Ultrasound guidance in accessing the afferent limb of a modified Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy for percutaneous dilation of biliary strictures

Percutaneous jejunostomy: repeat access at the healed site of prior surgical jejunostomy with US and fluoroscopic guidance

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound (US)- and fluoroscopy-guided jejunostomy tube placement in patients with a history of surgical jejunostomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between June 2003 and June 2012, percutaneous US-guided jejunostomy placement was attempted 28 times in 26 patients with a history of surgical jejunostomy (14 men and 12 women). Retrospective chart review was performed to determine procedural success, complications, and interval between original jejunostomy and new tube placement. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with a mean follow-up period of 110 days (range, 3-631 d; median, 68 d).

RESULTS

Successful tube placement was achieved in 26 of 28 attempts (92%). The mean time between removal of the original surgical jejunostomy and percutaneous placement of the new tube was 278 days (range, 3 d to 8 y; median, 88 d). A single minor complication involved a tube site infection 4 days after the procedure. There were no major complications. Mean procedure time was 49 minutes (range, 15-125 min; median, 45 min).

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous jejunostomy access can be reliably and safely reestablished with US and fluoroscopic guidance in patients with a history of surgical jejunostomy.

Therapeutic transjejunal endoscopy for the treatment of biliary complications after choledochojejunostomy

The present study aimed to assess the value of endoscopic jejunostomy for post-biliary intestinal anastomosis biliary complications. The clinical data of the endoscopic therapies by jejunal approach for post-biliary intestinal anastomosis biliary complications in 13 patients (16 surgeries in total) were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical success rate was 100% (16/16). Nasobiliary tube detention was performed for 2 patients, plastic stent placement for 5 and biliary metal stent placement for 4. The remaining two patients did not retain any drainage tube or bracket after surgery. The incidence rate of intraoperative anastomotic stenostomia was 76.9% (10/13). A noticeable postoperative decrease in bilirubin levels was observed in 10 patients. The level of gallstone-free patients was 75% (3/4). There were 10 cases in which cholangitis remission or no attack was identified. Post-operative incisional infection occurred in 3 patients, hepatophyma in 1 and an intestinal fistula in 1. Endoscopic therapy by jejunal approach for post-biliary intestinal anastomosis biliary complications has the virtue of being safe, effective and minimally invasive. It has extensive potential applications in clinical practice.

Jejunal access loop cholangiogram and intervention using image guided access

Jejunal access loop is fashioned in patients who undergo Roux en Y hepaticojejunostomy and biliary intervention is anticipated on follow up. Post-operative study of the biliary tree through the access loop is usually done under fluoroscopic guidance. We present a series of 20 access loop cholangiograms performed in our institution between August 2004 and November 2008. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure and to highlight the role of CT guidance in procuring access. Access loop was accessed using CT (n = 13), ultrasound (n = 3) or fluoroscopic guidance (n = 4). Fluoroscopy was used for performing cholangiograms and interventions. Twelve studies had balloon plasty of the stricture at anastomotic site or high up in the hepatic ducts. Seven studies showed normal cholangiogram. Plasty was unsuccessful in one study. Technical success in accessing the jejunal access loop was 100%; in cannulation of anastomotic site and balloon plasty it was 95%. One case required two attempts. Procedure-related complications were not seen. All patients who underwent balloon plasty of the stricture were doing well for variable lengths of time. Access loop cholangiogram and interventions are safe and effective. CT guidance in locating/procuring the access loop is a good technique.

Double balloon endoscope facilitates endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in roux-en-y anastomosis patients

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard for the treatment of patients with pancreaticobiliary disorders, but endoscopic therapy is very difficult to carry out in patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis. We herein present the results of ERCP for patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis using a double-balloon endoscope. Six patients (six men with a mean age of 69 years) who had undergone prior gastric resection with Roux-en-Y reconstruction were enrolled in the present study and underwent ERCP and associated procedures. ERCP was carried out with a double balloon endoscope, which has one balloon attached to the tip of the endoscope and another attached to the distal end of the soft overtube. In all patients, entering the Y loop was successfully accomplished, and the papilla of Vater was also reached in all cases (100%). Cannulation was successful in four patients (66.7%). The final diagnosis was choledocholithiasis in two patients, biliary fistula in one patient and pancreatic cancer in one patient. A needle-knife precut papillotomy was carried out after placement of a bile duct stent in two patients, and injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate into a biliary fistula was carried out in one patient. None of the patients suffered from any complications. A double balloon endoscope is therefore considered to be useful for carrying out ERCP and associated procedures in patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis.