Choledocholithiasis in pregnancy: When and how to perform ERCP?

Modern Management of Common Bile Duct Stones: Breakthroughs, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Common bile duct (CBD) stone management has evolved significantly with technological advances and an improved understanding of pathophysiology. This comprehensive review examines current evidence and emerging trends in CBD stone management, emphasizing modern diagnostic approaches and treatment paradigms. Recent developments in imaging techniques, including AI-assisted analysis, have enhanced diagnostic accuracy. Treatment strategies now emphasize minimally invasive approaches, with endoscopic techniques showing success rates exceeding 90% in experienced centers. Special considerations for specific populations, including elderly patients and those with altered anatomy, have led to refined management algorithms. Future directions include novel stone fragmentation technologies, biodegradable materials, and personalized medicine approaches. The integration of these advances, combined with a multidisciplinary approach, has improved patient outcomes while presenting new opportunities for enhanced care delivery. Continued technological innovation and refined techniques suggest a promising future for CBD stone management, although challenges remain in optimizing treatment selection and preventing recurrence.

Cholecystectomy and ERCP in pregnancy: a nationwide register-based study

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to examine the outcomes of cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during pregnancy and compare these outcomes with those in nonpregnant women of fertile age.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Although both laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ERCP are considered safe and feasible in pregnant patients, there is still concern and uncertainty regarding gallstone intervention during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate outcomes in pregnant patients compared to outcomes in nonpregnant patients.

METHODS

Data on all female patients aged 18-45 years were retrieved from the Swedish Registry for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. The patients were divided into groups according to intervention: cholecystectomy, ERCP, or a combination thereof. Differences between pregnant and nonpregnant patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 21 328 patients were included, with 291 cholecystectomy and 63 ERCP procedures performed in pregnant patients. At the 30-day follow-up, more complications after cholecystectomy were registered for pregnant patients. However, pregnancy was not a significant risk factor for adverse events when adjusting for previous complicated gallstone disease, intraoperative complications, emergency surgery, and common bile duct stones. There were no differences in outcomes when comparing cholecystectomy among the different trimesters. ERCP had no significant effect on outcomes at the 30-day follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Cholecystectomy, ERCP, and combinations thereof are safe during pregnancy.

Laparoscopic bile duct exploration during pregnancy: a multi-center case series and literature review

BACKGROUND

The physiological changes of pregnancy increase the risk of gallstone formation and choledocholithiasis. Traditionally, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the main approach for managing choledocholithiasis during pregnancy, but recent progress in laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE) has demonstrated this technique as a safe and effective alternative option.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study of all patients who underwent LBDE during pregnancy from five centers with proven experience in LBDE between January 2010 and June 2020 was performed. The primary endpoint was to analyze the role of LBDE during pregnancy and to further characterize its position as a safe and effective alternative for the management of choledocholithiasis. A systematic review of the published literature relating to LBDE during pregnancy until February 2022 was also performed.

RESULTS

Five institutions reported performing LBDE during pregnancy in 8 patients. Median surgical time was 75 min (range: 60-140 min). The bile duct was cleared successfully in all patients, and the median hospital stay was 2 days (range: 1-3 days). The literature review identified a total of 7 patients with a successful CBD clearance rate of 86%. There were no major maternal, fetal, or pregnancy-related complications in any of the total 15 patients included. The symptomatic common bile duct lithiasis with deranged liver function tests was the most frequent indication (n=7).

CONCLUSION

LBDE during pregnancy appears to be safe and effective. More evidence reporting outcomes of LBDE during pregnancy is needed before any strong recommendations can be made.

MRI Evaluation of Indomethacin Suppositories in the Prevention of Complications of Pancreatitis and Hyperamylasemia after Choledocholithiasis ERCP Based on Image Denoising Algorithm

Objective

To explore the value of MRI evaluation of indomethacin suppositories in the prevention of pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia in patients with common bile duct calculi after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) based on image denoising algorithm.

Methods

A retrospective analysis in August 2020 to December 2021. Because of the common bile duct calculi hospitalized parallel ERCP operation, 89 cases of patients, according to the different postoperative treatments, were divided into group A (n = 44) and group B (n = 45), in which A set of separate application inhibits the pancreatic enzyme secretion after surgery drug treatment, and B group on the basis of group A linked with indole beauty Xinshuan treatment. The incidence of postoperative pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia was compared between the two groups. The levels of serum amylase were compared between the two groups. Patients in group B were diagnosed with pancreatitis by conventional MRI and MRI with denoising algorithm, respectively, and the imaging characteristics and diagnosis rate differences of the two methods were observed. ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of MRI denoising algorithm for postoperative pancreatitis and serum amylase level detection for hyperamylasemia.

Results

The incidence of postoperative pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (P < 0.05). There were 6 cases of postoperative pancreatitis in group B, 2 cases (33.33%) were diagnosed by conventional MRI, and 5 cases (83.33%) were diagnosed by MRI based on denoising algorithm. Although there was no significant difference in diagnosis rate between the two methods, the number of cases of pancreatitis diagnosed by MRI based on denoising algorithm was slightly higher than that by conventional MRI. Compared with conventional MRI images, MRI images with denoising algorithm showed that the number of cases with pancreatic swelling, the number of cases with pancreatic duct/bile duct dilation, and the number of cases with abdominal effusion were all high (all P < 0.05). ROC results showed that the area under the curve of MRI with denoising algorithm for the diagnosis of postoperative pancreatitis was 0.855, and the sensitivity was 89.40%. The specificity was 83.20%, and the area under the curve of serum amylase for postoperative hyperamylasemia was 0.893, the sensitivity was 89.80%, and the specificity was 85.20%, all of which had high diagnostic efficacy.

Conclusion

MRI results of denoising algorithm suggest that indomethacin suppositories can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after ERCP, which is worthy of clinical application.

Choledocholithiasis in Pregnancy: A Case Report

Cholelithiasis during pregnancy and the postpartum period has an incidence of 12%, with pregnancy being an important risk factor for gallstones. Patients with choledocholithiasis can experience complications, such as obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, and pancreatitis, which may be detrimental to both mother and fetus.

A case of cholelithiasis in a second-trimester pregnancy was complicated by choledocholithiasis and obstructive jaundice. Ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), along with serial blood tests, confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment was safely achieved using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

In pregnancy, complicated cholelithiasis is investigated using blood tests, ultrasonography, and cholangiography. Evidence supports the use of intraoperative or endoscopic cholangiography for the management of such complicated gallstone disease in pregnancy.

Applications, Limitations, and Expansion of Cholangioscopy in Clinical Practice

Peroral cholangioscopy (POC) provides minimally invasive, direct endoscopic visualization of the biliary ductal system for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. POC has benefited from a number of technologic advances since its first introduction several decades ago. These advances have led to improved utility and expanded functionality, making POC an integral part of managing various bile duct diseases and disorders. Over time, the clinical role of POC has expanded. Novel applications and capabilities are being increasingly appreciated and developed. This article provides an overview of the current state of POC, with a particular focus on digital single-operator cholangioscopy and its strengths, limitations, advances, and emerging applications.