Biliary stenting with or without sphincterotomy for malignant biliary obstruction: A meta-analysis

Safety and efficacy of resmetirom in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) affects nearly 38% of the population, potentially progressing to cirrhosis and cancer. Lifestyle changes remain the cornerstone of management, but adherence is challenging, prompting the exploration of therapeutic options. Resmetirom, targeting thyroid hormone receptors, regulates liver enzymes and fat metabolism, showing potential as a treatment for MASH. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the safety of resmetirom in MASH patients. Three randomized controlled trials with adult participants were analyzed, sourced from PubMed and the Cochrane Library until April 2024. Participants received either resmetirom or placebo, and data on adverse effects and efficacy outcomes were extracted. Statistical analyses, including risk ratios (RRs) and confidence intervals (CI), were performed using Review Manager (version 5.4.1) with a random-effects model. The pooled RR for serious adverse events was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.63-1.14; P  = 0.28), indicating no significant difference. However, diarrhea (RR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.41-2.35; P  < 0.001) and nausea (RR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.31-2.28; P  < 0.001) showed higher incidence. No significant differences were found for fatigue (RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.77-1.84; P  = 0.43) or urinary tract infections (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.76-1.52; P  = 0.69). Liver fat content, lipid profiles, and liver enzymes also showed significant improvement in the resmetirom group. Low heterogeneity across most outcomes indicated consistent findings among the studies. While resmetirom demonstrates efficacy in improving lipid and liver profiles, its increased risk of diarrhea and nausea should be considered in therapeutic decisions.

Biliary stenting with and without endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) is commonly performed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) before stent placement. Studies comparing adverse events between patients with MBO undergoing ERCP with and without EBS have reported conflicting results. We conducted an updated meta-analysis including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only to evaluate the safety of EBS in these patients and its efficacy in decreasing the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). We reviewed several databases from inception to 10 January 2024 to identify RCTs that compared adverse events of biliary stenting with and without EBS in the patients with MBO. Our outcomes of interest were PEP, successful stent insertion, and adverse events such as cholangitis, bleeding, perforation, stent migration, and stent occlusion. We calculated pooled risk ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all of the outcomes and used a random effect model to analyze the data. We included six RCTs with 1070 patients. There was no significant difference in rate of PEP between groups [risk ratio (95% CI): 0.50 (0.23-1.08)]. We found no significant difference in the rate of successful stent insertion between groups [risk ratio (95% CI): 1.01 (0.99-1.02)]. The rate of post-ERCP bleeding was significantly higher in EBS group [risk ratio (95% CI): 7.43 (2.45-22.53)]. We found no significant difference in rates of cholangitis, perforation, stent migration, and stent occlusion between groups. EBS does not decrease the risk of PEP in patients with MBO and is associated with increased risk of bleeding.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis after self-expandable metal stent placement for distal malignant biliary obstruction (SPHINX): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) placement is the preferred approach for biliary drainage in patients with suspected distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). However, FCSEMS placement is associated with a high risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Endoscopic sphincterotomy prior to FCSEMS placement may reduce PEP risk.

OBJECTIVE

To compare endoscopic sphincterotomy to no sphincterotomy prior to FCSEMS placement.

DESIGN

This multicentre, randomised, superiority trial was conducted in 17 hospitals and included patients with suspected distal MBO. Patients were randomised during ERCP to receive either endoscopic sphincterotomy (sphincterotomy group) or no sphincterotomy (control group) prior to FCSEMS placement. The primary outcome was PEP within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included procedure-related complications and 30-day mortality. An interim analysis was performed after 50% of patients (n=259) had completed follow-up.

RESULTS

Between May 2016 and June 2023, 297 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis, with 156 in the sphincterotomy group and 141 in the control group. After the interim analysis, the study was terminated prematurely due to futility. PEP did not differ between groups, occurring in 26 patients (17%) in the sphincterotomy group compared with 30 patients (21%) in the control group (relative risk 0.78, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.26, p=0.37). There were no significant differences in bleeding, perforation, cholangitis, cholecystitis or 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

This trial found that endoscopic sphincterotomy was not superior to no sphincterotomy in reducing PEP in patients with distal MBO. Therefore, there was insufficient evidence to recommend routine endoscopic sphincterotomy prior to FCEMS placement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NL5130.

The addition of endoscopic sphincterotomy to biliary stent placement and its impact on the risk of adverse events: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is not mandatory before biliary stenting. The impact of ES before biliary stent placement remains uncertain. Previous studies have reported that ES can increase adverse event rates by up to 4.5 times compared with no ES. We aimed to assess the occurrence of post-ERCP adverse events following biliary stent placement with and without ES.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Subgroup analyses were performed with patients undergoing biliary drainage due to obstruction, using metal stents, and using plastic stents. Secondary outcomes were postprocedural bleeding, perforation, stent/catheter occlusion, stent/catheter migration, and cholangitis. Heterogeneity was examined with I2 statistics, and a random-effects model was used. Review Manager 5.4 was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs with 1022 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the ES and non-ES groups (odds ratio [OR], .46; 95% CI, .19-1.09; P = .08; I2 = 59%) regarding PEP; however, a significant difference in bleeding rates was found between groups, favoring non-ES (OR, 7.01; 95% CI, 2.24-21.99; P = .0008; I2 = 0%). The analysis of the occurrence of cholangitis (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, .58-2.69; P = .56; I2 = 67%), perforation (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, .07-55.73; P = .70; I2 = 58%), stent/catheter migration (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, .61-7.57; P = 0.23; I2 = 6%), and stent/catheter occlusion (OR, .91; 95% CI, .37-2.25; P = .84; I2 = 0%) did not favor either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Performing ES before biliary drainage does not affect the PEP rate but is associated with an increased postprocedural bleeding rate.

Biliary drainage in malignant biliary obstruction: an umbrella review of randomized controlled trials

Background

There are still many controversies about biliary drainage in MBO, and we aimed to summarize and evaluate the evidence associated with biliary drainage.

Methods

We conducted an umbrella review of SRoMAs based on RCTs. Through July 28, 2022, Embase, PubMed, WOS, and Cochrane Database were searched. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and appraised the methodological quality of the included studies. GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of the evidence.

Results

36 SRoMAs were identified. After excluding 24 overlapping studies, 12 SRoMAs, including 76 RCTs, and 124 clinical outcomes for biliary drainage in MBO were included. Of the 124 pieces of evidence evaluated, 13 were rated "High" quality, 38 were rated "Moderate", and the rest were rated "Low" or "Very low". For patients with MBO, 125I seeds+stent can reduce the risk of stent occlusion, RFA+stent can improve the prognosis; compared with PC, SEMS can increase the risk of tumor ingrowth and reduce the occurrence of sludge formation, and the incidence of tumor ingrowth in C-SEMS/PC-SEMS was significantly lower than that in U-SEMS. There was no difference in the success rate of drainage between EUS-BD and ERCP-BD, but the use of EUS-BD can reduce the incidence of stent dysfunction. For patients with obstructive jaundice, PBD does not affect postoperative mortality compared to direct surgery. The use of MS in patients with periampullary cancer during PBD can reduce the risk of re-intervention and stent occlusion compared to PC. In addition, we included four RCTs that showed that when performing EUS-BD on MBO, hepaticogastrostomy has higher technical success rates than choledochoduodenostomy. Patients who received Bilateral-ENBD had a lower additional drainage rate than those who received Unilateral-ENBD.

Conclusions

Our study summarizes a large amount of evidence related to biliary drainage, which helps to reduce the uncertainty in the selection of biliary drainage strategies for MBO patients under different circumstances.

A Risk Prediction Model for Post-endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis After Stent Insertion for Malignant Biliary Obstruction: Development and Validation

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatitis is the most common complication of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). There are currently no prediction models, particularly for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) after biliary stent placement due to malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). To that end, we aim to develop and validate a predictive model for PEP.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent ERCP for biliary stent placement due to MBO at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2021. The eligible patients were randomly allocated to the development and validation cohorts. A prediction model was built using the development cohort, and the model's effect was validated using a validation cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 1524 patients were enrolled, including 1016 in the development cohort and 508 in the validation cohort, with an overall PEP rate of 7.1%. The model's predictors included acute pancreatitis history, the absence of pancreatic duct dilation, nonpancreatic cancer, difficult cannulation, and pancreatic injection. The area under the curve (AUC) in the development cohort was 0.810, and the incidence of PEP in the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups was 1.53%, 9.12%, and 36.36%, respectively. Meanwhile, the AUC of the validation cohort was 0.781, and the incidence of PEP in the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups was 4.17%, 8.75%, and 41.67%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was the first to build and validate a risk prediction model, especially for PEP after biliary stent placement due to MBO. Moreover, this model might assist clinicians in identifying high-risk patients and help implement preventive measures in a more timely manner.

Does endoscopic sphincterotomy contribute to the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis after endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction? A multicenter prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on the necessity of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) after endoscopic stenting in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. We investigated the incidence of PEP after endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction with or without ES in a multicenter prospective cohort study.

METHODS

We enrolled 807 patients who underwent endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction with a native papilla at 36 hospitals between April 2017 and March 2018. The incidence of PEP in patients with or without ES was compared for subgroups based on stent type, placement method, and patient background. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the incidence of PEP in all stenting patients.

RESULTS

Plastic and metal stents (MS) were inserted in 598 and 209 patients, respectively. The incidence of PEP in patients with or without ES was 7.9% and 7.4%, respectively among all stenting patients. The incidences of PEP with or without ES in plastic stent insertion patients, patients with MS insertion, stent insertions across the papilla, stent insertions across the papilla in patients without main pancreatic duct obstruction, and fully covered MS insertions across the papilla were compared. There was no overall significant difference in the incidence of PEP between those with or without ES. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for the incidence of PEP in all stenting patients revealed obstruction of the main pancreatic duct at the pancreatic head and epinephrine spraying on the papilla were significant factors; there was no significant difference in the incidence of PEP between patients with or without ES.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic sphincterotomy may not contribute to the prevention of PEP after endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction, even in cases of insertion with a fully covered MS across the papilla.

