The efficacy of peroral cholangioscopy for difficult bile duct stones and indeterminate strictures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Peroral Cholangioscopy: How Technology and Imaging Have Changed ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the minimally invasive standard of care for the treatment of several biliary and pancreatic pathologies. One of the limitations of this technique is the lack of endoluminal vision within the biliary tree or Wirsung's duct. This limits the diagnostic accuracy of the procedure and reduces the effectiveness of many treatments. Technological progress and the use of increasingly ergonomic and high-definition imaging equipment have led to the dissemination of peroral cholangioscopy (POC). Thanks to the high quality of video image resolution, POC could well be a powerful tool used to characterize malignant biliary strictures. It could also allow targeted biopsies or local treatments, hence reducing the risk of complications and increasing outcomes. The technological improvement of the last generation of POC is opening new horizons in the treatment of biliopancreatic pathologies, thereby contributing to refine and enhance the ERCP management of several diseases in the near future.

Cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy vs. conventional therapy for complex bile duct stones: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones has a high success rate ranging from 85% to 95%. Bile duct stones >15 mm are difficult and frequently require lithotripsy. Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) allows lithotripsy with similar success rates.

AIM

To determine the efficacy and safety of cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy used in the treatment of difficult to remove bile duct stones vs. conventional therapy.

METHODS

Search was based in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, Lilacs/Bireme. Studies enrolling patients referred for the removal of difficult bile duct stones via POC were considered eligible. Two analyses were carried out separately, one included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and another observational studies.

RESULTS

Forty-six studies were selected (3 RTC and 43 observational). In the analysis there was no statistical significant difference between successful endoscopic clearance (RD=-0.02 CI: -0.17, 0.12/I²=0%), mean fluoroscopy time (MD=-0.14 CI -1.60, 1.32/I²=21%) and adverse events rates (RD=-0.06 CI: -0.14, 0.02/I²=0%), by contrast, the mean procedure time favored conventional therapy with statistical significance (MD=27.89 CI: 16.68, 39.10/I²=0%). In observational studies, the successful endoscopic clearance rate was 88.29% (CI95: 86.9%-90.7%), the first session successful endoscopic clearance rate was 72.7 % (CI95: 69.9%-75.3%), the mean procedure time was 47.50±6 min for session and the number of sessions to clear bile duct was 1.5±0.18. The adverse event rate was 8.7% (CI95: 7%-10.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

For complex common bile duct stones, cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy has a success rate that is similar to traditional ERCP techniques in terms of therapeutic success, adverse event rate and means fluoroscopy time. Conventional ERCP methods have a shorter mean procedure time.

Cholangioscopy and its Role in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease characterised by chronic inflammation and fibro-obliteration of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. It is associated with numerous hepatobiliary complications including an increased risk of malignancy (in particular, cholangiocarcinoma) and biliary tract stone formation. The evaluation of biliary strictures in patients with PSC is especially challenging, with imaging and endoscopic methods having only modest sensitivity for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and treatment of biliary strictures poses a similarly significant clinical challenge. In recent years, peroral cholangioscopy has evolved technologically and increased in popularity as an endoscopic tool that can provide direct intraductal visualisation and facilitate therapeutic manipulation of the biliary tract. However, the indications for and effectiveness of its use in patients with PSC remain uncertain, with only a few studies performed on this small but important subset of patients. In this review, the authors discuss the available data regarding the use of peroral cholangioscopy in patients with PSC, with a focus on its use in the evaluation and management of biliary strictures and stones.

Advances in the endoscopic management of malignant biliary obstruction

Biliary obstruction is common in pancreatobiliary malignancies and has a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life, postoperative complications, and survival rates. Particularly in the last decade, there has been enormous progress regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic options in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Endoscopy has given a new insight in this direction and novel techniques have been developed for the better characterization and treatment of malignant strictures. We herein summarize the available data on the different endoscopic techniques, and clarify their role in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant biliary obstructive disease. Finally, we propose an algorithm that can facilitate management decisions in these patients.

