Endoscopic Transpapillary Research Articles

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis

With technological advances in endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic ultrasound‐guided gallbladder drainage (EUS‐GBD) was introduced as a treatment option for acute cholecystitis. Recently, new studies have emerged, suggesting that EUS‐GBD has a lower adverse event rate and reintervention rate, when compared to percutaneous drainage and endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage. There is growing interest in the different technical aspects of EUS‐GBD, such as the puncture approach, choice of stents, and long‐term management. There are also cohorts on performing EUS‐GBD in potential surgical candidates. This review article gathers the latest evidence on EUS‐GBD, including its indications, procedural techniques, choice of equipment, outcomes, postprocedural care, and the controversial extended indications.

Feasibility of a novel 5-Fr plastic stent in endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis

Background and study aims: Many reports have demonstrated the efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (EGBS) for acute cholecystitis (AC), most of which have traditionally used a 7-Fr plastic stent. The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel 5-Fr plastic stent in EGBS for AC. Patients and methods: We designed a retrospective study that compared the outcomes between 7-Fr and 5-Fr stents in patients undergoing EGBS. Among 147 patients who underwent endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for AC between January 2019 and July 2023, 104 who underwent EGBS using a 7-Fr (n = 53) or 5-Fr (n = 51) plastic stent were included in the analysis. Results: The technical success rate of EGBS, clinical success rate for AC, and early adverse events (AEs) rate in the 7-Fr and 5-Fr groups were 92.5% vs 100%, 100% vs 98.0%, and 5.7% vs 3.9%, respectively, with no significant differences. However, only in the 7-Fr group, 4 patients failed stent insertion and 3 patients developed postprocedural pancreatitis. Furthermore, the incidence of hyperamylasemia was lower in the 5-Fr group (24.5% vs 9.8%, P = 0.047). The late AE rate did not differ significantly between the 7-Fr and 5-Fr group (14.3% vs 10.0%). The median time to late AE was 238 days for the 7-Fr group and 187 days for the 5-Fr group, with no significant difference. Conclusions: A 5-Fr stent can provide outcomes comparable to those of a 7-Fr stent and help prevent hyperamylasemia.

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage using a novel cholangioscope.

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Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage using a novel sphincterotome.

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Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage With 2 Stents Versus 1 Stent Reduces Reinterventions: A Multicenter Study

Background and AimsEndoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) is a therapeutic option for gallstone-related gallbladder disease in non-surgical candidates. However, the optimal stenting strategy and follow-up has not been established. We aimed to determine whether there was a decreased need for unplanned reintervention in patients undergoing placement of two transpapillary gallbladder stents as compared to one. MethodsWe performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients undergoing ETGBD between June 2013 and October 2022. The primary outcome was clinical success as defined by resolution of symptoms without the need for another drainage strategy. Secondary outcomes included the adverse events of post-ERCP pancreatitis, cholangitis, bleeding, perforation, or death. Factors associated with placement of two stents, unplanned reintervention, and adverse events were assessed. ResultsWe included 75 patients undergoing ETGBD, with a median follow-up of 407 days (IQR: 71-1504). Technical and clinical success were 88.2% and 81.3%, respectively. Unplanned reintervention was significantly lower in the double stenting group (0% vs. 25.4%, P=0.02). Use of a 7 French stent (OR: 15.5; 95% CI: 1.9-125; p=0.01) and presence of a percutaneous cholecystostomy tube (OR: 10.8; 95% CI: 2.8-41.3; p=0.001) were associated with placement of two stents. There was no significant difference in adverse events between groups (OR: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.09-8.8; P=0.94). ConclusionsETGBD is safe and effective in non-operative candidates. Single transpapillary gallbladder stenting is associated with more unplanned reinterventions, and 7 French stent diameter and prior percutaneous cholecystostomy tube may be associated with ability to place a second stent. Endoscopists should consider planned exchange of solitary transpapillary gallbladder stents or interval placement of a second stent if placement of two stents was unsuccessful at the index procedure.

S2690 Disconnected Pancreatic Duct Syndrome: A Rare Complication of Necrotizing Pancreatitis Requiring Endoscopic Transpapillary Stenting

S2690 Disconnected Pancreatic Duct Syndrome: A Rare Complication of Necrotizing Pancreatitis Requiring Endoscopic Transpapillary Stenting

Benefits of endoscopic gallbladder stenting following percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage.

