Endoscopic endgame for obstructive pancreatopathy: outcomes of anterograde EUS-guided pancreatic duct drainage. A dual-center study

Technical review of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage/anastomosis and trans-endosonographically created route procedures for the treatment of pancreatic diseases

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct drainage includes two procedures: EUS-guided drainage/anastomosis (EUS-D/A) and trans-papillary drainage with EUS-assisted pancreatic rendezvous. EUS-guided pancreatogastrostomy is the most common EUS-D/A procedure and is recommended as a salvage procedure in cases in which endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography fails or is difficult. However, initial EUS-D/A is performed in patients with surgically altered anatomy at our institution. It is one of the most difficult interventional EUS procedures and has a high incidence of adverse events. The technical difficulties differ according to etiology, and the incidence of adverse events varies between initial EUS-D/A and subsequent trans-endosonographically/EUS-guided created route procedures. Hence, it is important to meticulously prepare a procedure based on the patient's condition and the available devices. The technical difficulties in EUS-D/A include: (1) determination of the puncture point, (2) selection of a puncture needle and guidewire, (3) guidewire manipulation, and (4) dilation of the puncture route and stenting. Proper technical procedures are important to increase the success rate and reduce the incidence and severity of adverse events. The complexity of EUS-D/A is also contingent on the severity of pancreatic fibrosis and stricture. In post-pancreatectomy cases, determination of the puncture site is important for success because of the remnant pancreas. Trans-endosonographically/EUS-guided created route procedures following initial EUS-D/A are also important for achieving the treatment goal. This article focuses on effective strategies for initial EUS-D/A, based on the etiology and condition of the pancreas. We mainly discuss EUS-D/A, including its indications, techniques, and success-enhancing strategies.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreatic Duct Drainage

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) is a method of decompressing the pancreatic duct (PD) if unable to access the papilla or surgical anastomosis, particularly in nonsurgical candidates. The 2 types of EUS-PDD are EUS-assisted pancreatic rendezvous (EUS-PRV) and EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy (EUS-PG). EUS-PRV should be considered in patients with accessible papilla or anastomosis, while EUS-PG is a comparable alternative in surgically altered foregut anatomy. While technical and clinical successes range from 79% to 100%, adverse events occur in approximately 20%. A multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient's anatomy, clinical indication, and long-term goals should be discussed with surgical and interventional radiology colleagues.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage: a comprehensive state of the art review

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) has traditionally been the standard modality for pancreatic endotherapy. However, in certain situations, failure of retrograde ductal access may warrant an alternative modality of drainage. This can occur in various settings like difficult and/or surgically altered anatomy or duodenal obstruction. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) is a relatively newer addition to the armamentarium for endoscopic access to the PD.

AREAS COVERED

This comprehensive state-of-art review aims to give an overview of the indications, technical details, different approaches, and outcomes of EUS-PDD, with the latest evidence available in scientific literature.

EXPERT OPINION

Akin to its biliary drainage counterpart, EUS-PDD enables an EUS-assisted-ERP using rendezvous technique or EUS-guided drainage through transmural stenting. The technique has evolved over the ensuing years with multitude of accessories, approaches, and devices to optimize the outcomes. However, the technical success and adverse events rates need to be further improved. Additionally, it has a steep learning curve with requirements of advanced technical skill and optimum infrastructure back-up. Meticulous patient selection, precise knowledge of ductal anatomy, appropriate approach, and carefully chosen accessories can improve its clinical outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct interventions: A single tertiary center experience

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct intervention (EUS-PDI) is one of the most technically challenging procedures. There remains a knowledge gap due to its rarity. The aim is to report the accumulated EUS-PDI experience in a tertiary center.

METHODS

Single tertiary center, retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data during the study period, from January 2013 to June 2021.

RESULTS

In total, 14 patients (85% male; mean age, 61 years, range 37-81) and 25 EUS-PDI procedures for unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) were included. Principal etiology was chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic duct obstruction (78%). EUS-guided assisted (colorant and/or guidewire, rendezvous) ERP was performed in 14/25 (56%); and transmural drainage in 11 procedures, including pancreaticogastrosmy in 9/25 (36%) and pancreaticoduodenostomy in 2/25 (8%). Overall technical and clinical success was 78.5% (11/14). Three (21%) patients required a second procedure with success in all cases. Two failed cases required surgery. Three (21%) adverse events (AEs) were noted (fever, n=1; perforation, n=1; pancreatitis, n=1). Patients underwent a median of 58 months (range 24-108) follow-up procedures for re-stenting. Spontaneous stent migration was detected in 50% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-PDI is an effective salvage therapy for unsuccessful ERP, although 21% of patients may still experience AEs. In case of EUS-guided rendezvous failure, it can cross over to a transmural drainage.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreatic Duct Interventions

