Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Research Articles

Prevention of Infectious Complications in Acute Pancreatitis

AIM OF STUDY. The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of treating acute pancreatitis by early enteral nutrition and selective introduction of nutritional mixtures directly into the initial sections of the jejunum, bypassing the duodenum.MATERIAL AND METHODS. A comprehensive treatment method for acute pancreatitis was developed based on the use of a pancreatoduodenal catheter. The method focuses on preventing intestinal failure syndrome by isolating the duodenum and preventing any liquid from entering it while ensuring the selective introduction of glucose-saline solutions and/or enteral nutritional mixtures directly into the initial sections of the jejunum. Several Russian clinics are currently conducting the research approved by local ethics committees. This article presents preliminary results from the data analysis. The study included moderate to severe forms (according to the 2012 Atlanta classification) of acute biliary pancreatitis without indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, as well as alimentary-alcoholic pancreatitis. The first group of patients received standard therapy according to the 2020 clinical guidelines of the Russian Society of Surgeons. The second group received standard therapy combined with the new selective enteral nutrition method. The observation period lasted until the end of the hospital treatment, including five mandatory visits and a final visit to the physician. A follow-up survey was conducted three months or more after discharge to identify delayed episodes of acute pancreatitis complications, focusing on the incidence of infectious complications and surgical interventions.RESULTS. A total of 148 patients were treated. Patients were evenly distributed by etiology, gender, age, and body mass index. The analysis revealed that the number of patients with infectious complications decreased from 19.3% in the comparison group to 6.67% in the study group (p=0.041). The number of patients requiring surgical interventions was 5.0% in the study group compared to 19.3% in the comparison group (p=0.017).CONCLUSIONS. The study demonstrated that the use of the new method in the comprehensive treatment of acute pancreatitis, including early enteral feeding at the onset of the disease, may improve the course of the disease by reducing the incidence of infectious complications and the number of necessary surgical interventions.

Endoscopic or combined management of post-surgical biliary leaks: a two-center recent experience.

Post-surgical biliary leaks (PSBL) are one of the most prevalent and significant adverse events emerging after liver or biliary tract surgeries. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) alone or combined with another approach (Rendez Vous) as treatment of PSBL obtains optimal outcomes due to the possibility of modifying the resistances in the biliary tree. A retrospective double-center study was conducted in two tertiary centers. Consecutive patients who underwent at least one attempt of PSBL correction by ERCP or Rendez Vous procedure between January 2018 and August 2023 were included. The primary outcome was overall endoscopic clinical success. In contrast, the secondary outcomes were hospital stay exceeding five days and endoscopic clinical success with the first endoscopic procedure at the tertiary center. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess outcomes. 65 patients were included. Patients with one or multiple) leaks had more possibility to achieve the endoscopic clinical success compared to those affected by the association of leaks and stricture (96% vs 67%, p value 0.005). Leaks occurring in the main biliary duct had less probability (67%) to achieve the overall endoscopic clinical success compared to those in the end-to-end anastomosis (90%), in the resection plane or biliary stump (96%) or first or secondary order biliary branches (100%, p value 0.038). A leak-bridging stent positioning had more probability of achieving the endoscopic clinical success than a not leak-bridging stent (91% vs 53%, p value 0.005). ERCP and Rendez Vous procedures are safe and effective for treating PSBL, regardless of the type of preceding surgery, even if technical or clinical success was not achieved on the first attempt. A stent should be placed, if feasible, leak-bridging to enhance treatment efficacy.

Injection of carbon dioxide instead of iodinated contrast to display the common bile duct during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Common bile duct (CBD) stones are usually caused by biliary tract infection, biliary stricture, duodenal peripapillary diverticulum, Oddis sphincter dysfunction, and so on. Treatment is preferably with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), where an iodine-containing contrast agent is injected into the CBD to display the stone under fluoroscopy and then to confirm complete removal of the stone(s). We described a 65-year-old woman with CBD stones who had undergone cardiac pacemaker implantation and was allergic to iodinated contrast media. We performed ERCP + lithotomy + stent implantation under local anesthesia, with injection of carbon dioxide instead of iodinated contrast into the CBD, and successfully visualized the stones under fluoroscopy and then confirmed complete removal of them. The patient was generally in good condition without complications. Thus, we have demonstrated in this case report that carbon dioxide can be used as a safe, economical, and effective alternative to iodinated contrast agent during ERCP.

Peroral choledochoscope for anterograde bridging of biliary drainage via T-tube.

Postoperative biliary stricture after biliary surgery is a challenging condition. Biliary stent placement by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are the effective treatment for biliary stricture. We report a case of peroral choledochoscope was used for anterograde bridging of biliary drainage via T-tube.

Accurate measurement of key structures in CBD patients using deep learning

The prevalence of common bile duct (CBD) stones presents a widespread and intricate clinical challenge that necessitates precise measurements for effective clinical management. In response, we developed a practical deep learning system designed to precisely measure key structures within endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) images in CBD patients. This system excels in detecting key structures in CBD patients and provides comprehensive information about the quantity, size, location, and dimensions of the common bile duct. While the size, location, and dimensions of the CBD are derived from the scaling ratio of the estimated duodenoscope diameter, the quantity of stones is determined independently of this conversion between pixels and millimeters. A rigorous evaluation of the system’s performance was conducted utilizing diverse metrics such as the Dice coefficient, accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, and a comprehensive confusion matrix. A dataset of 418 images from 403 patients was divided into three sets: 314 images (75%) from 299 patients (74%) for training, 52 images (12.5%) from 52 patients (13%) for validation, and 52 images (12.5%) from 52 patients (13%) for testing. The proposed system demonstrated remarkable results in key structure detection and measurement, with Dice coefficients and overall AUROCs of 95.6% and 95.0% for the duodenoscope, 94.6% and 94.0% for the bile duct, and 94.1% and 92.0% for stone identification, respectively. The system’s timely, precise measurements of CBD structures can significantly enhance clinical decision-making, improve patient outcomes, and streamline diagnostic and management processes.

Comparison of radiation exposure and fluoroscopy time between minimally invasive common bile duct exploration and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis

ImportanceRadiation exposure causes dose-dependent deleterious effects and efforts should be made to decrease patient exposure to ionizing radiation. Patients with choledocholithiasis are commonly exposed to ionizing radiation as fluoroscopy-guided interventions including minimally invasive common bile duct exploration (MICBDE) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are the preferred treatment modalities for common bile duct (CBD) stone clearance. However, radiation exposure and fluoroscopy times have not been compared between these two treatment modalities. ObjectiveTo compare fluoroscopy time (FT) and radiation exposure (RE) between MICBDE and ERCP in patients with choledocholithiasis. DesignThis is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of a single surgeon performing MICBDE at an academic referral center between May 2021 and June 2023 compared to a retrospective analysis of all ERCPs performed between January 2020 and February 2021. Patient demographics, procedural details, fluoroscopic details, and post operative outcomes were compared between the MICBDE and ERCP. SettingSingle institution academic referral center located in the American Southwest. Participants109 patients with choledocholithiasis were divided into 2 groups. 53 patients (48.62%) underwent ERCP, and 56 patients (51.38%) underwent MICBDE. Inclusion criteria were; all patients presenting with choledocholithiasis and subsequently underwent ERCP or MICBDE. Patients who underwent ERCP for non-choledocholithiasis related reasons were excluded. Main outcomes and measuresPrimary outcomes include FT measured in minutes and RE measured in milligray (mGy). Secondary outcomes were successful clearance of the common bile duct, complications, procedural time, and reinterventions. ResultsA significant difference (P<.001) between fluoroscopy times was identified between ERCP (3.1mins) and MICBDE (1.54mins). Median RE doses between the ERCP group (38 mGy) and the MICBDE group (38.41 mGy) were not statistically different (p=0.88). Technical success of CBD clearance was similar in both groups (91% in MICBDE group vs 93% in ERCP group; p=0.711). Conclusion and RelevanceAdvantages of MICBDE over ERCP include; treatment of choledocholithiasis at the time of cholecystectomy, which reduces the risk of additional anesthesia episodes and the introduces the potential for shorter hospital length of stay. This study shows that MICDBE has lower FT compared to ERCP and comparable RE. Given the advantages of MICBDE, it should be strongly considered at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

One-Stage Intraoperative ERCP combined with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Versus Two-Stage Preoperative ERCP Followed by Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in the Management of Gallbladder with Common Bile Duct Stones: A Meta-analysis.

Concomitant gallbladder and common bile duct (CBD) stones, known as cholecystocholedocholithiasis, are clinically prevalent. There is currently no consensus on sequential versus simultaneous management approaches, and, if simultaneous, which approach to adopt. This meta-analysis evaluates the safety and efficacy of one-stage laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) versus two-stage ERCP followed by LC for treating concomitant gallbladder and CBD stones. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in five databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, VIP, and Wanfang, for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort and retrospective studies published up to February 2024. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. The primary outcomes were CBD stone clearance rate and postoperative complications morbidity. Secondary outcomes included conversion to other procedures and length of hospital stay. Statistical analyses were performed using R (v.4.3.2) with weighted mean differences and odds ratios (ORs) calculated for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 17 studies involving 2120 patients have been included, with 898 patients receiving single-stage and 1222 patients undergoing two-stage treatment. Of these studies, 9 were RCTs and 8 were retrospective cohort study. The one-stage group demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of CBD stone clearance (OR=2.07, p=0.0004), overall morbidity (OR=0.35, p<0.0001), post-operative pancreatitis (OR=0.49, p=0.006), conversion to other procedures (OR=0.38, p=0.0006), and length of hospital stay (MD=- 2.6456, 95% CI -3.5776; -1.7136, p<0.0001). No significant differences were observed in post-operative cholangitis (OR=0.44, p=0.12), post-operative bleeding (OR=0.76, p=0.47), or bile leakage (OR=1.28, p=0.54). For patients with concomitant gallbladder and CBD stones, the one-stage approach combining ERCP and LC appears safer and more effective, with advantages including higher stone clearance rates, reduced postoperative complications (particularly pancreatitis), shorter hospital stays, fewer residual stones, and decreased need for additional procedures. However, additional high-quality clinical trials are needed to establish the optimal treatment approach for various patient scenarios.

Evaluating the yield of digital single operator cholangioscopy in posttransplant biliary strictures after unsuccessful guidewire placement with ERCP.

Strictures are the most common biliary complication after liver transplantation, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered the gold standard in its management. Failure to cross the biliary anastomosis requires a repeated attempt with ERCP, referral for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) or surgery. We present our experience with the digital single operator cholangioscope (D-SOC) in achieving guidewire access in a liver transplant cohort with difficult biliary strictures who have failed conventional ERCP methods. This was a retrospective study involving two adult liver transplant centers servicing the two most populated states in Australia. Deceased-donor liver transplant recipients undergoing D-SOC for biliary strictures who have failed conventional methods to achieve biliary access were included. Between July 2017 to April 2022, eighteen patients underwent D-SOC after failing to achieve guidewire placement through standard ERCP techniques. Thirteen out of eighteen (72%) had successful guidewire placement with index D-SOC. Five of eighteen patients (28%) had unsuccessful guidewire placement with D-SOC. In two of these patients, use of D-SOC informed further endoscopic management, with one avoiding PTC and the other avoiding surgery. Two of the five patients required PTC and one patient was left unstented. Three patients developed post D-SOC cholangitis. D-SOC is effective at achieving guidewire access in post-liver transplant patients who fail conventional ERCP techniques and should be considered in the treatment algorithm as a step before PTC and surgery.

