Endoscopic sphincterotomy in outpatients

Therapeutic Endoscopy Can Be Performed Safely in an Ambulatory Surgical Center: A Multicenter, Prospective Study

Background. Even amongst experienced endoscopists, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) carry a potential risk for complications. These procedures are typically performed in a hospital-based endoscopy unit with general anesthesia. Aims. The goal of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of ERCP and EUS-FNA in an ambulatory surgical center (ASC). Methods. From June to November of 2014, we prospectively enrolled consecutive subjects undergoing ERCP and/or EUS-FNA in an ASC. An anesthesiologist, who was not involved in our study group, screened all subjects prior to their scheduled procedure. In order to monitor for adverse events (AE), all subjects received a telephone call at day 1 and 30 days after procedure. Results. 375 subjects (98 inpatients and 277 from an ASC) were enrolled. In the total population, a high proportion of subjects underwent procedures for neoplasms (21 (23.3%) inpatients versus 44 (17.1%) from an ASC) and for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) (27 (27.5%) versus 48 (17.3%)) and had the American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA) class ≥III (75 (76.5%) versus 140 (50.5%)) and high-risk features (17 (17.3%) versus 75 (27.1%)). Overall ERCP-related AE (10 (13.2%) versus 12 (7.5%), p = 0.2), pancreatitis (7 (9.2%) versus 11 (6.9%), p = 0.6), and hemorrhage (3.9% versus 0.6%, p = 0.25) were not different between inpatients and ASC subjects. There was also no difference between inpatients and ASC subjects' EUS-related AE (1 (4.5%) versus 4 (3.4%), p = 0.6), pancreatitis (1 (4.5%) versus 3 (2.6%), p = 0.2), and hemorrhage (0% versus 1 (0.9%), p = 0.9). Conclusions. ERCP and EUS can be performed in a higher risk population under the supervision of anesthesia in ASCs. Overall, the AE are equivalent between inpatients and ASC subjects.

Is outpatient ERCP suitable, feasible, and safe? The experience of a Spanish community hospital

BACKGROUND

We wanted to evaluate the safety of outpatient endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The follow-up of an ERCP outpatient during a short observation period could be a feasible and safe approach.

METHODS

To evaluate the safety of outpatient ERCP, we assessed the rate of post-ERCP complications found and missed during a 6-h observation period after therapeutic ERCP.

RESULTS

We performed 236 ERCPs on an outpatient basis, with a failure rate of 3.7% but with an overall completion rate for the intended treatment of 90.7%. Seventy-eight percent of the ERCPs were primarily therapeutic. The age of the patients was 63.9 years and 61.9% were females. One hundred seventy-seven (74.5%) patients were discharged from the hospital after the observation period. Thirty-three (14.1%) patients were admitted without further delay due to unexpected ERCP findings or for early detection of complications. Twenty-seven (11.4%) patients had a prolonged hospital stay because of complications during the observation period. Just two patients previously discharged developed later complications: cholangitis and pancreatitis (0.84% of the ERCPs and 7.4% of the overall complications). There were 27 ERCP complications (12.1%). Of the overall complications, 29.6% were diagnosed very early after the procedure and 62.9% were diagnosed during the observation period. 8.9% out of the 12.1% of the ERCP complications were mild to moderate. There was no mortality.

CONCLUSION

Twenty-five (92.6%) of ERCP complications occurred during the first 6 h, making the use of this short observation period safe for an early discharge. The evolution of the patients who developed delayed complications was unremarkable. Whenever outpatient ERCP is feasible, it should be done to help cut costs.

ERCP as an outpatient treatment: a review

BACKGROUND

ERCP on an outpatient basis could be as safe as on an inpatient basis and may also reduce medical costs.

OBJECTIVE

To review the available literature to determine the safety of an ERCP performed on an outpatient basis.

DESIGN

A review of the published literature was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and the Web of Science.

PATIENTS

Patients who were undergoing an ERCP.

INTERVENTIONS

An ERCP on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Patient and treatment characteristics, complications, and prolonged hospital admissions and readmissions.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included in this review, of which 5 were comparative studies, 5 were prospective studies, and 1 was a retrospective study. In these series, a total of 2483 patients underwent an ERCP on an outpatient basis and 2320 patients were admitted overnight after an ERCP. Complications were seen in 184 of 2483 outpatients (7%), of which 72% of complications (107/149) presented within 2 to 6 hours, 10% (15/149) within 6 to 24 hours, and 18% (27/149) more than 24 hours after the ERCP. Three percent of the inpatients (82/2320) developed a complication, of which 95% of complications (78/82) presented within 24 hours and 5% (4/82) presented more than 24 hours after the ERCP. A prolonged hospital stay after an ERCP was indicated in 6% of the designated outpatients (148/2483), whereas 3% of outpatients (74/2149) and <1% of inpatients (4/2320) were readmitted after discharge.