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct drainage is one of the most challenging procedures in therapeutic endoscopy. Technical success is lower than for other therapeutic EUS procedures. However, when successful in a clear clinical indication, this procedure can offer a useful therapeutic alternative and improves the overall clinical success of the endoscopic approach. Current challenges include the standardization of clinical indications and of the techniques used for accessing the pancreatic duct, the strategy for mid-term and long-term management, and definition of the scope of the training that should be offered to a few highly experienced endoscopists.

Techniques and Outcomes of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided-Pancreatic Duct Drainage (EUS- PDD)

Endoscopic ultrasound guided-pancreatic duct drainage (EUS- PDD) is one of the most technically challenging procedures for the interventional endoscopist. The most common indications for EUS- PDD are patients with main pancreatic duct obstruction who have failed conventional endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) drainage or those with surgically altered anatomy. EUS- PDD can be performed via two approaches: the EUS-rendezvous (EUS- RV) or the EUS-transmural drainage (TMD) techniques. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated review of the techniques and equipment available for EUS- PDD and the outcomes of EUS- PDD reported in the literature. Recent developments and future directions surrounding the procedure will also be discussed.

Current landscape of therapeutic EUS: Changing paradigms in gastroenterology practice

Therapeutic EUS has witnessed exponential growth in the last decade, but it has been considered investigational until recently. An increasing body of good-quality evidence is now demonstrating clear advantages over established alternatives, adding therapeutic EUS to management algorithms of complex hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. In this review, the available evidence and clinical role of therapeutic EUS in established and evolving applications will be discussed. A Graphical Summary for each scenario will provide (1) technical steps, (2) anatomical sketch, (3) best-supporting evidence, and (4) role in changing current and future GI practice. Therapeutic EUS has accepted well-established applications such as drainage of symptomatic peripancreatic fluid collections, biliary drainage in failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and treatment of acute cholecystitis in unfit-for-surgery patients. In addition, good-quality evidence on several emerging indications (e.g., treatment of gastric outlet obstruction, local ablation of pancreatic solid lesions, etc.) is promising. Specific emphasis will be given to how these technical innovations have changed management paradigms and algorithms and expanded the possibilities of gastroenterologists to provide therapeutic solutions to old and emerging clinical needs. Therapeutic EUS is cementing its role in everyday practice, radically changing the treatment of different HPB diseases and other conditions (e.g., GI obstruction). The development of dedicated accessories and increased training opportunities will expand the ability of gastroenterologists to deliver highly effective yet minimally invasive therapies, potentially translating into a better quality of life, especially for oncological and fragile patients.

EUS-guided transenteric pancreatic duct drainage

Endoscopic drainage requires transpapillary access to the pancreatic duct during ERCP. When ERCP failed, EUS-guided pancreatico-gastro or bulbostomy and/or rendez-vous technique offers an alternative to surgery. Although data has demonstrated that the procedure can be safe and effective, EUS-guided PD drainage remains one of the most technically challenging therapeutic EUS interventions, as evidenced by the multiple considerations on device selection and the risk of severe complications.

Evaluating the role of endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides high-resolution images of both pancreatic parenchyma and duct and therefore is an integral component of evaluating and treating patients with pancreatitis and its complications. The development of enhanced EUS imaging techniques and newer EUS-specific accessories has expanded the diagnostic and therapeutic role of EUS in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis (CP).

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the current diagnostic and therapeutic role of EUS in acute pancreatitis (AP), CP, and autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

EXPERT OPINION

EUS plays a vital role in patients with AP by confirming the presence of common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and intermediate probability of CBD stones. It plays an important role in the etiological evaluation of patients with idiopathic acute and recurrent pancreatitis. EUS is also an essential modality for diagnosing and managing pancreatico-biliary as well as gastroduodenal complications associated with CP. EUS-guided FNB using newer generation core biopsy needles has made possible accurate diagnosis of AIP by providing tissue samples with preserved architecture.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloons for endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct interventions

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided main pancreatic duct (PD) access may be used when conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) techniques fail. The use of a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon (PTAB), originally developed for vascular interventions, can be used to facilitate transmural (e.g., transgastric) PD access and to dilate high-grade pancreatic strictures.

AIM

To describe the technique, efficacy, and safety of PTABs for EUS-guided PD interventions.