Cholangioscopy Biopsies Improve Detection of Cholangiocarcinoma When Combined with Cytology and FISH, but Not in Patients with PSC

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) has been suggested to be a cost-effective strategy for the detection of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The aim of this study is to compare the performance characteristics of SOC-guided biopsies and transpapillary biopsies with standard sampling techniques for the detection of CCA.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing SOC between 1/2007 and 10/2018 at a single academic center was performed. Demographic, procedural, and outcomes data were recorded and analyzed using STATA 14.0. Sensitivity comparison between diagnostic tests was performed using exact McNemar test exclusively among patients with CCA. Two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients were included; 36 (39.1%) with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), 41 (44.6%) with CCA, and median follow-up was 15.1 months. In the overall cohort, brush cytology demonstrated a sensitivity of 44.7% and increased with the addition of FISH (56.8%; p = 0.12), FISH with SOC-guided biopsy (71.4%; p = 0.03), and FISH with transpapillary biopsy (64.5%; p = 0.01). However, in patients with PSC, there was no significant improvement in sensitivity with the addition of SOC-guided biopsy or transpapillary biopsy in addition to FISH when compared to brush cytology. There was no difference in the rates of overall adverse events (14% vs. 23.2%; p = 0.27) or infection (3% vs. 4%; p = 0.83) in patients with and without PSC.

CONCLUSIONS

SOC-guided and transpapillary biopsies improve sensitivity for the detection of cholangiocarcinoma in combination with other ERCP-based techniques compared to brush cytology alone. However, while safe, these modalities do not significantly improve the sensitivity for the detection of malignancy in PSC patients.

The utility of digital cholangioscopy (SpyGlass DS) in biliary and pancreatic diseases: A clinical feasibility study at two tertiary care centers in Saudi Arabia (with Videos)

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Since its inception in 2007, single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) has gained popularity for many diagnostically and therapeutically challenging biliary and pancreatic conditions. Many studies have been published to evaluate the feasibility, usefulness, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile of the first generation. This paper is a descriptive study in which we aim to share the experience of two tertiary care centers with the novel version of SOC, SpyGlass DS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all the patients who went through the procedure from October 2015 - July 2019 to explore the scope of biliary and pancreatic conditions in which SOC was utilized. Technical success was defined as the ability to visualize the lesion and complete the procedure as planned, whereas clinical success was determined by the ability to achieve the desired diagnostic/therapeutic outcome.

RESULTS

During the period of interest, 66 patients (34 males) went through 84 cholangioscopy procedures. Forty-four patients failed the conventional extraction methods and needed the intervention for the treatment of difficult stones, 24 patients needed a diagnostic evaluation of biliary strictures, and 3 needed an intervention to remove migrated stents. Technical success was achieved in 98.8% (83/84) of the procedures (95% CI: 96-100%). Regarding clinical success, stone breakdown and removal was achieved in 92% of the procedures (49/53; 95% CI: 85-100%). Tissue samples were successfully obtained in 95.8% (23/24) of patients with strictures (95% CI: 88-100%). The biopsy was appropriate to make a histological diagnosis in 83.3% of cases (20/24; 95% CI: 68-98%). The median number of sessions needed to achieve the deisred outcome was one (ranging between 1 and 6 sessions).

CONCLUSION

The new version of SOC, SpyGlass DS, provides a feasible and an effective option for the management of difficult cholelithiasis, as well as visually evaluating and obtaining histological samples for indeterminate biliary strictures. However, data from more extensive studies are needed to establish its non-inferiority to the fiberoptic version in terms of short- and long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and complications.

