Case of single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted lithotripsy using a holmium:YAG laser for an impacted stone in the jejunum

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Effect of Abdominal Compression on Total Single-Balloon Enteroscopy Rate: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether abdominal compression significantly increased the total enteroscopy rate in single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE).

METHODS

Consecutive patients who underwent SBE at 2 hospitals were prospectively included between June 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. They were randomly divided into an abdominal compression group and a non-abdominal compression group with use of sealed envelopes generated by a computer. Total enteroscopy rates were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The study included 200 patients. The total enteroscopy rates were 73% and 16% in the abdominal compression and non-abdominal compression groups, respectively (relative risk, 13.55; 95% CI, 6.79 to 27.00; P<.001). The total enteroscopy rate was higher in the 70 patients who were identified to have undergone no previous abdominal surgery or small intestinal stenosis than in the 32 patients who had undergone such procedures in the abdominal compression group (84% vs 47%; relative risk, 6.08; 95% CI, 2.36 to 15.67; P<.001). Relevant positive findings were not significantly different between the groups (58% vs 45%; P=.07). Binary logistic regression analysis found abdominal compression to be associated with a better total enteroscopy rate (odds ratio, 16.68; 95% CI, 7.92 to 35.15; P<.001), and the presence of previous abdominal surgery or small intestinal stenosis was associated with difficulty in completing the total enteroscopy procedure (odds ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.58; P<.01).

CONCLUSION

Abdominal compression significantly increased the total enteroscopy rate in SBE. Complete total enteroscopy may be challenging in patients with a history of abdominal surgery or small intestinal stenosis.

Technical performance and diagnostic yield of motorised spiral enteroscopy compared with single-balloon enteroscopy in suspected Crohn's disease: a randomised controlled, open-label study (the MOTOR-CD trial)

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have shown that motorised spiral enteroscopy (MSE) enables deeper and total small bowel evaluation compared with single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) in suspected Crohn's disease (CD) when analysed per procedure. However, no randomised controlled study has compared bidirectional MSE with bidirectional SBE in suspected CD.

DESIGN

Patients with suspected CD requiring small bowel enteroscopy were randomly assigned to either SBE or MSE between May 2022 and September 2022 in a high volume tertiary centre. Bidirectional enteroscopy was done if intended lesion could not be reached on unidirectional study. Comparison was made with regard to technical success (ability to reach lesion), diagnostic yield, depth of maximal insertion (DMI), procedure time and total enteroscopy rates. Depth:time ratio was calculated to avoid confounding for the location of lesion.

RESULTS

Among 125 suspected patients with CD (28% female, 18-65 years, median 41 years), 62 and 63 underwent MSE and SBE, respectively. The overall technical success (98.4 %: MSE, 90.5 %: SBE; p=0.11), diagnostic yield (95.2%: MSE; 87.3%: SBE, p=0.2) and procedure time were not significantly different. However, MSE appeared to have higher technical success (96.8% vs 80.7%, p=0.08) in deeper small bowel (distal jejunum/proximal ileum) with higher DMI, higher depth:time ratio and total enteroscopy rates when attempted (77.8% vs 11.1%, p=0.0007). Both the modalities were safe although minor adverse events were more common with MSE.

CONCLUSION

MSE and SBE have comparable technical success and diagnostic yield for small bowel evaluation in suspected CD. MSE scores over SBE with regard to deeper small bowel evaluation with complete small bowel coverage and higher depth of insertion in a shorter time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05363930.

Can endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-related procedures for resolving acute cholangitis be effectively and safely performed in patients with surgically altered anatomy? Comparison study to evaluate the timing of short-type single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

OBJECTIVES

Balloon enteroscopy (BE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related procedures to resolve acute cholangitis (AC) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) are limited. There is a lack of evidence on whether the timing of BE-assisted ERCP affects clinical outcomes in patients with AC. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of short-type single-balloon enteroscopy (short SBE)-assisted ERCP in patients with SAA and AC.

METHODS

Patients with AC who underwent short SBE-assisted ERCP procedures between September 2011 and April 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The outcomes of procedures undergone at ≤24 h and >24 h were compared. The primary outcome was the length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS

Overall, 56 patients underwent procedures at ≤24 h, and 58 patients at >24 h. The procedural success and adverse event rates of short SBE-assisted ERCP were 87.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 80.3-93.1%) and 4.4% (95% CI 1.4-9.9%), respectively. Patients with severe (Grade III) AC and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were more in early (at ≤24 h) ERCP groups. LOS and median time from ERCP procedures to discharge were shorter in the early group. Procedural success and adverse event rates between both groups had no significant differences. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that ERCP performed at ≤24 h was associated with shorter LOS, while severe cholangitis and malignant biliary obstruction were associated with longer LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

Short SBE-assisted ERCP is effective and safe in patients with SAA and AC. Early procedures seemed to attribute early improvement of general condition, thus shortening the LOS.

Efficacy and Safety of Small Bowel Submucosal Tumors Treated by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection or Endoscopic Full-thickness Resection During Single-balloon Enteroscopy: Prospective Data From a Single-center Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is a safe and effective modality for the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of small bowel disorders. However, the efficacy and safety of treating small bowel submucosal tumors (SMTs) with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) during SBE have not been determined. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the therapeutic yield of SBE in patients with SMTs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients with SMTs were enrolled in this study. Regarding the sex distribution, there were 12 men (57.1%) and 9 women (42.9%). Regarding the age distribution, 42.9% of the patients were 60 years old or older and 57.1% of the patients were under 60 years old. The preoperative characteristics of SMTs were summarized and analyzed, the complete resection incidence of SMTs was determined, and the incidence of postoperative complications was collected. ESD-related and EFTR-related complications and the duration of follow-up after leaving hospital were also summarized and analyzed. The efficacy and safety of SMTs treated by ESD or EFTR during SBE were calculated as percentages.

RESULTS

Among the 21 patients, 10 (47.6%) underwent EFTR and 11 (52.4%) underwent ESD. The mean diameter of SMTs was 113.50 mm (range: 80 to 160 mm). Anterograde and retrograde SBE were conducted in 11 and 10 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up time was 49.3 days (range: 6.0 to 129 d). The complete resection rate of SMTs was 100%. The complete suture rate of SMTs wound was 100%. The SMTs pathology of all patients showed that the margin-negative (R0) resection was 100%. The incidence of physical discomfort complications (ie, infection/fever, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension) of ESD and EFTR was 5 (23.8%) on day 1, 1 (4.8%) on day 2, and 1 (4.8%) on day 3 after operation. Only 1 (4.8%) patient with EFTR had abdominal pain on the sixth day after leaving hospital, and the visual analog scale/score was 1 point, meaning the pain was easily tolerated by the patient. Twenty (95.2%) patients had no abdominal discomfort after leaving hospital. No patients needed additional surgery because of complications after ESD or EFTR during SBE.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study showed that SMTs can be safely and effectively treated by ESD or EFTR during SBE, particularly SMTs <160 mm in diameter.

Single balloon enteroscopy-guided endoscopic retrograde pancreatography for the treatment of a symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst complicated by pancreaticojejunostomy stricture: A case report

RATIONALE

Endoscopic treatment of a pancreatic pseudocyst complicated by pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) stricture is challenging.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 76-year-old woman presented with worsening abdominal pain and dyspepsia. She had been receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (capecitabine and cisplatin) for 4 months after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) for the treatment of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

DIAGNOSES

Laboratory findings included elevated serum amylase (145 U/L) and lipase (437 U/L) levels. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a pancreatic pseudocyst of approximately 3 cm in size and pancreatic duct dilatation in the remnant pancreas. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, cholangiocarcinoma is a stable disease.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Endoscopic drainage of the pancreatic pseudocyst was planned. Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE)-guided endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) using a mini probe demonstrated a membranous PJ stricture and a pancreatic pseudocyst. Endoscopic pseudocyst drainage using a 7-Fr plastic stent was successfully performed after needle-knife incision of the PJ stricture. Follow-up abdominal CT after 3 weeks showed complete resolution of the pseudocyst. Chemotherapy was resumed.

LESSONS

SBE-guided ERP with EUS using a mini probe may be an effective and safe treatment in a patient with a pancreatic pseudocyst complicated by membranous PJ stricture after PPPD.

Endoscopic Therapy of Small Bowel Polyps by Single-Balloon Enteroscopy in Patients with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the efficacy and safety of single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of SBE for the treatment of small bowel polyps in patients with PJS.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center observational study, which included all patients diagnosed with PJS who underwent SBE for polypectomy between January 2018 and March 2021. Complete treatment was defined as the absence of polyps ≥10 mm after SBE resection. The clinical records were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

102 patients (including 40 men and 62 women) with a mean age of 28.7 years (range 13-55 y) were enrolled in our study. The intubation depth via the oral approach of patients with a history of laparotomy was significantly shorter than that of the patients without a history of laparotomy ([241.6 ± 64.2] cm vs [280.9 ± 40.2] cm, P=0.008). The maximum size of the resected polyps via anus during the second hospitalization was significantly smaller than that during the first hospitalization ([2.25 ± 1.29] cm vs [4.26 ± 3.51] cm, P=0.032). For patients with total enteroscopy, the complete treatment rate was 98% (49/50). For patients without total enteroscopy, all polyps larger than 10 mm in the examined segment of small bowel were resected successfully. Complications occurred in 10 of 129 hospitalizations (delayed bleeding in 4, perforation in 3, and acute pancreatitis in 3).

CONCLUSIONS

SBE is effective and safe for resection of small bowel polyps in patients with PJS.

Emergent single-balloon enteroscopy for overt bleeding of small intestinal vascular malformation

A 28-year-old man presented with anemia symptoms and intermittent tarry stool passage for three days. No stigmata of hemorrhage were identified using esophagogastroduodenoscopy, ileocolonoscopy, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. He then developed massive tarry stool passage with profound hypovolemic shock and hypoxic respiratory failure. Emergent angiography revealed active bleeder, probably from the jejunal branches of the superior mesenteric artery, but embolization was not performed due to possible subsequent extensive bowel ischemia. His airway was secured via endotracheal intubation with ventilator support, and emergent antegrade single-balloon enteroscopy was performed at 8 h after clinical overt bleeding occurrence; the procedure revealed a 2-cm pulsating subepithelial tumor with a protruding blood plug at the distal jejunum. Laparoscopic segmental resection of the jejunum with end-to-end anastomosis was performed after emergent endoscopic tattooing localization. Pathological examination revealed a vascular malformation in the submucosa with an organizing thrombus. He was uneventfully discharged 5 d later. This case report highlights the benefit of early deep enteroscopy for the treatment of small intestinal bleeding.

Application of novel magnified single balloon enteroscopy for a patient with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

We present a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) in which the entire intestine was observed using a prototype of magnifying single-balloon enteroscope (SIF Y-0007, Olympus). CCS is a rare, non-familial gastrointestinal polyposis with ectodermal abnormalities. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing magnified intestinal lesions of CCS. A 73-year-old female visited our hospital with complaints of diarrhea and dysgeusia. The blood test showed mild anemia and hypoalbuminemia. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy revealed diffuse and reddened sessile to semi-pedunculated polyps, resulting in the diagnosis of CCS. In addition to the findings of conventional balloon-assisted enteroscopy or capsule endoscopy, magnifying observation revealed tiny granular structures, non-uniformity of the villus, irregular caliber of the loop-like capillaries, scattered white spots in the villous tip, and patchy redness of the villus. Histologically, the scattered white spots and patchy redness of the villus reflect lymphangiectasia and bleeding to interstitium, respectively.

Capsule endoscopy and single-balloon enteroscopy in small bowel diseases: Competing or complementary?

AIM

To evaluate diagnostic yields of capsule endoscopy (CE) and/or single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) in patients with suspected small bowel diseases.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 700 patients with suspected small bowel diseases from September 2010 to March 2016. CE, SBE, or SBE with prior CE was performed in 401, 353, and 47 patients, respectively. Data from clinical and endoscopy records were collected for analysis. Indications, procedure times, diagnostic yields, and complications were summarized and evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall diagnostic yield for the CE group was 57.6%. The diagnostic yield of CE in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) was significantly greater than that in patients with no bleeding (70.5% vs 43.8%, P < 0.01). The overall diagnostic yield of SBE was 69.7%. There was no difference in the diagnostic yield of SBE between patients with OGIB and those with no bleeding (72.5% vs 68.9%, P = 0.534). Forty-seven patients underwent CE prior to SBE. Among them, the diagnostic yield of SBE with positive findings on prior CE was 93.3%. In addition, SBE detected two cases with superficial ulcer and erosive lesions in the small bowel, which were missed by CE. However, one case with lymphoma and two with Crohn’s disease were not confirmed by SBE. The rate of capsule retention was 2.0%. There were no significant complications during or after SBE examinations.

CONCLUSION

SBE is a safe and effective technique for diagnosing small bowel diseases. SBE with prior CE seemed to improve the diagnostic yield of small bowel diseases.