Development and Usability of an Endoscopist Report Card Assessing ERCP Quality

Audit and feedback (A&F) for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is relatively understudied despite the demonstrated effectiveness of A&F for endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopy. Endoscopist 'report cards' are one A&F tool. We aimed to develop an ERCP report card and assess its appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility through usability testing. A prototype report card was designed using a combination of published quality indicators and established predictors of adverse events (AE). Exploratory analyses from a prospective multi-center registry were performed to further identify novel and/or understudied parameters for possible inclusion. Semi-structured interviews with ERCP endoscopists were conducted and framework analysis performed. Validated post-interview usability instruments were administered. Feedback was incorporated to create a final report card. The report card included domains of technical parameters, AE rates/prevention, and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs). Qualitative feedback was positive, with respondents agreeing with inclusion of relevant content in most domains. Post-interview instruments revealed adequate appropriateness and acceptability. PREMs were felt by respondents to be poorly actionable and were replaced with appropriateness of indication and fluoroscopy usage parameters in the final report card. Concerns were raised regarding the feasibility of implementation due to reliance on difficult-to-obtain granular intraprocedural data. We designed and tested an ERCP report card that has potential to be an effective A&F intervention for endoscopists in clinical practice. Though feasibility of data capture and implementation are currently limitations, advances in video recording and artificial intelligence technologies could accelerate widespread adoption of such a tool.

Pancreatic steatosis is a strong risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis: An emerging concept

ObjectiveThe Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the treatment of choice for biliary obstruction but is associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in around 5 % of cases. No radiological criteria have been evaluated for predicting PEP risk. DesignThis retrospective study examined records of 1365 patients who underwent ERCP at our center between 2014–2023. Only sphincterotomy-naïve patients were included. CT scans within 30 days of ERCP were reviewed for radiological criteria. The optimal pancreatic density cut-off was determined using AUROC and Youden index. Logistic regression was used for analyses. ResultsPEP occurred in 75 patients (6.1 %). The CT scan was performed before ERCP for 565 of the total population. A fatty pancreas, defined as a spontaneous density less than -50HU, was statistically associated with PEP (OR: 7.35; 95 % CI: 1.56–26.5 p = 0.004), as well as with biliary obstruction due to stones (OR: 0.61; 95 % CI: 0.38–0.98; P = 0.04), the need for precut (OR: 2.19; 95 % CI: 1.35–3.51; P = 0.001), cannulation of the main pancreatic duct (OR: 2.23; 95 % CI: 1.36–3.59; P = 0.001), and the use of a pancreatic stent (OR: 2.48; 95 % CI: 1.29–4.47; P = 0.004). In multivariate analyses, only obstruction unrelated to gallstones (OR = 2.63; 95 % CI: 1.16–6.25; P = 0.024) and a low pancreatic density (<-50HU) (OR=7.94, 95 %CI: 1.59–31.09; P = 0.005) remains significantly associated with the risk of PEP, including after adjustment for age and sex (P = 0.006). ConclusionA very low pancreatic fat density could be a significant risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis with potential clinical and research implications. Further validation is needed.

Effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage in patients experiencing obstructive jaundice due to unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Objective: To assess the treatment outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) in patients with obstructive jaundice due to unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: The clinical data of patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent EUS-BD due to ERCP failure at the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital from September 2018 to November 2023, was retrospectively collected and analyzed. We explored the technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with EUS-BD. Results: In total, 43 EUS-BD procedures were performed in 39 patients with a technical success rate of 86.0% (37/43). The clinical success rate was 81.1% (30/37). Biliary drainage was not effectively achieved in seven cases, including two fatal cases and five cases of recurrent postoperative biliary obstruction. The incidence of adverse events was 21.6% (8/37), including two cases of postoperative bile leakage peritonitis, two cases of stent displacement, one case of stent dislocation, one case of perforation, and two cases of death. Conclusion: EUS-BD is a relatively safe and effective method for bile duct drainage, serving as a dependable alternative therapeutic option for patients with obstructive jaundice due to unsuccessful ERCP.

