underwent DBE-ERCP for suspected HJAS. The technical success rate was 77 % (63/82). HJAS was confirmed in 41 patients. The clinical success rate for DBE-ERCP ± PTBD was 71 % (29/41). DBE-ERCP alone achieved clinical success in 49 % of patients (20/41). PTBD was required in 49 % (20/41). Dual therapy was required in 22 % (9/41). Those with liver transplant had less technical success compared to other surgeries (72.1 % vs 82.1 % P  = 0.29), less clinical success with DBE-ERCP alone (40 % vs 62.5 % P  = 0.16) and required more PTBD (56 % vs 37.5 % P  = 0.25). All those with ischemic biliopathy (n = 9) required PTBD for clinical success, required more DBE-ERCP (4.4 vs 2.0, P = 0.004), more PTBD (4.7 vs 0.3, P  < 0.0001), longer treatment duration (181.6 vs 99.5 days P  = 0.12), and had higher rates of recurrence (55.6 % vs 30.3 % P  = 0.18) compared to those with HJAS alone. Liver transplant was the leading cause of ischemic biliopathy (89 %). The overall adverse event rate was 7 %. Conclusions  DBE-ERCP is an effective diagnostic and therapeutic tool in those with altered gastrointestinal anatomy and is associated with low complication rates.

Endoscopic Accessibility of the Biliary System in the Postoperative Situs

Background

Alterations in the anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract may pose a challenge to the endoscopist, especially if interventions to the biliary system are indicated in patients with altered continuity of the gastrointestinal tract, impeding to reach the papilla with conventional ERC techniques. The success of any endoscopic intervention in this setting depends on optimal knowledge on the postoperative anatomy in each individual patient.

Summary

If conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography is impossible, biliary tree access can be achieved by applying novel techniques including endosonography-directed approaches, overtube-assisted approaches or spiral enteroscopy to reach the papilla or biliodigestive anastomosis in case of long limbs, percutaneous or even hybrid approaches. This review gives an overview of the most common techniques.

Key Message

The choice of endoscopic approach should be individual in each patient, taking indication and urgency, type of anatomic alteration, local expertise, patients' characteristics and preferences as well as prognosis into account. Early interdisciplinary discussion is essential to choose the procedure with the optimal risk-benefit ratio in the individual patient.

Current endoscopic approaches to biliary strictures

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the current status and future perspectives of the endoscopic management of biliary strictures.

RECENT FINDINGS

In addition to conventional diagnostic modalities, such as cross-sectional imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), per-oral cholangioscopy is helpful for indeterminate biliary strictures. It allows direct visualization of the biliary tract and targeted biopsy. For distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a standard of care. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is an emerging alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in cases with failed ERCP. EUS-BD is also an effective salvage option for perihilar MBO, which can not be managed via ERCP or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Preoperative drainage is necessary for most jaundiced patients as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely administered for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, and a SEMS is preferred in this setting, too. For benign biliary strictures, a covered SEMS can improve stricture resolution and reduce the number of endoscopic sessions as compared to plastic stents.

SUMMARY

ERCP and EUS play a central role in the diagnosis and drainage for both malignant and benign biliary strictures.

Biliary Endoscopy in Altered Anatomy

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the standard treatment of biliary disease with high success rates of greater than 90% in patients with standard anatomy. However, alterations in upper gastrointestinal anatomy can significantly complicate endoscopic biliary intervention. The past decade has seen significant advances in the endoscopic management of patients with altered anatomy. This review article will provide tips and tricks for successful biliary access in the most common surgical alterations with a focus on the management of biliary diseases following Roux-en-Y (RY) reconstructions.

When ERCP Fails: EUS-Guided Access to Biliary and Pancreatic Ducts

Pancreaticobiliary (PB) endotherapy continues to progress in the era of therapeutic endosonography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains the primary method for PB access in native and altered anatomy. In altered anatomy, PB access can be obtained via enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (e-ERCP) or laparoscopy-assisted ERCP; however, both approaches have significant limitations. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary and pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-BPD) are increasingly becoming the preferred alternative when ERCP fails, with advantages over percutaneous drainage. EUS-BPD continues to evolve with better feasibility, safety and efficacy as dedicated procedural equipment continues to improve. In this article, we discuss the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) when ERCP fails and their indications, technique, and outcomes.

Management of Difficult Choledocholithiasis

Over 30% of all endoscopic retrograde cholangiography procedures in the US are associated with biliary stone extraction, and over 10-15% of these cases are noted to be complex or difficult. The aim of this review is to define the characteristics of difficult common bile duct stones and provide an algorithmic therapeutic approach to these difficult cases. We describe additional special clinical circumstances in which difficult biliary stones are identified and provide additional management strategies to aid endoscopic stone extraction efforts.