LIMITATIONS

Limited data available.

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows that, with a selective policy, an ERCP on an outpatient basis seems as safe as when performed on an inpatient basis.

A prospective study of complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound in an ambulatory endoscopy center

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Our aim was to assess the safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in an ambulatory endoscopy center (AEC).

METHODS

Complications occurring in consecutive patients undergoing ERCP or EUS from March 2003 to February 2004 at our AEC were recorded prospectively. Comprehensive complications were defined as consensus criteria plus other adverse events: use of reversal agents, unplanned hospital admission, hospitalization beyond planned 23-hour observation, unplanned emergency department or primary care provider visit, and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 497 patients (median age, 57 y; 82% American Society of Anesthesiologists class II or III) underwent 685 procedures. Monitored or general anesthesia was used in 25% of EUS and 50% of ERCP procedures. ERCP interventions were as follows: biliary or pancreatic stenting (N = 168), stone extraction (N = 70), sphincterotomy (N = 62), sphincter of Oddi manometry (N = 53), other (N = 66). EUS indications were as follows: known or suspected pancreatic mass (N = 103), upper-gastrointestinal mass/submucosal lesion (N = 71), luminal malignancy staging (N = 40), other (N = 96); 52% had EUS fine-needle aspiration. There was follow-up evaluation in 94% of the patients. There were 43 comprehensive ERCP complications (12.9%), 18 (5.4%) of these fit consensus criteria: pancreatitis (N = 14), cholangitis (N = 2), and perforation (N = 2). There were 9 comprehensive EUS complications (2.9%), 2 (.7%) of these fit consensus criteria: pancreatitis (N = 1) and bleeding (N = 1). Other adverse events for ERCP and EUS were as follows: prolongation of 23-hour observation (N = 14), emergency room visits (N = 3), primary care physician visits (N = 6), use of reversal agents (N = 3), unplanned admissions (N = 2), infection (N = 3), and death (N = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

ERCP and EUS can be performed in an AEC, provided mechanisms for admission and anesthesia support are in place. The assessment of comprehensive complications is more reflective of adverse events related to ERCP and EUS than consensus criteria alone.

A colangiopancreatografia retrógrada endoscópica pode ser realizada com segurança em caráter ambulatorial

RACIONAL: A colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada é técnica efetiva no manejo das doenças biliopancreáticas. A segurança da realização do exame em ambulatório tem sido alvo de estudo. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a segurança da realização da colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada em ambulatório e descrever as complicações do exame. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: Acompanharam-se, prospectivamente, pacientes ambulatoriais encaminhados para colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada durante o período de 2001 a 2003. Complicações foram definidas segundo critérios de consenso, incluindo todos os efeitos adversos relacionados ao exame. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas 195 colangiopancreatografias endoscópicas retrógradas, 79 (40,5%) diagnósticas e 116 (59,5%) terapêuticas. O grupo incluiu 112 mulheres, com média de idade de 51 anos (±18,9). Os diagnósticos encontrados mais freqüentemente foram: cálculo biliar (30,2%), estenose benigna (13,8%), neoplasia (10,2%) e pancreatite crônica (10,2%). Obteve-se sucesso em 88,6% dos exames diagnósticos e 78,5% dos terapêuticos. Dos 195 pacientes, 10 (5,1%) necessitaram de observação, dentre os quais 7 (3,6%) foram internados, (2 pacientes com pancreatite aguda, 2 com perfurações, 1 com hemorragia, 1 com complicação cardiorespiratória e 1 com febre). Dos 188 casos liberados após o exame, 8 (4,2%) foram readmitidos (1 pancreatite aguda, 1 hemorragia, 1 perfuração, 3 colangite, 2 dor abdominal). Ao comparar o grupo das complicações identificadas imediatamente contra o segundo, não se encontrou diferença estatisticamente significante quanto à idade, sexo, diagnóstico e/ou grau de dificuldade do exame. CONCLUSÃO: O tamanho da amostra e os resultados negativos da análise estatística impediram a determinação de fatores de risco, independentes para complicações pós- colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada. Contudo, não houve nenhum óbito ou complicações com má evolução nos pacientes inicialmente liberados, confirmando a segurança na realização da colangiopancreatografia endoscópica retrógrada em ambulatório.

Outpatient therapeutic ERCP with endobiliary stent placement for malignant common bile duct obstruction

BACKGROUND

Since 1996 patients in stable condition who need therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at our institution have been treated as outpatients whenever possible. We reviewed our institution's experience and compared outpatient versus inpatient therapeutic ERCP for endobiliary stent placement in the care of patients with malignant common bile duct obstruction.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all therapeutic ERCPs for the palliation of malignant common bile duct obstruction with endobiliary stents was performed from March 1, 1996, through December 1, 1997.