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage is challenging because of the complexity of the procedure and high incidence of adverse events (AEs). To overcome these problems, endoscopic gallbladder stenting (EGBS) after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) can be effective, as it mitigates inflammation and adhesion. To examine the benefits of EGBS after PTGBD to assess its efficacy and impact on AEs. We retrospectively analyzed data from 35 patients who underwent EGBS after PTGBD at a single center between January 2016 and December 2023. The primary outcomes were technical success and AEs, and the rate of recurrent cholecystitis was evaluated. In addition, the reasons for the failure of the procedure were identified. Among the 35 patients, the technical success rate was 77.1% and the final contrast of the cystic duct was successful in 97.1% of patients. The incidence of early AEs was relatively low (11.4%), with no instances of cystic duct perforation. The rate of recurrent cholecystitis was 3.7%, and no other biliary events were observed. EGBS after PTGBD may be significantly beneficial, with a substantial success rate and minimal AEs in both short- and long-term follow-ups.

Endoscopic biliary drainage for distal bile duct obstruction due to pancreatic cancer.

Approximately 60% of pancreatic cancers occur in the pancreatic head and may present as obstructive jaundice due to bile duct invasion. Obstructive jaundice often leads to poor general conditions and acute cholangitis, interfering with surgery and chemotherapy and requiring biliary drainage. The first choice of treatment for biliary drainage is the endoscopic transpapillary approach. In unresectable tumors, self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are most commonly used and are classified into uncovered and covered SEMSs. Recently, antireflux metal stents and large- or small-diameter SEMSs have become commercially available, and their usefulness has been reported. Plastic stents are infrequently used in patients with resectable biliary obstruction; however, owing to the recent trend in preoperative chemotherapy, SEMSs are frequently used because of the long time to recurrent biliary obstruction. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is often performed in patients who are not eligible for the transpapillary approach, and favorable outcomes have been reported. Different EUS-BD techniques and specialized stents have been developed and can be safely used in high-volume centers. The indications for EUS-BD are expected to further expand in the future.

Prophylactic endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting to prevent acute cholecystitis induced after metallic stent placement for malignant biliary strictures: a retrospective study in Japan.

Endoscopic biliary drainage using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) for malignant biliary strictures occasionally induces acute cholecystitis (AC). This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic gallbladder stents (GBS) during SEMS placement. Among 158 patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures between January 2018 and March 2023, 30 patients who attempted to undergo prophylactic GBS placement before SEMS placement were included. Technical success was achieved in 21 cases (70.0%). The mean diameter of the cystic duct was more significant in the successful cases (6.5 mm vs. 3.7 mm, p<0.05). Adverse events occurred for 7 patients (23.3%: acute pancreatitis in 7; non-obstructive cholangitis in 1; perforation of the cystic duct in 1 with an overlap), all of which improved with conservative treatment. No patients developed AC when the GBS placement was successful, whereas 25 of the 128 patients (19.5%) without a prophylactic GBS developed AC during the median follow-up period of 357 days (p=0.043). In the multivariable analysis, GBS placement was a significant factor in preventing AC (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.99; p=0.045). GBS may contribute to the prevention of AC after SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures.

Interval cholecystectomy following drainage procedures for acute cholecystitis: percutaneous transhepatic vs endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage

BackgroundGallbladder drainage procedures are often considered for acute cholecystitis (AC) patients with significant peri-operative risks. While percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) has been evaluated in previous studies, there is scarce data on the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (ETGBS) in patients with AC. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of interval cholecystectomy following ETGBS and PTGBD. MethodsThis retrospective descriptive study included patients who underwent ETGBS and/or PTGBD for AC and subsequently underwent interval cholecystectomy between 2018 and 2023. Demographics, operative technique, and postoperative complications of patients with ETGBS and PTGBD were compared. ResultsA total of 59 patients were included (14 ETGBS and 45 PTGBD). The median days between ETGBS and cholecystectomy were significantly longer than the PTGBD group (64 [45-150] days vs. 16 [10-42] days, p=0.045). The median operation time was significantly longer in the ETGBS group. Among 33 patients who underwent subtotal cholecystectomy, the ERGBS group more frequently required closure of the gallbladder stump due to the difficulty in ligating the cystic duct compared to the PTGBD group (75.0% vs. 28.0%, p=0.035). Similarly, the fundus-first approach was more commonly selected in the ERGBS group (62.5% vs. 28.0%, p=0.01). No significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications were observed between the two groups. ConclusionsInterval cholecystectomy following ETGBS is more technically demanding compared to PTGBD. Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy following ETGBS could be a potential treatment option for patients who are unfit for early surgery, with the recognition of the difficulty in ligating the cystic duct.

The Success Rate Is Lower but Completion Rate of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Is higher in Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage than Percutaneous Gallbladder Drainage for Acute Cholecystitis.