Practical Tips for Safe and Successful Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy: A State-of-the-Art Technical Review

Currently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is widely performed worldwide for various benign and malignant biliary diseases in cases of difficult or unsuccessful endoscopic transpapillary cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Furthermore, its applicability as primary drainage has also been reported. Although recent advances in EUS systems and equipment have made EUS-HGS easier and safer, the risk of serious adverse events such as bile leak and stent migration still exists. Physicians and assistants need not only sufficient skills and experience in ERCP-related procedures and basic EUS-related procedures such as fine needle aspiration and pancreatic fluid collection drainage, but also knowledge and techniques specific to EUS-HGS. This technical review mainly focuses on EUS-HGS with self-expandable metal stents for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction and presents the latest and detailed tips for safe and successful performance of the technique.

Efficacy of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic balloon dilatation combined with stent deployment for hepaticojejunostomy anastomotic stricture

BACKGROUND

Hepaticojejunostomy anastomotic stricture (HJAS) is a significant complication of biliary reconstruction surgery. Endoscopic management of HJAS using double-balloon enteroscopy has expanded; however, retrospective reports in this setting are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic balloon dilatation combined with stent deployment for HJAS.

METHODS

This was a single-arm prospective clinical trial involving 40 patients with treatment-naïve HJAS enrolled between March 2016 and August 2019 at four endoscopy units in Japan. For HJAS, plastic stents combined with balloon dilatation were placed for 6 months after initial stenting. The primary outcome was HJ anastomosis patency 12 months after stent removal.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 97.5% (39/40). The failed case required percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage using the rendezvous technique. All cases achieved successful endoscopic treatment. During the treatment period, four of 40 patients (10%) ended the study protocol due to unrelated causes and were excluded from the primary analysis. Among the 36 patients, clinical success was achieved in 34 (94.4%) patients. The remaining two patients achieved HJAS resolution after an additional 3 months. All 36 patients achieved HJAS resolution. Adverse events were observed in two patients (5.0%) who developed moderate cholangitis. During a median follow-up of 21.3 months, HJAS recurrence was observed in 8.3% (3/36) with a median time to recurrence of 4.3 months and HJ anastomosis patency at 12 months was 94.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic balloon dilatation combined with plastic stent deployment for 6 months was a safe and effective strategy for HJAS. (Clinical Trial Registry no. UMIN000020613).

Endoscopic biliary drainage for malignant distal biliary obstruction: Which is better - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasound?

Presently, following endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with transpapillary stenting is performed for palliation of malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO). However, technical failure and postprocedure pancreatitis are limitations to ERCP. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) after a failed ERCP has a 90% technical success rate and has been shown to be superior when compared to percutaneous methods, making EUS an increasingly recognized option for biliary drainage. Supporting this approach, findings from recently concluded randomized trials suggest that the safety profile and technical outcomes for EUS-BD are comparable or even superior to that of ERCP for primary biliary decompression in patients with MDBO. Also, EUS-BD is increasingly being utilized in patients with altered surgical anatomy in lieu of percutaneous techniques and balloon-assisted enteroscopy. A growing body of evidence supports the notion that, in the future, EUS may become the primary modality by which biliary decompression is undertaken in the majority of patients with MDBO. The roadmap to this eventuality may require further optimization of procedural techniques, technological innovations, and cost reduction.

Laparotomy-Assisted Direct Cholangioscopy for Bile Duct Stone Removal via an Incision of the Jejunum

A 77-year-old man presented to our hospital with epigastric pain. He had previously undergone hepatic left lateral segmentectomy, cholangiojejunostomy, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction at 42 years of age for intrahepatic stones and liver abscesses. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed bile duct stones and intrahepatic bile duct dilation of the caudate lobe. Bile duct drainage for the caudate lobe was necessary; however, the volume of his caudate lobe was very small, making percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) difficult. Therefore, we attempted laparotomy-assisted endoscopic biliary drainage. Under general anesthesia, an incision was made on the jejunum approximately 15 cm from the Y-leg anastomosis. An esophagogastroduodenoscope was directly inserted into the common hepatic duct anastomosed with the jejunum. The caudate lobe branch had severe stenosis, and the area upstream of the stenosis was filled with stones, sludge, and pus. The biliary stenosis was dilated using a balloon, and the stones were completely removed using a basket and a balloon catheter. There are various methods of biliary and pancreatic surgery and gastrointestinal reconstruction, and there are cases in which PTBD, EUS-BD, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with an enteroscope are difficult. In such cases, ERCP under laparotomy could be a good treatment option.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided antegrade procedures for managing bile duct stones in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Comparison with double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (with video)

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Management of bile duct stones (BDSs) in patients with surgically altered anatomies (SAAs) remains challenging. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided antegrade (EUS-AG) procedure and double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (DB-ERC) have been used to remove BDSs from patients with SAAs. However, few comparative data have been reported. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of the techniques.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective study. Patients with SAA who underwent the EUS-AG procedure or DB-ERC to remove intra- or extra-BDSs between November 2010 and March 2020 were included. The primary outcome was the technical success rate, defined as stent insertion or stone removal during the initial session. The secondary outcomes were the procedure time, incidence of adverse events (AEs), and complete stone removal rate.