Endoscopic management of benign and malignant hilar stricture

Management of hilar strictures pose a significant challenge for endoscopists. Several strategies have been demonstrated in the last decade beyond decompression, however, there remains controversy and minimal consensus in the literature. This review seeks to summarize the current literature and discuss emerging therapies, such as photodynamic therapy and radiofrequency ablation.

Risk of Pancreatitis Following Biliary Stenting With/Without Endoscopic Sphincterotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) before endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage in preventing post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of performing ES before biliary stent/tube placement on the occurrence of PEP.

METHODS

Three hundred seventy patients with biliary stricture requiring endoscopic biliary stenting were enrolled and randomly allocated to the ES group (n = 185) or non-ES group (n = 185). All participants were followed up for 30 days after the procedure. The data and occurrence of adverse events were prospectively collected. The primary outcome measure of this study was the incidence of PEP within 2 days of initial transpapillary biliary drainage. Secondary outcome measures were the incidence of other adverse events related to biliary stent/tube placement.

RESULTS

PEP occurred in 36 patients (20.6%) in the non-ES group and in 7 patients (3.9%) in the ES group (P < .001). The difference in the incidence of PEP between the 2 groups in the per-protocol population was 16.7% (95% confidence interval, 10.1%-23.3%), which was not within the noninferiority margin of 6%. Except for bleeding, the incidences of other adverse events were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSION

ES before endoscopic biliary stenting could have the preventive effect on the occurrence of PEP in patients with biliary stricture. University Hospital Medical Information Network Number, UMIN000025727.University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm.

Prevention of pancreatitis after stent implantation for distal malignant biliary strictures: systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Biliary stent placement remains a palliative treatment for patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary strictures (DMBS). The incidence of post-ERCP-pancreatitis (PEP) significantly increases in patients receiving fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) who undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an overview of prevention of PEP after stent implantation for DMBSs. The following operational variables were evaluated: (1) stent type (plastic or metal stent); (2) stent location (above or across the sphincter of Oddi); (3) prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement; (4) endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database were searched to identify eligible studies up to October 2021. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using fixed- or random- effects models.

EXPERT OPINION

1. PEP occurs more frequently in DMBS patients with self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) compared to that plastic stent (PS). 2. The PEP incidence is higher in covered stents than that in uncovered self-expandable metal stents (USEMS), but not significantly. 3. PEP incidence increases in patients receiving transpapillary FCSEMS placement, particularly when there is an absence of pancreatic duct dilation, and prophylactic pancreatic stenting is recommended for these patients. 4. Limited studies with small sample indicate that there is no significant difference in PEP incidence between transpapillary and suprapapillary stents placement for DMBS. 5. Limited studies indicate that EST does not significantly affect the incidence of pancreatitis in DMBS patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Early Endoscopic Transpapillary Biliary Drainage for Acute Cholangitis Associated with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Acute cholangitis (AC) is often associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage (EBD) under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a treatment of choice. However, no evidence exists on the outcomes of EBD for AC associated with DIC. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the treatment outcomes of early EBD and compared endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS) and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD). We included 62 patients who received early EBD (EBS: 30, ENBD: 32) for AC, associated with DIC. The rates of clinical success for AC and DIC resolution at 7 days after EBD were 90.3% and 88.7%, respectively. Mean hospitalization period was 31.7 days, and in-hospital mortality rate was 4.8%. ERCP-related adverse events developed in 3.2% of patients (bleeding in two patients). Comparison between EBS and ENBD groups showed that the ENBD group included patients with more severe cholangitis, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score, systemic inflammatory response syndrome score, and serum bilirubin level were significantly higher in this group. However, no significant difference was observed in clinical outcomes between the two groups; both EBS and ENBD were effective. In conclusion, early EBD is effective and safe for patients with AC associated with DIC.

Endoscopic drainage in patients with malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction: when and how

The question of when and how to drain a malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), both intrinsic or extrinsic, remains a controversial point among endoscopists. An important factor that influences the decision to drain an MBO or not is if the patient is a surgical candidate or not and, in the former case, if the patients must undergo neoadiuvant chemotherapy or not. Other questions arising during biliary drainage in MBO patients is which type of stent should be chosen, plastic or metal, and if endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy must be performed or not when a stent is placed. The present review attempts to answer these questions and summarizes the optimal approach toward patients with MBO based on the available evidence.