The Expansion of Cholangioscopy: Established and Investigational Uses of SpyGlass in Biliary and Pancreatic Disorders

Direct visualization of bile and pancreatic duct pathology is proving to be beneficial in patients where previous techniques have failed. Recent advancements in technology and the development of the SpyGlass system have led to an increased use of cholangioscopy. It is already known that SpyGlass is beneficial in patients with difficult bile duct stones and indeterminate biliary lesions through the use of targeted lithotripsy and visually guided biopsy. Cholangioscopy allows the visualization of hidden stone and guide wire placement across difficult strictures and selective cannulation of the intrahepatic and cystic ducts. It is also demonstrating its utility in investigational applications such as post-liver transplant and primary sclerosing cholangitis stricture treatment, evaluation of hemobilia, and guided radiofrequency ablation of ductal tumors. In addition to having clinical utility, cholangioscopy may also be cost-effective by limiting the number of repeat procedures. Cholangioscopy overall has similar complication rates compared to other standard endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy (ERCP) techniques, but there may be higher rates of cholangitis. This could be mitigated with prophylactic antibiotic use, and overall, cholangioscopy has similar complication rates compared to other techniques.

Endoscopic Perspective in Cholangiocarcinoma Diagnostic Process

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary tract. Timely diagnosis is challenging due to its silent clinical course. As reliable laboratory markers are lacking, diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role. While cross-sectional imaging studies are usually conclusive for intrahepatic lesions, endoscopy plays an essential role in cases of extrahepatic tumors. Rational utilization of different diagnostic methods based on available evidence is needed. This article focuses on the diagnostic role of advanced biliary endoscopy, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, cholangioscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, and intraductal sonography.

The Role of Peroral Cholangioscopy in Evaluating Indeterminate Biliary Strictures

Biliary strictures are considered indeterminate when the initial radiologic evaluation and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with brush cytology and/or forceps biopsy do not reveal diagnostic findings. Evaluation of these strictures is challenging and often requires a multidisciplinary approach and multiple procedures. Peroral cholangioscopy allows direct visualization of these lesions and targeted tissue acquisition using miniature biopsy forceps. In the past decade, there have been significant improvements in the field of cholangioscopy. These advances have allowed higher-quality image acquisition, easy setup, operation by a single operator, easy maneuverability, and excellent targeted tissue sampling performance. However, the interpretation of cholangioscopic visual findings remains challenging. In this review, we discuss the role of peroral cholangioscopy in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures.

The Safety and Efficacy of Single-Operator Cholangioscopy in the Treatment of Difficult Common Bile Duct Stones after Failed Conventional ERCP

Background

Common bile duct (CBD) stones are extracted with a basket or balloon during ERCP with sphincterotomy. However, some stones are difficult to extract by conventional means. Cholangioscopy with lithotripsy is a modality to treat these difficult stones. We describe the clinical efficacy of single-operator per oral cholangioscopy (SOPOC) for difficult stones and discuss cost savings by avoiding surgical intervention.

Methods

Retrospective chart review was performed for all patients referred for difficult CBD stones. Clinical success was defined as clearing the duct of all stones. The cost of cholangioscopy (in $CDN) was calculated by adding all costs associated with the procedure(s), surgery, hospital stay or treatment of adverse events. This cost was compared with the projected cost of surgical bile duct exploration.

Results

A total of 51 patients (35 female) with a mean age of 66 years underwent 58 SOPOC procedures. Median procedure time was 67 minutes (95% CI, 61.5–73.5). The CBD was successfully cleared in 47 of 51 patients (93%). Minor adverse events were seen in seven patients (14%). The actual average per procedure cost was $4555±$2647. This compares with a projected cost of $7766 and $6175 for open and laparoscopic bile duct exploration, with a cost-per-case saving of $3210 and $1619, respectively.

Conclusion

SOPOC with lithotripsy is highly effective and safe for the treatment of difficult common bile duct stones. In addition, significant cost savings may be realized by avoiding surgical bile duct exploration.