RESULTS

Of the 54 patients enrolled, 23 underwent the EUS-AG procedure and 31 DB-ERC. The technical success rates of EUS-AG and DB-ERC were 87.0% and 64.5%, respectively (P = 0.11). The procedure time was significantly shorter in the EUS-AG group than in the DB-ERC group (51.9 ± 15.4 vs 72.6 ± 32.2 min; P = 0.01), and the early AE rates were 26.1% and 12.9%, respectively (P = 0.71). The complete stone removal rates in patients who underwent previous stone removal were 94.1% in the EUS-AG group and 85.7% in the DB-ERC group (P = 0.61).

CONCLUSION

The EUS-AG afforded technical success and complete stone removal rates comparable with those of DB-ERC, but the former procedure was shorter. The AE rate was acceptable.

Status of single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis on biliary interventions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy is still challenging. Usefulness of single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE)-assisted ERCP has been increasingly reported. Short SBE is considered beneficial with a 152-cm working length and a 3.2-mm working channel. This has increased the variety of devices that can be used during ERCP procedures. The aim of this pooled analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of SBE-assisted ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomy and elucidate the current status.

METHODS

This systematic review only involved biliary interventions which excluded pancreatic cases. Studies involving SBE-assisted ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy, hepaticojejunostomy with Roux-en-Y, pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple or Child procedure), or Billroth II gastrectomy were analyzed. Enteroscopy, biliary cannulation, and procedural success were assessed by pooling data in a random-effect model, according to the degree of heterogeneity, to obtain a proportion with 95% confidence interval (CI). The outcomes observed for conventional and short SBE cases were also reported.

RESULTS

Overall, 1227 SBE-assisted ERCP procedures from 21 studies were included. The pooled enteroscopy, biliary cannulation, and procedural success rates were 86.6% (95% CI, 82.4-90.3%), 90% (95% CI, 87.1-92.5%), and 75.8% (95% CI, 71.0-80.3%), respectively. Adverse events occurred in 6.6% (95% CI, 5.3-8.2%) of the procedures. Although good outcomes were reported for short SBE-assisted ERCP, these should not be directly compared to the outcomes observed for conventional SBE, as they assume different backgrounds and include confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomy on biliary interventions is effective.

Recent advances of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography using balloon assisted endoscopy for pancreaticobiliary diseases in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Therapeutic strategy and management of difficult cases

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic modality established for diagnosis and treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases. However ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) has been difficult, and more invasive therapies have been primarily selected. The development of balloon assisted endoscopes (BAEs) innovatively facilitated ERCP in such patients. Recent advances of BAEs and other devices greatly contributed to increasing success of ERCP using BAEs (BAE-ERCP). Furthermore, interventions using Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS-intervention) have been reported to be useful for pancreaticobiliary diseases in patients with SAA, which provide more options for endoscopic therapies and are also expected as a rescue therapy for difficult cases of BAE-ERCP. In order to thoroughly complete endoscopic treatment for pancreaticobiliary diseases with SAA, it is important to standardize the BAE-ERCP procedures based on the features of respective endoscopes and to establish a strategy for endoscopic treatment which includes analysis of BAE-ERCP difficult cases and selection of cases for rescue therapy. In addition, it is essential to be acquainted with the characteristics of possible adverse events of the procedure and to be able to deal with them for safe accomplishment of endoscopic treatment.

Utility of palliative EUS-guided biliary drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents: a prospective multicenter feasibility study (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Biliary drainage with ERCP is successful in only 80% to 90% of cases of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer. We present the results of a multicenter prospective study assessing the safety, feasibility, and quality of life of patients after EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) with lumen-apposing metal stents after failed ERCP.

METHODS

All consecutive adults with a dilated common bile duct (CBD) ≥14 mm secondary to inoperable malignant distal CBD stricture and failed ERCP biliary drainage were screened and recruited from 3 tertiary UK centers. Technical success of EUS-BD using lumen-apposing metal stents was the primary endpoint. Improvement in serum bilirubin level, 30-day mortality, procedure-related adverse events, and quality of life were secondary endpoints. Improvement in quality of life was measured using a validated questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BIL21).

RESULTS

Twenty patients were included in the analysis. EUS-BD was technically successful in all patients and the clinical success rate was 95% (19 of 20) at day 7 (>50% reduction in bilirubin level) and 92.3% (12 of 13) at day 30 (bilirubin <50 μmol/L). There were significant improvements in overall quality of life score (49 vs 42, P = .03) at day 30. All-cause 30-day mortality was 20% and the moderate adverse event rate was 10% (1 cholangitis and 1 stent migration).

CONCLUSION

EUS-BD has acceptable technical success and safety as a second-line palliative treatment for inoperable malignant distal CBD strictures. Randomized controlled studies comparing EUS-BD with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage are needed to determine their effectiveness in clinical practice. (ISCRTN registration number: ISRCTN13196704.).