We investigated the success and complication rates of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and the outcomes of subsequent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Patients (N=178) who underwent cholecystectomy after ETGBD or PTGBD were retrospectively assessed. ETGBD was successful in 47 (85.5%) of 55 procedures, whereas PTGBD was successful in 123 (100%) of 123 sessions ( P <0.001). Complications related to ETGBD and PTGBD occurred in 6 (12.8%) of 47 and 16 (13.0%) of 123 patients, respectively ( P =0.97). After propensity matching, 43 patients from each group were selected. Median time from drainage to cholecystectomy was 48 (14 to 560) days with ETGBD and 35 (1 to 90) days with PTGBD ( P =0.004). Laparoscopy was selected more often in the ETGBD group (97.7%) than in the PTGBD group (79.1%) ( P =0.007), and conversion from laparoscopy to open cholecystectomy was more common with PTGBD (41.2%) than with ETGBD (7.1%) ( P <0.001). Mean operation time was significantly shorter with ETGBD (135.8±66.7min) than with PTGBD (195.8±62.2min) ( P <0.001). The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III postoperative complications was 9.3% with ETGBD and 11.6% with PTGBD ( P =0.99). The success rate is lower but completion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is more in endoscopic gallbladder drainage than percutaneous gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis.

The Successful Treatment of Percutaneous Transhepatic Gallbladder Drainage Related Pleurobiliary Fistula via Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage

The pleurobiliary fistula was not common but sometimes it could occur after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. This report describes the case of an 83-year-old Korean male diagnosed with a pleurobiliary fistula after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. The patient was treated with endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage under the guidance of the peroral cholangioscopy with SpyGlass DS system. It can decompress pressure within the gallbladder. Leakage from the gallbladder into the pleura was reduced. Finally, his condition got better and he recovered.

Trisectoral Metal Stenting Using Combined Stent-by-Stent and Stent-in-Stent Method for Malignant Hilar Biliary Obstruction: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Endoscopic trisectoral metal stent (MS) placement for malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) poses technical challenges, although it may prolong survival and stent patency. Combined stent-by-stent and stent-in-stent (SBSIS) methods can reduce technical difficulty. This study aimed to examine the use of the SBSIS in patients with Bismuth type III or IV MHBO. This prospective pilot study enrolled 30 eligible patients between January 2020 and October 2022. The study outcomes included technical and clinical success, recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO), and adverse events (AE) besides RBO associated with SBSIS for MHBO. The technical success rate was 93.3% (28/30 patients). Clinical success was achieved in all patients with technical success. The early and late AEs rates were 6.7% (2/30) and 7.1% (2/28), respectively. The incidence of RBO was 35.7% (10/28). RBO was treated with an endoscopic transpapillary approach in eight patients and an endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural approach in two patients. The median time to RBO was 162 days, and the median overall survival was 148 days. This first prospective study investigating the SBSIS method demonstrated good technical feasibility with a low AE rate. Therefore, it can be considered a better option when contemplating trisectoral MS placement for high-grade MHBO.

A comparative analysis of radiation exposure in endoscopic ultrasound‐guided drainage versus endoscopic transpapillary drainage for acute cholecystitis

A comparative analysis of radiation exposure in endoscopic ultrasound‐guided drainage versus endoscopic transpapillary drainage for acute cholecystitis

Treatment of choledocholithiasis: a review of clinical trials and current clinical guidelines

The review provides an analysis of clinical studies and current clinical guidelines from the MEDLINE database on the PubMed platform regarding the treatment of choledocholithiasis. Choledocholithiasis occurs in almost 20 % of patients with gallstone disease and is characterized by frequent dangerous complications, in particular, bile duct obstruction, cholangitis, and biliary pancreatitis. Therefore, common bile duct exploration is an important component of surgical treatment for gallstone disease, but discussions about the optimal treatment for choledocholithiasis have been ongoing for many years. Currently, there is no generally accepted standard of treatment, and various methods and approaches to the staging and sequence of surgical interventions on the gallbladder and common bile duct are used. In recent years, the leading methods of choledocholithiasis treatment are minimally invasive endoscopic and/or laparoscopic interventions, which have almost completely replaced open surgeries. For common bile duct exploration and normalization of biliary excretion, endoscopic transpapillary (retrograde) access is used mostly, which is characterized by a high risk of post-procedural immediate and long-term complications. Endoscopic management of common bile duct stones requires an additional intervention — laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is most often performed at the second stage or simultaneously with endoscopic intervention. The optimal staging and sequencing of interventions requires further research. A good alternative to endoscopic interventions on common bile duct is its laparoscopic exploration through the cystic duct or by choledochotomy (antegrade), which can be performed simultaneously with cholecystectomy. However, this technique has not yet been widely adopted, and immediate and long-term results are conflicting that require further research into the effectiveness and safety of the method. The effectiveness of surgical treatment for choledocholithiasis depends not only on the individual characteristics of a patient, including biliary anatomy, the form and severity of the disease, but also on the local experience and availability of appropriate equipment, which must be taken into account when planning treatment.