Single-operator peroral cholangioscope in treating difficult biliary stones: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Current evidence supporting the utility of single-operator peroral cholangioscope (SOPOC) in the management of difficult bile duct stones is limited. We conducted the present systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SOPOC in treating difficult bile duct stones.

METHODS

We searched studies up to April 2018, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Quality assessment of the studies was completed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Main outcomes were complete stone clearance rate, single-session stone clearance rate, number of endoscopic sessions needed for stone clearance, and adverse events. We calculated the pooled estimates with random-effects models. Potential publication bias was assessed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies involving 2786 patients met the inclusion criteria. Pooled proportion of patients with complete stone clearance was 94.3% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 90.2-97.5%). Single-session stone clearance was achieved in 71.1% (95% CI: 62.1-79.5%) of the pooled patients. Pooled number of sessions needed for stone clearance was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.17-1.34%). Pooled adverse event rate was 6.1% (95% CI: 3.8-8.7%). Potential publication bias was detected but had no significant influence on the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-operator peroral cholangioscope is an effective and safe treatment for difficult bile duct stones when conventional methods have failed. More randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the results.

Digital cholangioscopy: the diagnostic yield and impact on management of patients with biliary stricture

OBJECTIVES

Biliary strictures frequently present a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC) on subsequent treatment of patients with biliary stricture.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing DSOC for biliary stricture were enrolled. Gold standard for final diagnosis included histology from surgical resection. In patients without surgery, clinical evaluation methods and repeated imaging studies were used for comparison of DSOC findings and final diagnosis. Patients were followed-up prospectively focusing on subsequent treatment.

RESULTS

Among 30 enrolled patients, final diagnosis was malignant in 13 (43%) and benign in 17 (57%). The sensitivity and specificity of visual impression in diagnosing malignant stricture were 100% (95% CI: 75 - 100) and 76% (95% CI: 50 - 93), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for biopsy were 92% (95% CI: 62 - 100) and 100% (95% CI: 78 - 100), respectively. One (3%) case of complicating cholangitis with fatal outcome occurred. Final treatment included surgery in 7 (23%), endoscopy in 18 (60%) and chemotherapy in 3 (10%) of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, favorable operating characteristics of DSOC were confirmed. Absolute negative predictive value of visual impression provided reassurance to patients with benign strictures who avoided unnecessary surgery in 53%. One (3%) case of cholangitis with fatal outcome occurred.

Endoscopic Management of Complex Biliary Stone Disease

Choledocholithiasis is a common disorder that is managed universally by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). For difficult or complex stones, ERCP with conventional techniques may fail to achieve biliary clearance in 10% to 15% of cases. This review summarizes the literature regarding the current available endoscopic techniques for complex stone disease, including mechanical lithotripsy, endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation, cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary access.

The clinical value of ERCP-guided cholangiopancreatoscopy using a single-operator system

BACKGROUND

Single-operator, per-oral cholangiopancreatoscopy (SOPCP) enables direct biliopancreatic ductal visualization, targeted tissue sampling, and therapeutic intervention. At Karolinska University Hospital, SOPCP was introduced early and has since been extensively utilized according to a standardized protocol. We analysed the clinical value of SOPCP in the diagnosis and treatment of biliopancreatic diseases in a single high volume center.

METHODS

All SOPCP procedures performed between March 2007 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Each procedure's diagnostic yield and therapeutic value was evaluated using a predefined 4 grade scale; 1 - no diagnostic or therapeutic value, 2 - information gained did not impact clinical decision-making and in case of a therapeutic intervention, did not alter the clinical course of the patient, 3 - information gained had an impact on clinical decision-making and in the case of a therapeutic intervention, assisted subsequent disease management, and finally, 4 - information gained was essential and critical for clinical decision-making and in case of a therapeutic intervention, solved the clinical problem requiring no further therapeutic actions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse results, with uni- and multivariate analyses completed to assess risk of adverse events.