RESULTS

One hundred nine therapeutic ERCPs were performed on 84 patients to place a polyethylene endobiliary stent for malignant common bile duct obstruction. Forty-three procedures were performed on 31 outpatients, 66 on 53 inpatients. There was no significant difference between outpatient and inpatient groups with regard to age, gender, procedure success rate, complication rate, need for endoscopic sphincterotomy, or whether the procedure was for initial stent placement or stent exchange. Inpatients had no procedure-related complications; outpatients had two. There was no procedure-related mortality in either group.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic ERCP for palliation of malignant common bile duct obstruction can be safely and successfully performed on an outpatient basis for selected patients. This should result in better quality of life for these patients with advanced cancer and substantial cost savings.

Same-day discharge after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy: observations from a prospective multicenter complication study. The Multicenter Endoscopic Sphincterotomy (MESH) Study Group

BACKGROUND

Same-day discharge after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (ES) is a common clinical practice, but there have been few data to guide appropriate selection of patients. Using a prospective, multicenter database of complications, we examined outcomes after same-day discharge as it was practiced by a variety of endoscopists and evaluated the ability of a multivariate risk factor analysis to predict which patients would require readmission for complications.

METHODS

A 150-variable database was prospectively collected at time of ES, before discharge and again at 30 days in consecutive patients undergoing ES at 17 centers. Complications were defined by consensus criteria and included all specific adverse events directly or indirectly related to ES requiring more than 1 night of hospitalization.

RESULTS

Six hundred fourteen (26%) of 2347 patients undergoing ES were discharged on the same day as the procedure, ranging from none at 6 centers to about 50% at 2 centers. After initial observation and release, readmission to the hospital for complications occurred in 35 (5.7%) of 614 same-day discharge patients (20 pancreatitis and 15 other complications, 3 severe). Of the same-day discharge patients, readmission was required for 14 (12.2%) of 115 who had at least one independently significant multivariate risk factor for overall complications (suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, cirrhosis, difficult bile duct cannulation, precut sphincterotomy, or combined percutaneous-endoscopic procedure) versus 21 (4.2%) of 499 without a risk factor (odds ratio 3.1: 95% confidence interval [1.6, 6.3], p < 0.001). Of complications presenting within 24 hours after ES, only 44% presented within the first 2 hours, but 79% presented within 6 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Same-day discharge is widely utilized and relatively safe but results in a significant number of readmissions for complications. For patients at higher risk of complications, as indicated by the presence of at least one of five independent predictors, observation for 6 hours or overnight may reduce the need for readmission.

Features that may predict hospital admission following outpatient therapeutic ERCP

BACKGROUND

Some patients are admitted following outpatient therapeutic ERCP because of adverse events. This study aimed to identify factors that may predict such admissions.

METHODS

We prospectively studied admissions for post-ERCP adverse events in 415 consecutive patients undergoing outpatient therapeutic ERCP. Potentially relevant predictors of admission were assessed by univariate analysis and in case of significance included in a multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Admission was necessary in 41 patients (9.9%) because of complications and in 63 (15.2%) for observation of adverse events that did not progress to definable complications. Potential predictors of admission were evaluated comparing patients who required more than an overnight admission (n = 63) with those who did not (n = 352). Multivariate analysis identified three factors that were significant: pain during the procedure (odds ratio 3.8: 95% CI [1.8, 7.9]), history of pancreatitis (odds ratio 2.3: 95% CI [1.1, 4.7]) and performance of sphincterotomy (odds ratio 2.2: 95% CI [1.1, 4.3]). The presence of all these features was associated with a 66.7% likelihood of admission, whereas the absence of pain during the procedure, history of pancreatitis and performance of sphincterotomy made admission likely in only 11.0%, 9.8% and 10.7%, respectively, of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of pain during the procedure, a history of pancreatitis and the performance of sphincterotomy were independent predictors of admission following outpatient therapeutic ERCP.

Therapeutic ERCP in outpatients

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the safety of outpatient therapeutic ERCP since most complications are apparent within a few hours.

METHODS

We reviewed 190 patients undergoing planned outpatient therapeutic ERCP from a cohort of 409 consecutive therapeutic ERCP procedures. Patients were selected for outpatient therapeutic ERCP based on relative good health and overnight accommodation near our institution.

