Comparison of Different Endoscopic Methods Used for Managing Choledocholithiasis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis

Effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies on the sphincter of Oddi

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with its clinical ad-vantages of less trauma and faster recovery, has become the primary treatment for choledocholithiasis.

AIM

To investigate the effects of different ERCP procedures on the sphincter of Oddi.

METHODS

The clinical data of 91 patients who underwent ERCP at Yixing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between February 2018 and February 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST, n = 24) and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD, n = 67) groups. The duration of operation, pancreatic development, pancreatic sphincterotomy, intubation difficulties, stone recurrence, and incidence of reflux cholangitis and cholecystitis were statistically analyzed in patients with a history of choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, and Oddi sphincter dysfunction in the EST and EPBD groups.

RESULTS

Differences in hypertension, diabetes, increased bilirubin, small diameter of the common bile duct, or ampullary diverticulum between the two groups were not significant. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups concerning sex and age (< 60 years). Patients with a history of choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, and Oddi sphincter dysfunction were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group. The number of cases of pancreatic development, pancreatic duct sphincterotomy, and difficult intubation were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group. The number of Oddi's sphincter manometries, ERCP surgical outcomes, and guidewires entering the pancreatic duct several times in EST group were lower than those in the EPBD group. The numbers of stone recurrences, reflux cholangitis, and cholecystitis were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group.

CONCLUSION

In summary, common bile duct stones, pancreatitis history, and multiple guided wire introductions into the pancreatic duct are independent risk factors for EST and EPBD. Based on this evidence, this study can provide actionable insights for clinicians and researchers.

[Endoscopically non-removable stones of the common bile duct]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of long-term biliary stenting in the treatment of endoscopically intractable common bile duct stones.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study enrolled 247 patients with endoscopically non-removable bile duct calculi («difficult» choledocholithiasis) divided into two comparable groups. The main group included 129 patients who underwent biliary stenting with original stents with a nanocarbon inert coating (RF patent No. 84226), including those with inclusion of silver nanoclusters (RF patent No. 129397). The control group included 118 patients who underwent all methods of surgical treatment of choledocholithiasis, while biliary stents with original nanocarbon silver-containing inert coating were excluded. The vast majority of patients were women of advanced age (mean 66.8±4.7 and 66.3±5.6, max 89 and 90, min 32 and 37 years, respectively).

RESULTS

In the control group, all patients underwent endoscopic transpapillary interventions as soon as possible. We could not extract common bile duct stones via endoscopic approach in 56.8% of cases. These patients underwent open or laparoscopic choledocholithotomy with lithoextraction. Complications occurred in 28.5% of cases. Mortality rate was 4.2%. Standard stenting of common bile duct was performed in 28.8% of cases. At the same time, stent dysfunction followed by relapse of obstructive jaundice occurred in 27.1% of patients within 3-3.5 months. Of these, 16 patients (13.5%) underwent stent removal and lithoextraction. Re-stenting was performed in 18 patients (15.3%). Moreover, shock wave lithotripsy with subsequent removal of common bile duct calculi was performed in 8 (6.8%) of these patients the next day. In the main group, original biliary plastic stents with nanocarbon silver-containing inert coating were implanted in all patients. Under permanent therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid drugs, we observed significant shrinkage of calculi to 11.8±1.8 mm and decrease in their density. This made it possible to carry out successful extraction of calculi in 81 patients (62.8%) after 6±0.3 months. Shock wave lithotripsy was performed in 36 (27.9%) cases. This procedure was successful and allowed final lithoextraction in 28 patients (21.7%). Re-stenting was performed in 15 (11.6%) cases, laparotomy - in 5 (3.9%) patients. Mortality rate was 0.78%.

CONCLUSION

Our data allow us to discuss high efficiency of long-term bile duct stenting with plastic stents with nanocarbon silver-containing inert coating in complex treatment of choledocholithiasis. This approach ensures acceptable incidence of undesirable complications and mortality. This situation undoubtedly dictates the need for further larger prospective studies.