Covered self-expandable biliary stents for the treatment of bleeding after ERCP

Endoscopic hemostasis with a self-expandable metal stent as bridge therapy for hemobilia

Background and study aims

Management of hemobilia is often challenging. Recently, endoscopic hemostasis with a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has shown promising efficacy for controlling bleeding at the endoscopic sphincterotomy site. This study aimed to assess efficacy and feasibility of endoscopic hemostasis as bridge therapy for hemobilia.

Patients and methods

Patients with hemobilia between 2008 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. We compared efficacy of hemostasis between the initial endoscopic hemostasis group (ENDO group) and the initial angiographic embolization group (EMBO group). The primary outcome was initial hemostasis success rate and the secondary outcomes were delayed bleeding rate, subsequent embolization rate, 28-day mortality, transfusion amount, time to first hemostasis, total hemobilia time, and incidence of hypovolemic shock.

Results

A total of 26 patients with hemobilia were included in this study and 17 patients (65.4%) were identified as the ENDO group and nine patients (34.6%) were classified as the EMBO group. The success rate of initial hemostasis was 88.2% (15/17) in the ENDO group and 100% (9/9) in the EMBO group ( P = 0.529). The rate of delayed bleeding in the ENDO group was 17.6% (3/17) and 0.0% (0/9) in the EMBO group ( P = 0.529). Total hemobilia time was shorter in the ENDO group than in the EMBO group (mean: 281.5 ± 1022.4 minutes vs. 5002.8 ± 7982.6 minutes; P < 0.001) Stent insertion depth was associated with successful hemostasis without delayed bleeding. ( P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Endoscopic hemostasis using SEMS for hemobilia appeared to be a feasible bridge therapy.

Use of fully covered self-expanding metal biliary stents for managing endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy related bleeding

Background and study aims  Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) related-bleeding is a common adverse event related to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Traditionally, endoscopic modalities such as epinephrine injection, cauterization, and balloon tamponade have been used for management. Recently, use of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) to manage EBS-related bleeding has gained popularity. However, data regarding its use are limited to small case series. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FCSEMS placement for the treatment of EBS-related bleeding. Patients and methods  All patients referred to our center from October 2014 to November 2019 who had an FCSEMS placed for EBS-related bleeding were included. FCSEMS was placed either for primary control of bleeding or after failure of other traditional endoscopic hemostasis techniques at the discretion of the endoscopist. Data was collected regarding patient demographics, procedural characteristics, clinical and technical success rates of FCSEMS, as well as adverse events. Results  A total of 97 patients underwent placement of FCSEMS for EBS-related bleeding, of which 76.3 % had immediate bleeding and 23.7 % had delayed bleeding. Mean age was 67.2 years and 47.4 % were males. Seven patients who had immediate EBS-related bleeding at index ERCP underwent other endoscopic therapies prior to placement of FCSEMS for rebleeding. The technical success rate for FCSEMS placement was 100 % and the rebleeding rate was 6.2 %. Four patients with FCSEMS placement developed pancreatitis and four had stent migration. Conclusions  Our findings suggest that FCSEMS is a highly effective treatment modality for managing EBS-related bleeding and has an acceptable safety profile.

Devices for endoscopic hemostasis of nonvariceal GI bleeding (with videos)

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic intervention is often the first line of therapy for GI nonvariceal bleeding. Although some of the devices and techniques used for this purpose have been well studied, others are relatively new, with few available outcomes data.

METHODS

In this document, we review devices and techniques for endoscopic treatment of nonvariceal GI bleeding, the evidence regarding their efficacy and safety, and financial considerations for their use.

RESULTS

Devices used for endoscopic hemostasis in the GI tract can be classified into injection devices (needles), thermal devices (multipolar/bipolar probes, hemostatic forceps, heater probe, argon plasma coagulation, radiofrequency ablation, and cryotherapy), mechanical devices (clips, suturing devices, banding devices, stents), and topical devices (hemostatic sprays).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic evaluation and treatment remains a cornerstone in the management of nonvariceal upper- and lower-GI bleeding. A variety of devices is available for hemostasis of bleeding lesions in the GI tract. Other than injection therapy, which should not be used as monotherapy, there are few compelling data that strongly favor any one device over another. For endoscopists, the choice of a hemostatic device should depend on the type and location of the bleeding lesion, the availability of equipment and expertise, and the cost of the device.