The role of endoscopic ultrasound guidance for biliary and pancreatic duct access and drainage to overcome the limitations of ERCP: a retrospective evaluation

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided ductal access and drainage (EUS-DAD) of biliary/pancreatic ducts after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is less invasive than percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). The actual need for EUS-DAD remains unknown. We aimed to determine how often EUS-DAD is needed to overcome ERCP failure.

METHODS

Consecutive duct access procedures (n = 2205; 95 % biliary) performed between June 2013 and November 2015 at a tertiary-care center were reviewed. ERCP was used first line, EUS-DAD as salvage after ERCP, and PTBD when both had failed. Procedures were defined as "index" in patients without prior endoscopic duct access and "combined" when EUS-DAD followed successful ERCP. The main outcomes were the EUS-DAD and PTBD rates.

RESULTS

EUS-DAD was performed in 7.7 % (170/2205) of overall procedures: 9.1 % (116/1274) index and 5.8 % (54/931) follow-up. Most index EUS-DADs were performed following (46 %) or anticipating (39 %) ERCP failure, whereas 15 % followed successful ERCP (combined procedures). Among index procedures, the EUS-DAD rate was higher in surgically altered anatomy (58.2 % [39 /67)] vs. 6.4 % [77/1207]); PTBD was required in 0.2 % (3/1274). Among follow-up procedures, ERCP represented 85.7 %, cholangiopancreatography through mature transmural fistulas 8.5 %, and EUS-DAD 5.8 %; no patient required PTBD. The secondary PTBD rate was 0.1 % (3/2205). Six primary PTBDs were performed (overall PTBD rate 0.4 % [9/2205]).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-DAD was required in 7.7 % of ERCPs for benign and malignant biliary/pancreatic duct indications. Salvage PTBD was required in 0.1 %. This high EUS-DAD rate reflects disease complexity, a wide definition of ERCP failure, and restrictive PTBD use, not poor ERCP skills. EUS-DAD effectively overcomes the limitations of ERCP eliminating the need for primary and salvage PTBD in most cases.

Recent Advances of Interventional Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Endoscopic Ultrasound for Patients with Surgically Altered Anatomy

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis and interventions in biliopancreatic diseases. However, ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) appears to be more difficult compared to cases with normal anatomy. Since the production of a balloon enteroscope (BE) for small intestine disorders, BE had also been used for biliopancreatic diseases in patients with SAA. Since the development of BE-assisted ERCP, the outcomes of procedures, such as stone extraction or drainage, have been reported as favorable. Recently, an interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), such as EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), has been developed and is available mainly for patients with difficult cases of ERCP. It is a good option for patients with SAA. The effectiveness of interventional EUS for patients with SAA has been reported. Both BE-assisted ERCP and interventional EUS have advantages and disadvantages. The choice of procedure should be individualized to the patient’s condition or the expertise of the endoscopists. The aim of this review article is to discuss recent advances in interventional ERCP and EUS for patients with SAA.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage in benign biliary pathology with normal foregut anatomy: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Biliary drainage using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS-BD) has been developed as a novel technique to obtain biliary access and drainage when ERCP fails. Numerous studies have demonstrated its safety and efficacy specifically pertaining to those with malignant distal biliary obstruction or altered foregut anatomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-BD in benign indications in patients with normal foregut anatomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective comparative study from 5 academic medical centers (2008-2018) involving patients with benign biliary obstruction and native foregut anatomy who had an initial failed ERCP with subsequent attempt at biliary decompression via EUS-BD or by repeating ERCP.

RESULTS

36 patients (mean age 61.6 ± 2.2, 38.9% female) who underwent attempted EUS-BD following initial failed ERCP were compared to 50 patients (mean age 62.7 ± 2.3, 73.5% female) who underwent repeat ERCP following an initial failed cannulation. EUS-BD was technically successful in 28 (77.8%) patients with rendezvous being the most common approach (86.1%). A higher level of pre-procedural bilirubin was found to be associated with technical success of EUS-BD (3.65 ± 0.63 versus 1.1 ± 0.4, p value 0.04). Success of repeat ERCP following failed cannulation was 86%. Adverse events were significantly more frequent in the EUS-BD cohort when compared to the repeat ERCP (10 (27.8%) versus 4 (8.0%), p = 0.02, OR 4.32.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-BD remains a viable therapeutic option in the setting of benign biliary disease, with success rates of 77.8%. Adverse events were significantly more common with EUS-BD vs. repeat ERCP, emphasizing the need to perform in expert centers with appropriate multidisciplinary support and to strongly consider the urgency of biliary decompression before considering same session EUS-BD after failed initial biliary access.

Usefulness of self-expandable metal stents for malignant biliary obstruction using a short-type single-balloon enteroscope in patients with surgically altered anatomy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) using a short-type single-balloon enteroscopy (short SBE) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA).