Management of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy in endoscopy: A review of literature

Endoscopic procedures hold a basal risk of bleeding that depends on the type of procedure and patients' comorbidities. Moreover, they are often performed in patients taking antiplatelet and anticoagulants agents, increasing the potential risk of intraprocedural and delayed bleeding. Even if the interruption of antithrombotic therapies is undoubtful effective in reducing the risk of bleeding, the thromboembolic risk that follows their suspension should not be underestimated. Therefore, it is fundamental for each endoscopist to be aware of the bleeding risk for every procedure, in order to measure the risk-benefit ratio for each patient. Moreover, knowledge of the proper management of antithrombotic agents before endoscopy, as well as the adequate timing for their resumption is essential. This review aims to analyze current evidence from literature assessing, for each procedure, the basal risk of bleeding and the risk of bleeding in patients taking antithrombotic therapy, as well as to review the recommendation of American society for gastrointestinal endoscopy, European society of gastrointestinal endoscopy, British society of gastroenterology, Asian pacific association of gastroenterology and Asian pacific society for digestive endoscopy guidelines for the management of antithrombotic agents in urgent and elective endoscopic procedures.

Management of Post-Transplant Anastomotic Stricture Using Self-Expandable Metal Stent

Anastomotic stricture (AS) is one of the complications of liver transplantation (LT) and can occur in up to 40% of living-donor LTs. Endoscopic management has become the first-line treatment of AS, and multiple plastic stents insertion has been mainly used in the past. Recently, many treatments utilizing fully covered self-expandable metal stents (cSEMSs) have been attempted, and results showing adequate treatment outcome have been reported. In this review, we look into the treatment performance and cautionary steps needed when using cSEMS as a treatment for AS.

Inutility of endoscopic sphincterotomy to prevent pancreatitis after biliary metal stent placement in the patients without pancreatic duct obstruction

Background: The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) has been reported to be significantly higher in patients without main pancreatic duct (MPD) obstruction who undergo transpapillary biliary metal stent (MS) placement than in those with ordinary ERCP setting.Objective: To evaluate the benefit of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) prior to MS placement in preventing PEP in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) without MPD obstruction.Materials and methods: In total, 160 patients who underwent initial MS placement for MBO were enrolled. Eighty-two patients underwent ES immediately prior to MS placement, whereas 78 underwent MS placement without ES. An inverse probability of treatment weighting method was adopted to adjust the differences of the patients' characteristics. The primary outcome was the incidence of PEP. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of other adverse events (bleeding, cholangitis, perforation and stent dislocation) and time to recurrent biliary obstruction.Results: The incidence of PEP was 26.8% in the ES and 23.1% in the non-ES (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] [95%CI]: 1.22, [0.60-2.51], adjusted OR [95%CI]: 1.23, [0.53-2.81], p = .63). Logistic-regression analysis revealed no factors that could be attributed to the occurrence of PEP. The incidence of other adverse events was not different between the groups. The median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was 131 (2-465) days and 200 (4-864) days in the ES and non-ES, respectively (p = .215).Conclusions: ES prior to MS placement for patients with distal MBO without MPD obstruction does not reduce the incidence of PEP.

Early Diagnosis And Management Of Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction: A Review On Current Recommendations And Guidelines

Malignant biliary obstruction is a challenging condition, requiring a multimodal approach for both diagnosis and treatment. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are the leading causes of malignant distal biliary obstruction. Early diagnosis is difficult to establish as biliary obstruction can be the first presentation of the underlying disease, which can already be at an advanced stage. Consequently, the majority of patients (70%) with malignant distal biliary obstruction are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. The association of clinical findings, laboratory tests, imaging, and endoscopic modalities may help in identifying the underlying cause. Novel endoscopic techniques such as cholangioscopy, intraductal ultrasonography, or confocal laser endomicroscopy have been developed with promising results, but are not used in routine clinical practice. As the number of patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction who will undergo curative surgery is limited, endoscopy has a crucial role in palliation, to relieve biliary obstruction. According to the last European guidelines published in the management of biliary obstruction, self-expandable metal stents have a central place in biliary drainage compared to plastic stents. Endoscopic ultrasound has evolved impressively in the last decades. When standard techniques of biliary cannulation by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography fail, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is a good option compared to percutaneous drainage.

Endoscopic Sphincterotomy before Fully Covered Metal Stent Placement Is Not Required for Distal Malignant Biliary Stricture due to a Pancreatic Head Tumor

Background/Aims

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is often performed before fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) placement in order to prevent pancreatitis. However, it is not clear whether EST prevents pancreatitis or affects other adverse events (AEs). This study is conducted to evaluate the necessity of EST before FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary strictures due to a pancreatic head tumor.

Methods

This study included 68 patients who underwent FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary stricture due to a pancreatic head tumor. Treatment outcomes and AEs were retrospectively compared between 32 patients with EST before FCSEMS placement (EST group) and 36 patients without EST (non-EST group).