Immunoglobulin G4-related pancreatitis presenting as an obstructive pancreatic mass in a Latino male

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a localized or diffuse autoimmune fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect any organ. The literature is sparse on IgG4-RD in the Latino population. This is a case report of a Latino male diagnosed with IgG4-related pancreatitis presenting as a mass. Our 40-year-old Latino male patient presented with diarrhea and epigastric discomfort progressing to jaundice and pruritus. He had associated elevations in liver enzymes, antinuclear antibody, and IgG4. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a lobulated pancreatic head mass with common bile duct (CBD) narrowing. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of the pancreas revealed no malignancy, and the patient underwent CBD stenting through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The patient demonstrated a favorable response to systemic glucocorticoid therapy with resolution of his symptoms and normalization of his liver function tests. Coronavirus disease-2019 infection during treatment had no impact on the outcomes.

S1532 Development and Validation of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-Specific Frailty Risk Score

S1532 Development and Validation of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-Specific Frailty Risk Score

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) hepaticogastrostomy (HGS) versus choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) in ERCP-failed malignant biliary obstruction: A systematic review and META-analysis.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard in managing malignant biliary obstruction. The success of ERCP has limitations, whereas surgical biliary bypass and percutaneous transhepatic approaches, as alternative modalities, come with significant costs, longer durations, and higher levels of mortality and morbidity. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided biliary drainage with two approaches, hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) and choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), is a favored and evolving alternative modality. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Scholar databases up to August 2023, based on the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. We identified randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. Outcome measures included technical and clinical success, side effects, and mean procedure time. Nine nonrandomized studies and two randomized controlled trials involving 537 patients (225 EUS-HGS, 312 EUS-CDS) were analyzed. No difference was found in technical success (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.41-1.68; I 2 = 0%) and clinical success between the two procedures (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.51-1.81; I 2 = 9.94%). Side effects were significantly higher in EUS-HGS (OR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.14-3.59; I 2 = 0%). No significant difference in mean procedure time was observed between the two procedures (0.13; 95% CI, -0.15-0.41; I 2 = 34.89%). There are differences in efficacy and safety between EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. EUS-CDS has a faster procedure time, lower risk of side effects, and ease of puncture during the procedure.

S1563 Efficacy of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Preventing Infections Following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

S1563 Efficacy of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Preventing Infections Following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

S161 Prophylactic Antibiotics and Post-Procedural Infectious Complications in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography with Peroral Cholangioscopy

S161 Prophylactic Antibiotics and Post-Procedural Infectious Complications in Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography with Peroral Cholangioscopy

Procedure-related readmissions following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a liver transplant cohort.

Data on post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) adverse events and readmission rates in liver transplantation (LT) patients remain scarce. This study determined the 30-day procedure-related readmission rate following ERCP in an LT cohort at an Australian tertiary academic center. All unplanned readmissions within 30 days following ERCP in orthotopic LT patients between December 2012 and August 2021 were retrospectively identified. Demographic data, procedure variables, and readmission characteristics were also collected. Forty-five procedure-related readmissions were identified (3.3%) from a total of 1369 ERCP procedures. This included 33 cases of cholangitis (2.4%), 7 cases of nonspecific abdominal pain (0.5%), 5 cases of mild post-ERCP pancreatitis (0.5%), and 3 cases of bleeding (0.2%). No procedure-related mortality was observed. The procedure-related readmission rate following ERCP in this LT cohort was 3.3%, which is likely lower than comparable studies carried out on the overall population.

S1504 A Readability Analysis of Online Patient Education Materials Regarding Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

S1504 A Readability Analysis of Online Patient Education Materials Regarding Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

S1550 Thermal Changes in Guidewires Used During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography During Electrical Conductance: An Ex Vivo Safety Experiment

S1550 Thermal Changes in Guidewires Used During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography During Electrical Conductance: An Ex Vivo Safety Experiment

S1610 The Impact and Utilization of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Amongst Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a Community Hospital System

S1610 The Impact and Utilization of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Amongst Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a Community Hospital System