METHODS

The technical success rate, clinical success rate, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), time to RBO (TRBO), procedure related adverse events, and reintervention after RBO were evaluated from September 2011 to June 2020.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients (11 patients with distal MBO and 26 with hilar MBO) who underwent SEMS placement were included in the analysis. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 94.6%. Seven patients underwent bilateral stenting (partial stent-in-stent placement) for hilar MBO. The RBO rate was 13.5% (5/37) and the median TRBO was 212 (interquartile range [IQR], 154-296) days. No food impaction occurred in this study. Procedure related adverse events occurred in 5.4% (2/37) of cases. Reintervention was attempted in five patients and all succeeded (four patients underwent SEMS replacement, and one underwent plastic stent placement).

CONCLUSIONS

SEMS placement for unresectable MBO using a short SBE in patients with SAA is effective and safe in similar ways to that in patients with normal anatomy in terms of bilateral stenting, stent patency, and reintervention.

Endoscopic and percutaneous biliary interventions in patients with altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy-the Munich Multicenter Experience

BACKGROUND

In patients with altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy, conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is often not possible and different techniques, like enteroscopy-assisted or percutaneous approaches are required. Aim of this study was to analyze success and complication rates of these techniques in a large collective of patients in the daily clinical practice in a pre-endosonographic biliary drainage era.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy with biliary interventions between March 1st, 2006, and June 30th, 2014 in four tertiary endoscopic centers in Munich, Germany were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

At least one endoscopic-assisted biliary intervention was successful in 234/411 patients (56.9%)-in 192 patients in the first, in 34 patients in the second and in 8 patients in the third attempt. Success rates for Billroth-II/Whipple-/Roux-en-Y reconstruction were 70.5%/56.7%/49.5%. Complication rates for these reconstructions were 9.3%/6.5%/6.3%, the overall complication rate was 7.1%. Success rates were highest in patients with Billroth-II reconstruction where use of a duodenoscope was possible, complication rates were also highest in this scenario. Success rates were lowest in longer-limb anatomy like Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Percutaneous biliary drainages (PTBD) were inserted 268 times with substantially higher success (90.7%) as well as complication rates (11.6%) compared to the endoscopic approach. Compared to patients treated endoscopically, patients with PTBD had a lower performance status, more severe cholestasis and a significant higher rate of malignant underlying disease.

CONCLUSION

In patients with altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy, success rates of endoscopic-assisted biliary interventions are lower compared to PTBD. Still, due to the beneficial complication rates of the endoscopic approach, this technique should be preferred whenever possible and in selected patients who still need to be defined in detail, repeated endoscopic attempts are useful to help achieve the desired result.

The safety and efficacy of self-expandable metallic stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction with surgically altered anatomy

BACKGROUND

Single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (SBE-ERCP) has been increasingly performed for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA), however evidence is scarce. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement using a short type SBE.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with SAA who received initial SEMS for MBO at our institution between February 2016 and February 2019. We evaluated patient characteristics, technical and functional success rates, time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO) and complications according to the location of the biliary stricture.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients were included in this study. The primary tumor was gastric cancer in 12, pancreatic cancer in 6, cholangiocarcinoma in 6 and gallbladder cancer in 2. The biliary stricture site was distal bile duct in 14, hilar bile duct in 3 and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) anastomosis in 9. Technical and functional success rates were 92 and 88%, respectively. TRBO, median survival time, overall rate of RBO and early complications were not different according to the stricture site (p=.36, .67, .67 and .12, respectively), whereas late complications were significantly different among the three groups (Distal vs. Hilar vs. HJ anastomosis; 0 vs. 67 vs. 22%, p<.05). Furthermore, stent patency was not different between fully covered and uncovered SEMS in distal MBO.

CONCLUSIONS

SEMS placement via SBE-ERCP was safe and effective for the management of MBO in patients with SAA, especially in distal MBO.

EUS-guided transanastomotic drainage for severe biliopancreatic anastomotic stricture using a forward-viewing echoendoscope in patients with surgically altered anatomy

Background and Objectives:

Balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (BE-ERCP) has become the first-line therapy for biliopancreatic anastomotic strictures. However, it is not always successful, and salvage methods have not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of EUS-guided transanastomotic drainage using a forward-viewing (FV) echoendoscope.

Patients and Methods:

Of eight cases wherein BE-ERCP treatment failed due to severe or complete benign anastomotic stricture, seven cases underwent EUS-guided choledochojejunostomy, and EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy was applied in one case after intubating an FV echoendoscope into the anastomotic site.

Results:

The success rate of reaching the target site was 100% (8/8) for patients after modified Child resection. The median time to reach the anastomosis was 5 min (range: 3–17 min), and the technical success rate for drainage was 75% (6/8). The median total procedure time was 33.5 min (range: 22–45 min) for six successful cases. Cautery dilatation catheters were necessary to dilate the puncture site in all cases, and no early complications were observed. During the follow-up period (median: 13.3 months [range: 6.5–60.3]), recurrence of the stricture occurred in one case, and a stent-free status was achieved after 6–12 months of stent placement in five cases.