RESULTS

Outpatient therapeutic ERCPs included plastic biliary stent insertion (n = 71), biliary sphincterotomy (45), pancreatic stent insertion (28), Wallstent insertion (19), biliary balloon or catheter dilation (10), pancreatic balloon or catheter dilation (8), biliary stone extraction with prior sphincterotomy (7), pancreatic sphincterotomy (5), and duodenal ampullectomy (1). Admission was necessary in 31 (16%) because of complications in 22 (11.6%) and observation of post-ERCP symptoms in 9. Twenty-six (13%) of these patients were admitted directly from the endoscopy unit recovery room and 5 (3%) from home after a median interval of 24 hours following discharge (range 5 to 48 hours). Reasons for admission were pancreatitis in 17, hemorrhage in 3, cholangitis in 3, endoscopic but not clinical hemorrhage in 4, pain in 4, and vomiting in 1. Of the patients who were admitted from home, 3 had pancreatitis (following sphincterotomy in 1, pancreatic stenting in 1, pancreatic balloon dilation in 1) and 2 had hemorrhage (postsphincterotomy in 1 and ampullectomy in 1). In comparison, of the 219 consecutive inpatients undergoing therapeutic ERCP, 28 (13%) developed complications with 1 (0.4%) death.

CONCLUSIONS

A policy of selective outpatient therapeutic ERCP, with admission reserved for those with established or suspected complication, appears to be safe and reduces health care costs.

Outpatient therapeutic ERCP: a series of 262 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

Because of possible complications, it has been common practice to admit most if not all patients undergoing therapeutic ERCP. Therefore, little descriptive data exist on the safety of outpatient therapeutic ERCP.

METHODS

We assessed 262 consecutive ERCPs in 209 patients undergoing outpatient therapeutic ERCP over a 5-year period, with particular attention to the development of complications. All outpatient endoscopic sphincterotomies and stent placements performed over a 5-year period were prospectively entered into an ongoing data base that was used for the analysis. In addition, hospital and office records for all patients were retrospectively reviewed, including a 30 to 45 day follow-up in a private office setting.

RESULTS

Suspected or documented choledocholithiasis was the most common indication for ERCP and was present in 132 (50%), followed by malignant obstruction in 77 (29%), type I sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (on the basis of symptoms, liver test abnormalities, and bile duct dilatation) in 36 (14%), chronic pancreatitis in 10 (3.8%), HIV cholangiopathy in 4 (1.5%), and other conditions in 3 (1.1%). Overall, 181 patients (69%) underwent a sphincterotomy. The 30-day post-ERCP complication rate was 5.7% (95% CI: 3.2% to 9.3%), occurring in 15 of 262 cases. Complications necessitating hospitalization developed in 9 of the 262 ERCPs for a rate of 3.4% (95% CI: 1.6% to 6.4%). The mean duration of hospital stay among patients admitted for a complication was 2.7 +/- 1.8 days (range, 1 to 7 days). All patients were discharged without permanent sequelae. No 30-day procedure-related fatalities were reported.

CONCLUSION

In this selected series of 262 consecutive cases, endoscopic sphincterotomy and stent placement were safely performed in an ambulatory setting. Prior to recommending a generalized change in existing practice, however, this finding requires validation with larger series of cases, including the performance of other outpatient therapeutic ERCP techniques.

Delayed hemorrhage following endoscopic retrograde sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis

To define the clinical significance of delayed postsphincterotomy hemorrhage, we reviewed 476 consecutive ERCP procedures performed over a three-year period. Of 250 patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), five (2%) developed postprocedure hemorrhage, two of whom had immediate, self-limited bleeding that resolved after endoscopic injection of epinephrine and did not require transfusion. The other three had delayed hemorrhage characterized by: onset 20-48 hr after the procedure, melena without hematemesis as the index clinical manifestation of bleeding, and atraumatic balloon extraction of common duct stones. Transfusion of 2-6 units of packed erythrocytes was necessary in each and one patient required surgical hemostasis. Delayed hemorrhage following ERS is an important, frequently severe complication to remember when contemplating performing ERS as an outpatient procedure.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of bile duct stones: a single institution experience

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment with Dornier HM3 or MPL 9000 machines was applied in 37 patients with problematic bile duct stones. General anaesthesia was not required. After one extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy session 14/37 patients (38%) were spontaneously stone free, and additional endoscopic extraction (eight of 37) and retreatments with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (seven cases) increased the stone free rate to 29/37 (78%). In three patients with intrahepatic stones, the bile ducts could not be evaluated decisively at cholangiography and ultrasonography, but they were all symptom free at 15 to 38 months follow up. If these three patients are added to the radiologically stone free patients, the overall clinical success rate was 32/37 (86%). There were no serious complications, hospital admissions, or 30 day mortality as a result of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or endoscopic procedures. It is concluded that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a valuable adjunct to the non-surgical treatment of bile duct stones.