EUS-guided gallbladder drainage using a lumen-apposing self-expandable metal stent in patients with coagulopathy or anticoagulation therapy: a case series

Background and study aims  We report our experience in endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage performed emergently in 4 prohibitive surgical risk patients with concurrent coagulopathy or on anticoagulant therapy using an electrocautery enhanced lumen apposing self expanding metal stent (LA-SEMS).

Hemobilia: An Uncommon But Notable Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

GOAL AND BACKGROUND

A literature review to improve practitioners' knowledge and performance concerning the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of hemobilia.

STUDY

A search of Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Medline was conducted using the keyword hemobilia and relevant articles were reviewed and analyzed. The findings pertaining to hemobilia etiology, investigation, and management techniques were considered and organized by clinicians practiced in hemobilia.

RESULTS

The majority of current hemobilia cases have an iatrogenic cause from either bile duct or liver manipulation. Blunt trauma is also a significant cause of hemobilia. The classic triad presentation of right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding is rarely seen. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the preferred diagnostic modalities, and the preferred therapeutic management includes interventional radiology and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Surgery is rarely a therapeutic option.

CONCLUSIONS

With advances in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging technology, diagnosis with these less invasive investigations are the favored option. However, traditional catheter angiography is still the gold standard. The management of significant hemobilia is still centered on arterial embolization, but arterial and biliary stents have become accepted alternative therapies.

Clinical endoscopic management and outcome of post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding

Post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding is a common complication of biliary sphincterotomy, and the incidence varies from 1% to 48%. It can be challenging to localize the bleeder or to administer various interventions through a side-viewing endoscope. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding and the outcome of endoscopic intervention therapies. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 513 patients who underwent biliary sphincterotomy in Mackay Memorial Hospital between 2011 and 2016. The blood biochemistry, comorbidities, indication for sphincterotomy, severity of bleeding, endoscopic features of bleeder, and type of endoscopic therapy were analyzed. Post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding occurred in 65 (12.6%) patients. Forty-five patients had immediate bleeding and 20 patients had delayed bleeding. The multivariate analysis of risk factors associated with post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding were liver cirrhosis (P = 0.029), end-stage renal disease (P = 0.038), previous antiplatelet drug use (P<0.001), and duodenal ulcer (P = 0.023). The complications of pancreatitis and cholangitis were higher in the bleeding group, with statistical significance. Delayed bleeding occurred within 1 to 7 days (mean, 2.5 days), and 60% (12/20) of the patients received endoscopic evaluation. In the delayed bleeding group, the successful hemostasis rate was 71.4% (5/7), and 65% (13/20) of the patients had ceased bleeding without endoscopic hemostasis therapy. Comparison of different therapeutic modalities showed that cholangitis was higher in patients who received epinephrine spray (P = 0.042) and pancreatitis was higher in patients who received epinephrine injection and electrocoagulation (P = 0.041 and P = 0.039 respectively). Clinically, post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding and further endoscopic hemostasis therapy increase the complication rate of pancreatitis and cholangitis. Realizing the effectiveness of each therapeutic modalities and appropriate management of different levels bleeding are important.

Relationship between postoperative duodenal papilla hemorrhage and primary disease in patients after therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

AIM

To investigate the relationship between postoperative duodenal papilla hemorrhage and primary disease in patients after therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

METHODS

The clinical data of 661 patients treated by ERCP at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether the patients had postoperative duodenal papilla hemorrhage or not, they were divided into a bleeding group and a non-bleeding group. The relationship between primary disease type and the risk of bleeding was then evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall bleeding rate was 6.1% (40/661). The percentage of patients with hypertension in the bleeding group was significantly higher than that in the non-bleeding group (P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with impacted stones in the ampulla of Vater, bile duct carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and duodenal papilla carcinoma were significantly higher in the bleeding group than that in the non-bleeding group (P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with common bile duct stones, acute suppurative cholangitis, acute biliary pancreatitis, and biliary cholangitis stricture in the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The risk of duodenal papilla bleeding after therapeutic ERCP is greater in patients with impacted stones in the ampulla of Vater, bile duct carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and duodenal papilla carcinoma. Prevention of bleeding should be emphasized in these patients, and endoscopic hemostasis is safe and effective.