RESULTS

During the study period, 365 SOPCP procedures were performed. We found SOPCP of pivotal importance (grade 4) in 19% of cases, and of great clinical significance (grade 3) in 44% of cases. SOPCP did not affect clinical decision-making or alter clinical course (grade 1 and 2) in 37% of cases.

CONCLUSION

SOPCP offers direct access to the biliopancreatic ducts for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, adding significant clinical value in 64% of cases.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

As this is a purely observational and retrospectively registered study in which the assignment of the medical intervention was not at the discretion of the investigator, it has not been registered in a registry.

Role of digital single-operator cholangioscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary disorders

Due to the need for improvement in the diagnosis and minimally invasive therapy of the bile duct disorders new technologies for cholangioscopy have been recently developed. Per-oral cholangioscopy has become an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool leading to avoidance of aggressive and unnecessary surgery in many clinical scenarios. This paper focuses on the newly developed SpyGlass DS technology, its advantages, and the technique of single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC), biliary indications and possible adverse events. We also review the available literature; discuss the limitations and future expectations. Digital SOC (D-SOC) is a useful technique, which provides endoscopic imaging of the biliary tree, optical diagnosis, biopsy under direct vision and therapeutic interventions. The implementations are diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic indications are indeterminate biliary strictures, unclear filling defects, staging of cholangiocarcinoma, staging of ampullary tumors (extension into the common bile duct), unclear bile duct dilation, exploring cystic lesions of the biliary tree, unexplained hemobilia, posttransplant biliary complications. Therapeutic indications are lithotripsy of difficult stones, retrieval of migrated stents, foreign body removal, guide wire placement, transpapillary gallbladder drainage and endoscopic tumor ablative therapy. Most studied and established indications are the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary stricture and intraductal lithotripsy of difficult stones. The adverse events are not different and more common compared to those of Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) alone. D-SOC is a safe and effective procedure, adjunct to the standard ERCP and the newly available digital technology overcomes many of the limitations of the previous generations of cholangioscopes.

Cholangioscopy in the digital era

Cholangioscopy allows direct visualization and subsequent therapeutic maneuvers of the biliary ductal system. With advances in endoscopic and imaging technology, cholangioscopy has become an important modality for the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures and an essential therapeutic tool for difficult to remove biliary stones. Enhanced imaging and operability of the latest generation cholangioscopes have further expanded their clinical applications to include ductal tumor ablation, gallbladder drainage, access to difficult to reach branches of the biliary tree, and biliary foreign body manipulation. In this review, we discuss the technical evolution of cholangioscopy into the digital era and review the clinical evidence supporting its use in the diagnosis and therapy of biliary tract disease.

Efficacy and Safety of Digital Single-Operator Cholangioscopy for Difficult Biliary Stones

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is not clear whether digital single-operator cholangioscopy (D-SOC) with electrohydraulic and laser lithotripsy is effective in removal of difficult biliary stones. We investigated the safety and efficacy of D-SOC with electrohydraulic and laser lithotripsy in an international, multicenter study of patients with difficult biliary stones.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 407 patients (60.4% female; mean age, 64.2 years) who underwent D-SOC for difficult biliary stones at 22 tertiary centers in the United States, United Kingdom, or Korea from February 2015 through December 2016; 306 patients underwent electrohydraulic lithotripsy and 101 (24.8%) underwent laser lithotripsy. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with technical failure and the need for more than 1 D-SOC electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy session to clear the bile duct.