Results

The success rates of drainage for the EST and non-EST groups were 100% and 97.2%, respectively (P = 0.95). The incidence of pancreatitis in the EST and non-EST groups was 3.1% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.95). The incidence of hyperamylasemia in the EST and non-EST groups was 12.5% and 13.9%, respectively (P = 0.85). The incidence of all AEs in the EST and non-EST groups was 15.6% (pancreatitis: 1, cholecystitis: 2, and stent migration: 2) and 13.9% (cholecystitis: 3, stent migration: 2), respectively (P = 0.89).

Conclusions

EST before FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary stricture due to a pancreatic head tumor does not affect the successful drainage and incidence of adverse events. The necessity of EST to prevent pancreatitis before FCSEMS placement was deemed low.

Endoscopic biliary self-expandable metallic stent in malignant biliary obstruction with or without sphincterotomy: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aim  To assess the rate of adverse events and the technical success rate of biliary stenting with or without EBS.  Methods  A literature search up to February 2017 was performed. Studies assessing adverse events (AEs) and technical success rates of stenting with or without EBS were considered. Results  Seven studies (870 patients; 12 treatment arms) were included. Early AEs, i. e. those occurring within 30 days, were significantly lower in no-EBS vs. EBS-group (11 % vs . 20.1 %; OR: 0.36, 95 %CI: 0.13 - 1.00). Rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis were not significantly different in the two groups (no-EBS vs . EBS: 6.1 % vs 5 %; OR: 1.33, 95 %CI: 0.68 - 2.59). The rate of bleeding was significantly lower in patients without EBS (no-EBS vs EBS: 0 % vs 5 %; OR: 0.12, 95 % CI: 0.03 - 0.45). Rates of cholangitis were significantly lower in patients without EBS (no-EBS vs . EBS: 3.3 % vs. 7.4 %; OR: 0.38, 95 %CI: 0.17 - 0.83). Both late AEs and mortality rates did not significantly differ between no-EBS and EBS patients (19.9 % vs. 18.9 %; OR: 0.93, 95 %CI: 0.56 - 1.53, and 2.5 % vs. 2.9 %; OR: 1.18, 95 %CI: 0.22 - 6.29, respectively). The technical success rate for stent insertion also did not differ (98 % vs. 97.6 %; OR: 1.05, 95 %CI: 0.42 - 2.63). Conclusion  EBS seems to be associated, in the first 30 days after the procedure, with an increased risk of cholangitis and bleeding. No difference was observed in the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Bleeding risk in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Impact of the use of antithrombotic drugs

AIMS

To analyze the risk factors for hemorrhage during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and the impact of antithrombotic drugs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data sources: papers indexed in PubMed have been reviewed, as well as those found during the analysis of the bibliography of meta-analysis and reviews.

SELECTION CRITERIA

the references have been firstly evaluated by review of the abstract. After selecting the most significant articles (mainly randomized trials and well-designed case series) these have been deeply analyzed. Evaluation of the studies and synthesis: criteria by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine have been used for the analysis of the references and elaboration of evidence levels.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and sixty-five references were found, 753 in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Twelve studies were selected during the analysis of other published articles (systematic reviews, meta-analysis and clinical practice guidelines). After analyzing the title or the abstract, 655 studies were excluded. Finally, 83 high quality trials or descriptive studies have been included in the analysis.

CONCLUSION

Seven conclusions regarding the risk factors for bleeding and the impact of antithrombotic drugs have been defined.

The Wire-Grasping Method as a New Technique for Forceps Biopsy of Biliary Strictures: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study of Effectiveness

Background/Aims

Transpapillary forceps biopsy is an effective diagnostic technique in patients with biliary stricture. This prospective study aimed to determine the usefulness of the wire-grasping method as a new technique for forceps biopsy.

Methods

Consecutive patients with biliary stricture or irregularities of the bile duct wall were randomly allocated to either the direct or wire-grasping method group. In the wire-grasping method, forceps in the duodenum grasps a guide-wire placed into the bile duct beforehand, and then, the forceps are pushed through the papilla without endoscopic sphincterotomy. In the direct method, forceps are directly pushed into the bile duct alongside a guide-wire. The primary endpoint was the success rate of obtaining specimens suitable for adequate pathological examination.

Results

In total, 32 patients were enrolled, and 28 (14 in each group) were eligible for analysis. The success rate was significantly higher using the wire-grasping method than the direct method (100% vs 50%, p=0.016). Sensitivity and accuracy for the diagnosis of cancer were comparable in patients with the successful procurement of biopsy specimens between the two methods (91% vs 83% and 93% vs 86%, respectively).

Conclusions

The wire-grasping method is useful for diagnosing patients with biliary stricture or irregularities of the bile duct wall.