New Endoscopic Technologies and Procedural Advances for Endoscopic Hemostasis

Endoscopic interventions are first-line therapy for upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Injection therapy in combination with a second endoscopic modality has reduced re-bleeding, need for surgery and mortality in non-variceal bleeding. For variceal bleeding endoscopic banding or cyanoacrylate injection techniques are recommended interventions. However, despite ease of application and general acceptance of these techniques, there is an ongoing re-bleeding rate associated with significant in-hospital mortality. We discuss current literature on new advances in endoscopic technologies and procedural techniques that have emerged to improve patient outcomes.

Biliary hemostasis using an endoscopic plastic stent placement for uncontrolled hemobilia caused by transpapillary forceps biopsy (with video)

A 78-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for the examination and treatment of jaundice. A transpapillary forceps biopsy for a long distal bile duct stricture was performed using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Immediately after the biopsy, massive bleeding was observed from the orifice of the papilla. Although hemobilia was pulsatile, an endoscopic biliary plastic stent placement was very effective in achieving hemostasis. However, a nasal biliary catheter was required because a blood clot clogged the stent on the following day. Although covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS) placement has been reported for achieving endoscopic hemostasis for bleeding, we chose to use a plastic stent to reduce the risk of post-procedure pancreatitis. The placement of both an endoscopic biliary plastic stent and a nasobiliary drainage catheter can be an alternative hemostatic tool to CSEMSs.

Cap-assisted hemoclip application with forward-viewing endoscope for hemorrhage induced by endoscopic sphincterotomy: a prospective case series study

Background

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is a therapeutic technique developed as an advanced application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). An important adverse event associated with this procedure is hemorrhage, which may sometimes be uncontrollable. We sought to examine whether cap-assisted hemoclip application is effective in controlling ES–induced hemorrhage.

Methods

In this prospective study, we investigated the outcomes in 10 patients who had uncontrolled ES–induced hemorrhage and were treated by cap-assisted application of hemoclip with a forward-viewing endoscope.

Results

Nine of the 10 investigated patients were successfully treated using the cap-assisted hemoclip technique with forward-viewing endoscope, yielding a success rate of 90 %. The patient with hemorrhage non-responsive to hemoclipping required catheter embolization of the bleeding artery after its identification by digital subtraction angiography. One of the 10 patients developed mild pancreatitis after the procedure, but was successfully managed conservatively.

Conclusions

Cap-assisted hemoclip application with a forward-viewing endoscope appears to be an effective therapeutic modality for achieving hemostasis in cases of ES–induced hemorrhage, without the occurrence of any severe adverse events; we believe that this method should be considered as an option in the management of ES–induced hemorrhage.

Post-sphincterotomy bleeding: fully-covered metal stents for hemostasis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

In endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, post-sphincterotomy bleeding (PSB) is a common complication of biliary sphincterotomy. Recently, the temporary placement of fully-covered metal stents (FCMS) into the biliary tree in order to achieve a tamponade effect has been described as an additional therapeutic option for PSB. The aim of this article is to review the literature on FCMS for hemostasis in PSB and update the treatment algorithm for this complication.

METHODS

A PubMed literature search was conducted using the search terms post-sphincterotomy, bleeding, and stent. 33 articles were reviewed, along with their references, and four were found to describe the use of FCMS for hemostasis in PSB.

RESULTS

A total of 21 patient cases were described in the four articles. All patients received FCMS for PSB hemostasis following the application and subsequent failure of traditional therapies (conventional pharmacologic injection, thermal or electrocoagulation, and mechanical therapy (balloon tamponade or endoclip)). Successful hemostasis was achieved in all patients through FCMS placement. No major complications were observed.   

CONCLUSION

These 21 cases demonstrate that FCMS are a viable therapeutic option for PSB.  It is reasonable to consider stent placement for patients in which traditional interventions fail in order to avoid the need for angiographic or surgical hemostasis.