RESULTS

The mean procedure time was longer in the electrohydraulic lithotripsy group (73.9 minutes) than in the laser lithotripsy group (49.9 minutes; P < .001). Ducts were completely cleared (technical success) in 97.3% of patients (96.7% of patients with electrohydraulic lithotripsy vs 99% patients with laser lithotripsy; P = .31). Ducts were cleared in a single session in 77.4% of patients (74.5% by electrohydraulic lithotripsy and 86.1% by laser lithotripsy; P = .20). Electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy failed in 11 patients (2.7%); 8 patients were treated by surgery. Adverse events occurred in 3.7% patients and the stone was incompletely removed from 6.6% of patients. On multivariable analysis, difficult anatomy or cannulation (duodenal diverticula or altered anatomy) correlated with technical failure (odds ratio, 5.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-21.2; P = .02). Procedure time increased odds of more than 1 session of D-SOC electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.03; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a multicenter, international, retrospective analysis, we found D-SOC with electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy to be effective and safe in more than 95% of patients with difficult biliary stones. Fewer than 5% of patients require additional treatment with surgery and/or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy to clear the duct.

Advanced ERCP techniques for the extraction of complex biliary stones: a single referral center's 12-year experience

OBJECTIVES

Advanced ERCP techniques (AETs) for difficult biliary stones include peroral cholangioscopy (POC) with electrohydraulic/laser lithotripsy (EHL/LL), endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) and mechanical lithotripsy (ML). We assess the efficacy of AETs.

METHODS

A retrospective query for AETs.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

Complete duct clearance. Secondary outcome: Complete duct clearance by technique. Statistical Analysis version 9.3 (SAS Inc., Cary, NC).

RESULTS

From 1/00 to 10/12, 349 patients were identified of which 222 (80% had prior ERCPs) had AETs. 211 with sufficient follow-up underwent 295 ERCPs; 280 of which were AET's. Index AETs: POC with EHL/LL (n = 46/211, 22%), ML (n = 84/211, 40%), EPLBD with mean balloon size of 11.5 ± 1.7 mm (n = 39/211, 18%) and combination AETs (n = 42/211, 20%). Stone characteristics: 76% had ≥1 stone, 81% extrahepatic and 32% had strictures. Number of stones (mean 2.5 and range 1-20) did not differ among groups. EPLBD had higher percentage (95%) of extrahepatic stones (p = .0003). The 'Combination' and 'POC' groups had larger stones (mean 17.7 mm ±6.4 and 16.8 mm ±6.1, respectively; p < .001). Complete clearance: 209/211 (99%) at index AET 167/211 (79%) or after mean of 2.5 ± 0.7 AETs in 42/211 (20%). Partial clearance: 2/211 (1%). Clearance at index AETs was higher with EPLBD (90%, p = .014). Adverse Events: 7/280 (2.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

AETs achieved clearance in 99%. EPLBD had higher clearance at index AET likely owing to higher extrahepatic stones. Larger stones, but not number, were associated with increased combination AETs and total ERCPs.

Current endoscopic strategies for managing large bile duct stones

Common bile duct stones are a relatively common occurrence and can often lead to devastating complications. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was introduced in the 1970s for management of common bile duct stones. Most common bile duct stones can be removed with simple techniques such as endoscopic sphincterotomy and balloon trawling. However, large bile duct stones continue to pose some difficulty in achieving complete extraction. In this article, we will review some of the established techniques such as the use of endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation, mechanical lithotripsy, and cholangioscopy-assisted techniques. We will look at the recent literature to help clarify the particular methods and answer some of the questions surrounding these methods.

Diagnostic and therapeutic single-operator cholangiopancreatoscopy with SpyGlassDS™: results of a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness and diagnostic and therapeutic outcome of the single-operator cholangiopancreatoscopy (SOC) with SpyGlassDS™.

METHODS

In a retrospective multicenter study between November 2015 and January 2017, SpyGlassDS™ procedures were analyzed in participating centers. Indications, accuracy of SOC-guided biopsies, management of large bile duct stones, and complications were analyzed. Follow-up was 4 months.