Revision of biliary sphincterotomy by re-cut, balloon dilation or temporary stenting: comparison of clinical outcome and complication rate (with video)

Background and study aims Revision of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be necessary following previous biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy for recurrent biliary symptoms related to biliary stone recurrence, cholangitis or post-biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy (bEST) papillary stenosis and cholestasis. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and complication rate associated with re-cut, balloon dilation and biliary metal stenting in revision ERCP. Patients and methods From January 2010 to January 2015, 139 subjects with stigma of a previous sphincterotomy required a revision ERCP (64 Men/75 Women; mean age 71 years; range 32 - 101 years). The most appropriate technique (re-cut, balloon dilation or fully covered self-expandable metal stent [FCSEMS] placement) was tailored according to underlying pathologies and anatomical features. Results Technical success was achieved in all cases (100 %). Clinical success (definitive clearance of common bile duct stones and liver test normalization) was achieved in 127 out of 139 patients (91.4 %) with a mean follow up of 12 months. 12 clinical failures occurred: 11 patients required a new ERCP after an average of 9 months meanwhile 1 patient required surgery for definite treatment. The overall complication rate was 9 % (13 /139) with 5 acute complications (intra-procedural) and 8 short-term complications (before 1 month). Group specific overall complication rates were as follow: re-cut 11.5 % (8 bleeds and 3 perforations), balloon dilation 25 % (4 mild PEP [post-ERCP pancreatitis]), FCSEMS 14.3 % (1 moderate PEP), re-cut + balloon dilation and re-cut + FCSEMS 0 %. A statistically significant higher risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis was highlighted in the balloon dilation group meanwhile re-cut was burdened by a higher risk of bleeding and perforation. Conclusions Revision ERCP following previous bEST is a feasible procedure enabling clinical success in most cases. Different approaches are available and must be considered according to underlying pathologies. Re-cut is burdened by a higher risk of perforation and bleeding compared to balloon dilation and SEMS meanwhile balloon dilation is associated to increased risk of PEP.

Percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency ablation for treatment of biliary stent occlusion: A preliminary result

AIM

To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel application of percutaneous intraductal radiofrequency (RF) for the treatment of biliary stent obstruction.

METHODS

We specifically report a retrospective study presenting the results of percutaneous intraductal RF in patients with biliary stent occlusion. A total of 43 cases involving biliary stent obstruction were treated by placing an EndoHPB catheter and percutaneous intraductal RF was performed to clean stents. The stent patency was evaluated by cholangiography and follow-up by contrast enhanced computed tomography or ultrasound after the removal of the drainage catheter.

RESULTS

Following the procedures, of the 43 patients, 40 survived and 3 died with a median survival of 80.5 (range: 30-243) d. One patient was lost to follow-up. One patient had the stent patent at the time of last follow-up. Two patients with stent blockage at 35 d and 44 d after procedure underwent percutaneous transhepatic drain insertion only. The levels of bilirubin before and after the procedure were 128 ± 65 μmol/L and 63 ± 29 μmol/L, respectively. There were no related complications (haemorrhage, bile duct perforation, bile leak or pancreatitis) and all patients’ stent patency was confirmed by cholangiography after the procedure, with a median patency time of 107 (range: 12-180) d.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary clinical study demonstrated that percutaneous intraductal RF is safe and effective for the treatment of biliary stent obstruction, increasing the duration of stent patency, although randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this approach.

Efficacy and safety of limited endoscopic sphincterotomy before self-expandable metal stent insertion for malignant biliary obstruction

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of limited endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) before placement of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS).

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of 244 consecutive patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction, who underwent placement of SEMSs following limited ES from December 2008 to February 2015. The diagnosis of malignant biliary obstruction and assessment of patient eligibility for the study was established by a combination of clinical findings, laboratory investigations, imaging and pathological results. All patients were monitored in the hospital for at least 24 h following endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). The incidence of immediate or early post-ERCP complications such as post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and bleeding related to limited ES were considered as primary outcomes. Also, characteristics and complications according to the cancer type were classified.

RESULTS

Among the 244 patients included, the underlying diagnosis was cholangiocarcinoma in 118 patients, pancreatic cancer in 79, and non-pancreatic or non-biliary malignancies in the remaining 47 patients. Early post-ERCP complications occurred in 9 patients (3.7%), with PEP in 7 patients (2.9%; mild, 6; moderate, 1) and mild bleeding in 2 patients (0.8%). There was no significant association between the incidence of post-ERCP complications and the type of malignancy (cholangiocarcinoma vs pancreatic cancer vs others, P = 0.696) or the type of SEMS used (uncovered vs covered, P = 1.000). Patients who had more than one SEMS placed at the first instance were at a significantly higher risk of post-ERCP complications (one SEMS vs two SEMS, P = 0.031). No other factors were predictive of post-ERCP complications.

CONCLUSION

Limited ES is feasible and safe, and effectively facilitates the placement of SEMS, without any significant risk of PEP or severe bleeding.