Comparison of stent patency between EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging and endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage for hilar obstruction.

Background and study aims Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging between the left and right bile ducts is an alternative to endoscopic transpapillary drainage for malignant hilar biliary obstruction. We aimed to analyze the long-term stent patency of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging. Patients and methods Patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging between April 2018 and July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. We retrospectively compared the stent patency of these patients with that of the individuals who underwent endoscopic transpapillary drainage-multi-stenting using unmatched (entire) and propensity score-matched cohorts. Results Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging had a technical success rate of 90% (18/20). Adverse events were minimal. The number of clinical success cases was 17 and 82 for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging using metallic stent and endoscopic transpapillary drainage-multi-stenting, respectively. The recurrent biliary obstruction rate was 17.6% and 58.5% for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging and endoscopic transpapillary drainage-multi-stenting, respectively; the median time to recurrent biliary obstruction (days) was significantly longer for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging in the entire (not reached vs. 104, P =0.03) and propensity score-matched (183 vs. 79, P =0.05) cohorts. The non-recurrent biliary obstruction rate for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging was 91.6% at 3 and 6 months and 57% at 12 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging contributed to a lower recurrent biliary obstruction incidence (hazard ratio, 0.31, P =0.05) without significant difference. Conclusions Stent patency was significantly better for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with bridging. However, future prospective studies are needed.

Endoscopic transpapillary interventions for cholelithiasis complications

The article provides a review of modern literature on the problem of treatment of cholelithiasis complications and endoscopic transpapillary interventions. The pathogenetic mechanisms of these complications were analyzed. Studies on the impact of the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic transpapillary interventions show that the risk of recurrent biliary complications increases significantly in patients when cholecystectomy was delayed, while early performance of this operation after endoscopic transpapillary interventions reduces the risk of developing these complications

Computed tomography-based prediction of pancreatitis following biliary metal stent placement with the convolutional neural network.

Background and study aims Pancreatitis is a potentially lethal adverse event of endoscopic transpapillary placement of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). Deep learning-based image recognition has not been investigated in predicting pancreatitis in this setting. Patients and methods We included 70 patients who underwent endoscopic placement of a SEMS for nonresectable distal MBO. We constructed a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for pancreatitis prediction using a series of pre-procedure computed tomography images covering the whole pancreas (≥ 120,960 augmented images in total). We examined the additional effects of the CNN-based probabilities on the following machine learning models based on clinical parameters: logistic regression, support vector machine with a linear or RBF kernel, random forest classifier, and gradient boosting classifier. Model performance was assessed based on the area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic analysis, positive predictive value (PPV), accuracy, and specificity. Results The CNN model was associated with moderate levels of performance metrics: AUC, 0.67; PPV, 0.45; accuracy, 0.66; and specificity, 0.63. When added to the machine learning models, the CNN-based probabilities increased the performance metrics. The logistic regression model with the CNN-based probabilities had an AUC of 0.74, PPV of 0.85, accuracy of 0.83, and specificity of 0.96, compared with 0.72, 0.78, 0.77, and 0.96, respectively, without the probabilities. Conclusions The CNN-based model may increase predictability for pancreatitis following endoscopic placement of a biliary SEMS. Our findings support the potential of deep learning technology to improve prognostic models in pancreatobiliary therapeutic endoscopy.

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage using a novel drill dilator.

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage using a novel drill dilator.

Endoscopic Gallbladder Drainage: A Comprehensive Review on Indications, Techniques, and Future Perspectives.

In recent years, therapeutic endoscopy has become a fundamental tool in the management of gallbladder diseases in light of its minimal invasiveness, high clinical efficacy, and good safety profile. Both endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (TGBD) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) provide effective internal drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis unfit for cholecystectomy, avoiding the drawbacks of external percutaneous gallbladder drainage (PGBD). The availability of dedicated lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) for EUS-guided transluminal interventions contributed to the expansion of endoscopic therapies for acute cholecystitis, making endoscopic gallbladder drainage easier, faster, and hence more widely available. Moreover, EUS-GBD with LAMS opened the possibility of several cholecystoscopy-guided interventions, such as gallstone lithotripsy and clearance. Finally, EUS-GBD has also been proposed as a rescue drainage modality in malignant biliary obstruction after failure of standard techniques, with encouraging results. In this review, we will describe the TBGD and EUS-GBD techniques, and we will discuss the available data on clinical efficacy in different settings in comparison with PGBD. Finally, we will comment on the future perspectives of EUS-GBD, discussing the areas of uncertainty in which new data are more strongly awaited.