Conclusions:

EUS-guided transanastomotic drainage using an FV echoendoscope is a feasible and safe rescue technique for the management of benign severe biliopancreatic anastomotic strictures.

EUS-guided intrahepatic biliary drainage: a large retrospective series and subgroup comparison between percutaneous drainage in hilar stenoses or postsurgical anatomy

Background and study aims  Endoscopic ultrasound-guided intrahepatic biliary drainage (EUS-IBD) struggles to find a place in management algorithms, especially compared to percutaneous drainage (PTBD). In the setting of hilar stenoses or postsurgical anatomy data are even more limited. Patients and methods  All consecutive EUS-IBDs performed in our tertiary referral center between 2012 - 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Rendez-vous (RVs), antegrade stenting (AS) and hepatico-gastrostomies (HGs) were compared. The predefined subgroup of EUS-IBD patients with proximal stenosis/surgically-altered anatomy was matched 1:1 with PTBD performed for the same indications. Efficacy, safety and events during follow-up were compared. Results  One hundred four EUS-IBDs were included (malignancies = 87.7 %). These consisted of 16 RVs, 43 ASs and 45 HGs. Technical and clinical success rates were 89.4 % and 96.2 %, respectively. Any-degree, severe and fatal adverse events (AEs) occurred in 23.3 %, 2.9 %, and 0.9 % respectively. Benign indications were more common among RVs while proximal stenoses, surgically-altered anatomy, and disconnected left ductal system among HGs. Procedures were shorter with HGs performed with specifically designed stents (25 vs . 48 minutes, P  = 0.004) and there was also a trend toward less dysfunction with those stents (6.7 % vs . 30 %, P  = 0.09) compared with previous approaches. Among patients with proximal stenosis/surgically-altered anatomy, EUS-IBD vs. PTBD showed higher rates of clinical success (97.4 % vs. 79.5 %, P  = 0.01), reduced post-procedural pain (17.8 % vs. 44.4 %, p = 0.004), shorter median hospital stay (7.5 vs 11.5 days, P  = 0.01), lower rates of stent dysfunction (15.8 % vs. 42.9 %, P  = 0.01), and the mean number of reinterventions was lower (0.4 vs. 2.8, P  < 0.0001). Conclusions  EUS-IBD has high technical and clinical success with an acceptable safety profile. HGs show comparable outcomes, which are likely to further improve with dedicated tools. For proximal strictures and surgically-altered anatomy, EUS-IBD seems superior to PTBD.

ERCP with overtube-assisted enteroscopy in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) anatomy is challenging. Overtube-assisted enteroscopy (OAE) is usually needed to perform ERCP in these patients. There is significant variation in the reported rates of success and adverse events across published studies. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to reliably estimate the pooled rates of success and adverse events.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of multiple electronic databases through February 2020 to identify studies reporting outcomes of OAE-ERCP in post-RYGB patients. The pooled rates of enteroscopy success, technical success, and adverse events were estimated for OAE-ERCP. The pooled rates of success and adverse events were also estimated for ERCP using double-balloon enteroscopes (DBE) alone.

RESULTS

10 studies reporting a total of 398 procedures were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled rates of enteroscopy and technical success of OAE-ERCP were 75.3 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 64.5 - 83.6) and 64.8 % (95 %CI 53.1 - 74.9) respectively. The pooled rate of adverse events was 8.0 % (95 %CI 5.2 - 12.2). The pooled rates of enteroscopy and technical success of DBE-ERCP (four studies) were 83.5 % (95 %CI 68.3 - 92.2) and 72.5 % (95 %CI 52.3 - 86.4), respectively. The pooled rate of adverse events with DBE-ERCP was 9.0 % (95 %CI 5.4 - 14.5). Substantial heterogeneity was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

OAE-ERCP appears to be effective and safe in post-RYGB patients. Among the currently available techniques, OAE-ERCP is the least invasive approach in this challenging group of patients. Future studies comparing the effectiveness and safety of alternative novel techniques, such as endosonography-directed transgastric ERCP, with OAE-ERCP are needed.

Long-term outcomes of a long, partially covered metal stent for EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We previously reported safety and effectiveness of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) using a long, partially covered metal stent (LP-CMS) for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). In this study, we aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes of EUS-HGS in an expanded cohort.

METHODS

One hundred ten patients undergoing EUS-HGS using an LP-CMS in 2 centers were retrospectively studied. Technical and functional success, adverse events, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), and reinterventions were evaluated.