METHODS

Patients who underwent EUS with use of a PTAB from March 2011 to August 2021 were retrospectively identified from a tertiary care medical center supply database. PTABs included 3-4 French angioplasty catheters with 3-4 mm balloons designed to use over a 0.018-inch guidewire. The primary outcome was technical success. Secondary outcomes included incidence of adverse events (AEs) and need for early reintervention.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients were identified (48% female, mean age 55.8 years). Chronic pancreatitis was the underlying etiology in 13 (56.5%) patients, surgically altered anatomy (SAA) with stricture in 7 (30.4%), and SAA with post-operative leak in 3 (13.0%). Technical success was achieved in 20 (87%) cases. Overall AE rate was 26% (n = 6). All AEs were mild and included 1 pancreatic duct leak, 2 cases of post-procedure pancreatitis, and 3 admissions for post-procedural pain. No patients required early re-intervention.

CONCLUSION

EUS-guided use of PTABs for PD access and/or stricture management is feasible with an acceptable safety profile and can be considered in patients when conventional ERCP cannulation fails.

Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Technical Review

1:  ESGE recommends a prolonged course of a prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotic in patients with ascites who are undergoing therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 2:  ESGE recommends placement of partially or fully covered self-expandable metal stents during EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy for biliary drainage in malignant disease.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 3:  ESGE recommends EUS-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage should only be performed in high volume expert centers, owing to the complexity of this technique and the high risk of adverse events.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 4:  ESGE recommends a stepwise approach to EUS-guided PD drainage in patients with favorable anatomy, starting with rendezvous-assisted endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (RV-ERP), followed by antegrade or transmural drainage only when RV-ERP fails or is not feasible.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 5:  ESGE suggests performing transduodenal EUS-guided gallbladder drainage with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS), rather than using the transgastric route, as this may reduce the risk of stent dysfunction.Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 6:  ESGE recommends using saline instillation for small-bowel distension during EUS-guided gastroenterostomy.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 7:  ESGE recommends the use of saline instillation with a 19G needle and an electrocautery-enhanced LAMS for EUS-directed transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (EDGE) procedures.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 8:  ESGE recommends the use of either 15- or 20-mm LAMSs for EDGE, with a preference for 20-mm LAMSs when considering a same-session ERCP.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

Therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline

1: ESGE recommends the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) over percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in malignant distal biliary obstruction when local expertise is available.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 2: ESGE suggests EUS-BD with hepaticogastrostomy only for malignant inoperable hilar biliary obstruction with a dilated left hepatic duct when inadequately drained by ERCP and/or PTBD in high volume expert centers.Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 3: ESGE recommends that EUS-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage should only be considered in symptomatic patients with an obstructed PD when retrograde endoscopic intervention fails or is not possible.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 4: ESGE recommends rendezvous EUS techniques over transmural PD drainage in patients with favorable anatomy owing to its lower rate of adverse events.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 5: ESGE recommends that, in patients at high surgical risk, EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (GBD) should be favored over percutaneous gallbladder drainage where both techniques are available, owing to the lower rates of adverse events and need for re-interventions in EUS-GBD.Strong recommendation, high quality of evidence. 6: ESGE recommends EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE), in an expert setting, for malignant gastric outlet obstruction, as an alternative to enteral stenting or surgery.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 7: ESGE recommends that EUS-GE may be considered in the management of afferent loop syndrome, especially in the setting of malignancy or in poor surgical candidates. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 8: ESGE suggests that endoscopic ultrasound-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) can be offered, in expert centers, to patients with a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass following multidisciplinary decision-making, with the aim of overcoming the invasiveness of laparoscopy-assisted ERCP and the limitations of enteroscopy-assisted ERCP.Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

Pancreatic stones treated via an EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy with a fully-covered self-expandable metal stent

Video 1Pancreatic stones treated via an EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy with a fully covered self-expandable metal stent. A 42-year-old man who had undergone a distal pancreatectomy 2 years earlier for chronic pancreatitis due to alcohol use, with pancreatic stones, presented because of severe abdominal pain. Blood tests revealed elevated inflammatory markers and pancreatic enzymes. CT depicted pancreatic stones up to 1 cm in size in the entire pancreatic parenchyma and main pancreatic duct. Obstructive pancreatitis caused by pancreatic stones was diagnosed. Transpapillary removal of the stones was attempted, but the main pancreatic duct could not be approached because of the pancreatic stones near the duodenal papilla. We attempted to approach the main pancreatic duct via the transgastric route with endoscopic ultrasound guidance. CT showed pancreatic stones in the main pancreatic duct.