Sphincterotomy with endoscopic biliary drainage for severe acute cholangitis: a meta-analysis

Aims To investigate the role of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) in acute severe obstructive cholangitis management by performing a meta-analysis of controlled trials. Method We searched PubMed and Embase for controlled studies that compared endoscopic drainage with ES versus Non-ES in acute obstructive cholangitis. Two reviewers selected the studies and extracted the data. Disagreement was addressed by a third reviewer. Heterogeneity of the studies was analyzed by Cochran's Q statistics. A Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio was calculated utilizing a random effects model. Results Four controlled studies met our inclusion criteria with 392 participants (201 ES, 191 Non-ES). The outcomes were drainage insertion success rate, drainage effectiveness, post drainage pancreatitis, bleeding, procedure duration, perforation, cholecystitis, and 30-day mortality. Drainage insertion success rate was identical in both groups (RR: 1.00, 95 %CI% 0.96 - 1.04). Effective drainage was not significantly different (RR: 1.11, 95 %CI 0.73 - 1.7). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pancreatitis post EBD between the ES and Non-ES groups at 3 % and 4 %, respectively (RR: 0.73, 95 %CI 0.24 - 2.27). However, there was a significant increase in post EBD bleeding with ES compared to Non-ES (RR: 8.58, 95 %CI 2.03 - 36.34). Thirty-day mortality was similar between ES and Non-ES groups at 0.7 % and 1 %, respectively (RR: 0.5, 95 %CI 0.05 - 5.28). Conclusion Our findings show that EBD without ES is an effective drainage technique and carries less risk for post procedure bleeding. Patients who are critically ill and have coagulopathy should be spared from undergoing ES in the acute phase.

Plastic vs. Self-Expandable Metal Stents for Palliation in Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Series of Meta-Analyses

OBJECTIVES

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are thought to have an advantage over plastic stents in achieving biliary drainage.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CENTRAL, and ISI Web of knowledge databases, from January 1980 to September 2015, for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SEMS vs. plastic stents in the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. Primary outcomes were durations of stent patency, patient survival, and 30-day mortality. Numerous secondary outcomes were assessed, and extensive sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In all, 20 RCTs totaling 1,713 patients yielded a weighted mean difference (WMD) in time to stent patency (4 studies) of 4.45 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31, 8.59; GRADE=moderate) favoring SEMS. There were no differences in overall patient survival (5 studies) WMD=0.67 months (95% CI, -0.66, 1.99; GRADE=moderate), or 30-day mortality (8 studies) odds ratio (OR)=0.80 (95% CI, 0.52, 1.24; GRADE=moderate) but there was a higher symptom-free survival at 6 months (4 studies) OR=5.96 (95% CI, 1.71, 20.81; GRADE=moderate). SEMS use resulted in lower rates of late complications (11 studies) OR=0.43 (95% CI, 0.26, 0.71; GRADE=moderate), sepsis or cholangitis (14 studies) OR=0.53 (95% CI, 0.37, 0.77; GRADE=high), blocking from sludge (8 studies) OR=0.11(95% CI, 0.07, 0.17; GRADE=moderate), and mean number of re-interventions (8 studies) WMD=-0.83 interventions (95% CI, -1.64, -0.02; GRADE=moderate). There was a longer patency of SEMS for those without a prior drainage attempt (2 studies) WMD 7.70 months (95% CI, 7.14, 8.25; GRADE=high). Although a survival advantage was found when an uncovered SEMS was used (3 studies) WMD 1.31 months (95% CI, 0.30, 2.32; GRADE=high), but not partially or fully covered SEMS (2 studies) WMD -0.66 months (95% CI, -1.02, -0.30; GRADE=high) vs. plastic stents, and for SEMS in the setting of pre- or post-procedural antibiotic administration (2 studies) WMD 1.49 months (95% CI, 0.27, 2.70; GRADE=high), and performance of a sphincterotomy (2 studies) WMD 1.63 months (95% CI, 0.42, 2.84; GRADE=high).

CONCLUSIONS

Keeping in mind the noted risk of bias in source data, the use of SEMS compared with plastic stents, in the palliation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction results in longer stent patency, lower complications rates, and fewer re-interventions, whereas exhibiting survival benefits in selected subgroups of patients.

Current Practices in the Management of Antithrombotic Therapy During the Periendoscopic Period for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

The management of antithrombotics during the periendoscopic period is traditionally represented as a doubleedged sword for cardiologists and endoscopists. Appropriate administration prevents thromboembolic events, whereas excessive administration provokes bleeding events. Therefore, cardiologists and endoscopists must consider the risks of bleeding and thromboembolism in individual cases, before deciding whether to continue antithrombotic use. Several guidelines exist concerning antithrombotic management in Asian and Western countries. These guidelines generally classify procedural bleeding risk and thromboembolic risk into high risk and low risk groups and recommend that the two risks be weighed when managing a given patient. Moreover, they generally do not recommend interrupting antithrombotics during the periendoscopic period unless absolutely necessary; however, the details surrounding this point differ among the guidelines after several revisions. In this review, we describe the present state, problems, and future perspectives concerning the management of antithrombotics in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Post-biliary sphincterotomy bleeding despite covered metallic stent deployment

Objectives:

Several endoscopic techniques have been proposed for the management of post-sphincterotomy bleeding. Lately, self-expandable metal stents deployment has gained popularity especially as a rescue therapy when other endoscopic techniques fail.