RESULTS

Two hundred and six patients out of 250 examinations were evaluated. Indications were biliary stones (n = 132), bile duct stenosis (n = 93), stones and stenosis combined (n = 24), and bile duct leakage (n = 1). Of the 117 cases which were suspicious of malignancy, in 99 cases the lesion could be stratified into benign (n = 55) or malignant (n = 44) indicating a sensitivity of 95.5% and a specificity of 94.5% for the indication tumor. SOC-guided biopsies revealed a sensitivity of 57.7% with a specificity of 100%. In 107 examinations, biliary stones were visualized and could be completely removed in 91.1% with a need of three procedures (range 1-6) to achieve final stone clearance. In 75 cases, lithotripsy was performed and was successful in 71 cases (95%). Four out of 45 patients (8.9%) underwent cholecystectomy with surgical bile duct revision as a final therapy. Adverse Event (AE) occurred in 33/250 patients (13.2%) and Serious Adverse Event (SAE) occurred in 1/250 patients (0.4%). Cholangitis was 1% (n = 102) after peri-interventional administration of antibiotics and 12.8% (n = 148) without antibiotic prophylaxis (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SOC with SpyGlassDS™ became a new standard for the diagnosis of indefinite biliary lesions and therapy of large bile duct stones. The diagnostic yield of SOC-guided biopsies facilitated a definite diagnosis in most cases and should be improved by standardized biopsy protocols. SOC-guided interventions allowed removal of large biliary stones by SOC-guided lithotripsy. The complication rate of 13.2% can be considerably reduced by use of a single-shot antibiotic treatment.

Indeterminate biliary strictures: a simplified approach

Pre-operative evaluation of biliary strictures remains challenging. The dilemma that exists is how to balance the risk of failing to detect malignancy and the potential morbidity caused by unnecessary surgery in patients with benign etiologies. With emerging novel diagnostic modalities, this study aims to assess the efficacy of diagnostic techniques and facilitate a clinical approach to indeterminate biliary strictures. Areas covered: Conventional imaging modalities are crucial in identifying the location of a stricture and are helpful for choosing further diagnostic modalities. Utilization of endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), is key in establishing a diagnosis. The emergence of novel diagnostic modalities, such as fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), peroral cholangioscopy (POC), intraductal endoscopic ultrasound (IDUS) and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), enhance the diagnostic yield in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures. Expert commentary: More reliable and validated visual criteria for differentiating malignancy from benign biliary conditions, utilizing advanced imaging modalities such as POC and CLE, need to be established. It is of significance to further evaluate these novel diagnostic modalities through ongoing trials and to develop a diagnostic algorithm that reconciles cost-effectiveness with diagnostic accuracy.

Efficacy and safety of novel digital single-operator peroral cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy for complicated biliary stones

Background/study aims Laser lithotripsy can effectively fragment complicated biliary stones, but current cholangioscopes are limited by fragility, restricted mobility or moderate visual resolution. The efficacy and safety of a new digital single-operator peroral cholangioscope to guide laser lithotripsy were evaluated. Patients and methods In this prospective single-center series, consecutive patients with complicated biliary stones, defined as impacted stones > 1.5 cm in size and wider than the more distal common bile duct, or stones that failed extraction by basket mechanical lithotripsy, underwent ERCP and SpyGlass DS peroral cholangioscope (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, United States)-guided laser lithotripsy. Stone clearance rate and incidence of adverse events were determined. Results Seventeen patients (10 men, 7 women; median age 76 years) with a median biliary stone size of 2 cm underwent predominantly holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser lithotripsy, achieving a 94 % stone clearance rate over 1 median procedure. Lithotripsy was performed in 8 of 17 patients due to an impacted biliary stone. The remaining patients underwent lithotripsy due to prior failure of the basket mechanical lithotripter to capture or crush their stones. Post lithotripsy, 2 patients developed cholangitis and 1 patient with underlying COPD developed respiratory distress, all resolved with conservative management. There were no hemobilia, perforations, pancreatitis nor any deaths. Conclusion SpyGlass DS peroral cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy is an efficient and safe modality for management of complicated biliary stones.