RESULTS

The cause of MBO was pancreatic cancer in 50%, and the location of MBO was distal in 68%. The stent length was 8 cm in 2%, 10 cm in 84%, and 12 cm in 15%, with a median intragastric stent length of 54 mm. Technical and functional success rates were 100% and 94%, respectively. The adverse event rate was 25% (mild 15%, moderate 7%, severe 3%), but about one-half of adverse events were mild transient fever and abdominal pain. RBO developed in 33%, with a median cumulative time to RBO of 6.3 months. The major cause of RBO was hyperplasia at an uncovered portion. The presence of prior biliary drainage and short intragastric stent length were significantly associated with RBO. Reintervention for RBO was successfully achieved through the EUS-HGS route in 92%. The remaining reintervention procedures were 1 EUS-HGS and 2 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage all in cases with hilar MBO.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-HGS using an LP-CMS for unresectable MBO was safe and effective. RBO was not uncommon, but reintervention through the EUS-HGS route was technically possible in most cases.

After you Roux, what do you do? A systematic review of most successful advanced assisted ERCP techniques in patients with various altered upper gastrointestinal surgical anatomical reconstructions with particular focus on RYGB (last 10 years)

Access to the Common Bile Duct in patients with surgically altered UGI anatomy such as RYGB is exceptionally challenging. Previously, these patients could only be treated by open surgery; however, multiple new advanced assisted ERCP techniques such as EDGE, LA-ERCP, and DEA-ERCP have now been developed and indeed successfully used to treat these patients. Despite growing experience, these techniques have yet to become part of our mainstream practice and many clinicians remain unfamiliar or even unaware of them; as a result, they are unfortunately often overlooked. We conducted this systematic review to try and shed more light on them and understand which of these techniques resulted in the best patient outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of PubMed database publications between December 2008 and December 2018. Keyword variants of "EDGE, Enteroscopy-assisted & laparoscopy-assisted ERCP" and "altered surgical anatomy" were combined to identify relevant papers for inclusion. We identified 34 studies, comprising a total of 1848 advanced assisted ERCPs in patients with altered UGI anatomy from 12 different countries. These papers were critically appraised, summarised, and presented in table format. EDGE and LA-ERCP were associated with both the highest overall combined CBD cannulation rates (99.3% for both vs 74.6% for DEA-ERCP) and ERCP interventional success (98.3% for EDGE vs 97.4% for LA-ERCP and 67.6% for DEA-ERCP). Advanced ERCP is associated with excellent success rates and a higher safety profile than surgery; however, patient selection and identification of the exact surgical anatomy are key.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction with surgically altered anatomy: a multicenter prospective registration study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic treatment for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) in patients bearing surgically altered anatomy (SAA) is not well-established. Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has emerged as a new treatment option for MBO, limited data are available regarding the efficacy and safety of EUS-BD in patients with SAA. We conducted a multicenter prospective registration study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-BD in this population.

METHODS

This study involved 10 referral centers in Japan. Patients with SAA who were scheduled to receive EUS-BD for unresectable MBO between May 2016 and September 2018 were prospectively registered. The primary endpoint was technical success and the secondary outcomes were clinical success, procedure time, procedure-related adverse events (AEs), stent patency, and overall survival.

RESULTS

In total, 40 patients were prospectively enrolled. The surgical reconstruction methods were gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (47.5%), gastrectomy with Billroth-II reconstruction (15%), pancreaticoduodenectomy (27.5%), and hepaticojejunostomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (10%). EUS-BD was performed for primary biliary drainage in 31 patients and for rescue biliary drainage in nine patients. Transmural stenting alone (60%), antegrade stenting alone (5%), and a combination of the two techniques (35%) were selected for patients treated with EUS-BD. Technical and clinical success rates were 100% (95% confidence interval, 91.2-100.0%) and 95% (95% confidence interval, 83.1-99.4%), respectively. Mean procedure time was 36.5 min. Early AEs were noted in six patients (15%): three self-limited bile leak, one bile peritonitis, and two pneumoperitonea. Late AEs occurred in six patients (15%): one jejunal ulcer and five stent occlusions. Stent patency rate after 3 months of survival was 95.7% (22/23). Median overall survival was 96 days.

CONCLUSION

EUS-BD for MBO in patients with SAA appears to be effective and safe not only as a rescue drainage technique after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiography but also as a primary drainage technique.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000022101.

Potential Factors Affecting Results of Short-Type Double-Balloon Endoscope-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND

Short-type double-balloon endoscope (DBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been developed as an alternative approach for cases with a surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy. However, this technique is sometimes technically challenging and carries a risk of severe adverse events.

AIMS

To evaluate the factors affecting the technical success rate and adverse events of DBE-ERCP.

METHODS

A total of 319 patients (805 procedures) with a surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy underwent short DBE-ERCP. The factors affecting the technical success rate and adverse events, and the learning curve of the trainees were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The technical success rate of all procedures was 90.7%. Adverse events occurred in 44 (5.5%) procedures. A multivariate analysis indicated that Roux-en-Y reconstruction and first-time short DBE-ERCP were factors affecting the technical failure and adverse event rates, while the modified Child method after subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy reconstruction was a non-risk factor for adverse events. The trainee caseload did not affect the technical success or adverse event rates significantly; however, trainees tended to perform cases involving the modified Child method after subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy reconstruction. The success rate of scope insertion increased according to experience; however, the overall success rate did not differ to a statistically significant extent.