Methods-results:

We report the case report of a massive post-sphincterotomy bleeding in a patient with a self-expandable metal stent in the biliary tree. Despite the presence of a correctly positioned self-expandable metal stent, a new endoscopic session was required to control the bleeding.

Conclusions:

Self-expandable metal stent may be useful to manage post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding. However, up to now there is no specifically designed self-expandable metal stent for such complication. Large new designed self-expandable metal stent may be a useful tool for biliary endoscopist.

Endoscopy in patients on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, including direct oral anticoagulants: British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines

The risk of endoscopy in patients on antithrombotics depends on the risks of procedural haemorrhage versus thrombosis due to discontinuation of therapy. P2Y12 RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS CLOPIDOGREL, PRASUGREL, TICAGRELOR: For low-risk endoscopic procedures we recommend continuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists as single or dual antiplatelet therapy (low quality evidence, strong recommendation); For high-risk endoscopic procedures in patients at low thrombotic risk, we recommend discontinuing P2Y12 receptor antagonists five days before the procedure (moderate quality evidence, strong recommendation). In patients on dual antiplatelet therapy, we suggest continuing aspirin (low quality evidence, weak recommendation). For high-risk endoscopic procedures in patients at high thrombotic risk, we recommend continuing aspirin and liaising with a cardiologist about the risk/benefit of discontinuation of P2Y12 receptor antagonists (high quality evidence, strong recommendation).

WARFARIN

The advice for warfarin is fundamentally unchanged from British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) 2008 guidance.

DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS DOAC

For low-risk endoscopic procedures we suggest omitting the morning dose of DOAC on the day of the procedure (very low quality evidence, weak recommendation); For high-risk endoscopic procedures, we recommend that the last dose of DOAC be taken ≥48 h before the procedure (very low quality evidence, strong recommendation). For patients on dabigatran with CrCl (or estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) of 30-50 mL/min we recommend that the last dose of DOAC be taken 72 h before the procedure (very low quality evidence, strong recommendation). In any patient with rapidly deteriorating renal function a haematologist should be consulted (low quality evidence, strong recommendation).

Malignant Biliary Obstruction: Evidence for Best Practice

What should be done next? Is the stricture benign? Is it resectable? Should I place a stent? Which one? These are some of the questions one ponders when dealing with biliary strictures. In resectable cases, ongoing questions remain as to whether the biliary tree should be drained prior to surgery. In palliative cases, the relief of obstruction remains the main goal. Options for palliative therapy include surgical bypass, percutaneous drainage, and stenting or endoscopic stenting (transpapillary or via an endoscopic ultrasound approach). This review gathers scientific foundations behind these interventions. For operable cases, preoperative biliary drainage should not be performed unless there is evidence of cholangitis, there is delay in surgical intervention, or intense jaundice is present. For inoperable cases, transpapillary stenting after sphincterotomy is preferable over percutaneous drainage. The use of plastic stents (PS) has no benefit over Self-Expandable Metallic Stents (SEMS). In case transpapillary drainage is not possible, Endoscopic Ultrasonography- (EUS-) guided drainage is still an option over percutaneous means. There is no significant difference between the types of SEMS and its indication should be individualized.

Stenting in Malignant Biliary Obstruction

Decompression of the biliary system in patients with malignant biliary obstruction has been widely accepted and implemented as part of the care. Despite a wealth of literature, there remains a significant amount of uncertainty as to which approach would be most appropriate in different clinical settings. This review covers stenting of the biliary system in cases of resectable or palliative malignant biliary obstruction, potential candidates for biliary drainage, technical aspects of the procedure, as well as management of biliary stent dysfunction. Furthermore, periprocedural considerations including proper mapping of the location of obstruction and the use of antibiotics are addressed.

Outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases: A comprehensive review

Endoscopic stenting has become a widely method for the management of various malignant and benign pancreatico-biliary disorders. Biliary and pancreatic stents are devices made of plastic or metal used primarily to establish patency of an obstructed bile or pancreatic duct and may also be used to treat biliary or pancreatic leaks, pancreatic fluid collections and to prevent post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis. In this review, relevant literature search and expert opinions have been used to evaluate the outcome of stenting in biliary and pancreatic benign and malignant diseases.

What is the current role of endoscopy in primary sclerosing cholangitis?

Endoscopy has important roles in the management of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), ranging from narrowing down the differential diagnoses, screening for complications, determining prognosis and therapy. While the need for a diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be obviated by a positive magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), a negative MRCP does not exclude PSC and may therefore necessitate an ERCP, which is traditionally regarded as the gold standard. In this editorial we have not covered the endoscopic management of inflammatory bowel disease in the context of PSC nor of endoscopic surveillance and treatment of portal hypertension complicating PSC.