CONCLUSION

Short DBE-ERCP was useful and safe for managing cases with a surgically altered anatomy; however, trainees should concentrate on accumulating experience with easy cases, such as those with the modified Child method after subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy reconstruction or a history of DBE-ERCP.

Interventional endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with surgically altered anatomy: Techniques and literature review

There are various reconstruction techniques that are used after upper gastrointestinal surgery. In recent years, opportunities for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment have been increasing in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. With the advent of interventional endoscopic ultrasound (IV-EUS), various procedures have been developed mainly for patients in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is difficult to carry out. Indications for such procedures are expanding. IV-EUS for surgically altered anatomy (SAA) includes EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration, biliary interventions (e.g. biliary drainage, treatment of bile duct stricture, removal of bile duct stones, and the rendezvous technique), and pancreatic interventions (e.g. rendezvous technique after Whipple surgery). In addition, there have been reports of various EUS-related procedures using a forward-viewing curved linear-array echoendoscope that are carried out for postoperative intestinal tract reconstruction. Although interventional EUS is a useful therapeutic procedure for SAA, there are still no dedicated devices, and standardization of the procedure is warranted.

EUS-guided biliary drainage for postsurgical anatomy

ERCP is the mainstay of therapy for pancreatobiliary diseases in patients with native upper gastrointestinal (UGI) anatomy. However, when UGI anatomy is surgically altered, standard ERCP becomes technically challenging or not possible. In such instances, EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been increasingly employed by advanced endoscopists as a safe and effective method of access to the biliary tree. In this study, we review the technical aspects and outcomes of EUS-BD in patients with surgical UGI anatomy.

EUS-guided biliary drainage versus ERCP for first-line palliation of malignant distal biliary obstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with transpapillary metal stenting is the standard palliation method for malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO); however, post-ERCP pancreatitis are not uncommon. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) with transmural metal stenting has emerged as an option for primary palliation of MDBO. We compared the efficacy and safety of these procedures as first-line MDBO treatment. We searched for relevant English-language articles in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The outcomes of interest were technical success, clinical success, adverse events, stent patency, reintervention rates, and procedure time. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients without duodenal invasion (eg, endoscopically accessible papilla; EUS-choledochoduodenostomy [CDS] vs. ERCP). Ten studies (3 randomized trials and 7 retrospective studies) with 756 patients were included. The cumulative technical and clinical success rates were high for both procedures (EUS-BD: 94.8% [294/310] and 93.8% [286/305], ERCP: 96.5% [386/400] and 95.7% [377/394]). The cumulative adverse event rates were 16.3% (54/331) for EUS-BD and 18.3% (78/425) for ERCP. In subgroup analysis for patients without duodenal invasion, EUS-CDS showed similar cumulative technical and clinical success rate with ERCP (technical success rate, EUS-CDS vs. ERCP: 94.2% [146/155] vs. 97.8% [237/242]; clinical success rate, EUS-CDS vs. ERCP: 94.2% [145/154] vs. 93.0% [225/242]). The cumulative rate of adverse events for EUS-CDS and ERCP was also comparable (15.5% [24/155] for EUS-CDS and 18.6% [45/242] for ERCP). As first-line palliation of MDBO, EUS-BD was similar to ERCP in technical and clinical success and safety; however, larger randomized trials comparing EUS-CDS and ERCP in this setting with endoscopically accessible papilla may be required.

Analysis of the factors involved in procedural failure: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography using a short-type single-balloon enteroscope for patients with surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy

AIM

To analyze factors involved in procedural failure and to discuss responses to procedural failure by using the outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) carried out using a short-type single-balloon enteroscope (short SBE) in patients with surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy.

METHODS

The study sample included patients who underwent ERCP-related procedures using a short SBE between September 2011 and September 2018 at our hospital. Outcomes, including procedural success rate, were studied retrospectively to analyze the factors involved in procedural failure.

RESULTS

Analysis included 191 procedures carried out in 121 patients. Procedural success rate was 85.9% with an adverse event rate of 8.4%. Causes of procedural failure included malignant biliary obstruction (odds ratio [OR] 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-7.25, P = 0.02), first ERCP attempt (OR: 5.32, 95% CI: 1.30-36.30, P = 0.02), and Roux-en-Y reconstruction (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.004-0.39, P < 0.001). With regard to the response to failure, in cases of malignant biliary obstruction, reattempted short SBE-assisted ERCP was difficult because of invasion of the small intestine or papilla. A large number of these cases required alternative treatment (10 of 15 cases, 66.7%) using percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography using a short SBE is safe and effective, with malignant biliary obstruction being a specific cause of failure. Technical proficiency with different modalities, such as PTBD and EUS-BD, is necessary to respond to failure in these cases.