Endoscopic papillary dilation by balloon and isosorbide dinitrate drip infusion for removing bile duct stone

Comparison of endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation and endoscopic sphincterotomy for bile duct stones

Endoscopic treatment for bile duct stones is low-invasive and currently considered as the first choice of the treatment. For the treatment of bile duct stones, papillary treatment is necessary, and the treatments used at the time are broadly classified into two types; endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation where bile duct closing part is dilated with a balloon and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) where bile duct closing part is incised. Both procedures have advantages and disadvantages. Golden standard is EST, however, there are patients with difficulty for EST, thus we must select the procedure based on understanding of the characteristics of the procedure, and patient backgrounds.

Evaluation of serum amylase and gabexate mesilate with endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation

Gabexate mesilate (GM) relaxes the papilla of Vater in addition to inhibiting the several proteases. We evaluated whether prophylactic administration of GM would prevent the occurrence of acute pancreatitis in endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD). Nineteen patients with common bile duct stones were separated into two groups according to the admission year. The group A has been administered GM intravenously at 2mg/kg/hr after EPBD till six hours later, and the group B has been administered GM before fifteen minutes of EPBD till six hours later. The mean value of sphincter of Oddi (SO) basal and peak pressure in the group B was significantly lower than that in the group A, moreover the mean value of the pancreatic pressure in the group B was significantly lower than that in the group A. However two cases had mild acute pancreatitis in the group B. GM loosened SO and pancreatic duct pressure by direct stimulation of SO, although it could not have enough effect to prevent the acute pancreatitis in EPBD.

Endoscopic balloon dilation of the biliary sphincter compared to endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy for removal of common bile duct stones during ERCP: a metaanalysis of randomized, controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of endoscopic balloon dilation (EPBD) of the papilla with that of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EST) in the treatment of patients with common bile duct stones.

METHODS

Searches of computerized bibliographic and scientific citations, and review of citations in relevant primary articles. Eight fully published prospective, randomized trials in English that compared EPBD with EST for the removal of common bile duct stones were subjected to metaanalysis.

RESULTS

EPBD compared with EST resulted in similar outcomes with regards to overall successful stone removal (94.3% vs 96.5%) and overall complications (10.5% vs 10.3%). Bleeding occurred less frequently with EPBD (0% vs 2.0%, p = 0.001). Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred more commonly in the EPBD group (7.4% vs 4.3%, p = 0.05). No significant differences were seen in the rates of perforation or infection. Patients undergoing EPBD were more likely to require mechanical lithotripsy for stone extraction (20.9% vs 14.8%, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of lower rates of bleeding, EPBD should be the preferred strategy over EST for endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones in patients with coagulopathy. Although EPBD is theoretically attractive for use in young patients for biliary sphincter preservation, the rate of pancreatitis is higher with EPBD and cannot be routinely recommended at this time.

Percutaneous management of bile duct stones

This article presents a review of the interventional radiological procedures in the percutaneous management of the bile duct stones through T-tube or transhepatic tracts. Interventional stone removal techniques mainly include extraction through the T-tube tract with baskets or forceps and expulsion into the duodenum by means of baskets or balloon catheters with the dilatation of the sphincter of Oddi. Fragmentation or size reduction of the stone, dilatation of the strictures and cholangioscopic assistance can facilitate the procedures.

Epinephrine irrigation for the prevention of pancreatic damage after endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty (EBS) is an alternative to sphincterotomy for the treatment of bile duct stones. The purpose of this study was to determine if epinephrine irrigation of the papilla can prevent the pancreatic damage associated with EBS.

METHODS

A total of 173 patients with bile duct stones were treated by EBS. After conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, EBS was performed by using a biliary dilatation catheter (balloon diameter: 8 mm). The duct was then cleared by using Dormia baskets or retrieval balloon catheters. Mechanical lithotripsy was performed before extraction when the stones were greater than 8 mm in diameter. In 81 patients, the dilated orifice was irrigated with 40-120 mL (50 +/- 37 mL) of 1:1,000,000 epinephrine (epinephrine group). In the remaining 92 patients, epinephrine irrigation was not performed (control group). Acute pancreatitis was defined by a serum amylase concentration fivefold greater than the upper limits of normal in association with abdominal pain.

RESULTS

After EBS, serum amylase concentrations were significantly increased in both groups. However, the degree of hyperamylasemia was less in the epinephrine group than in the control group (617 +/- 611 vs 1037 +/- 1491 IU/L, P < 0.05). The incidence of pancreatitis was lower in the epinephrine group than in the control group (1.2 vs 7.6%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Epinephrine irrigation is a simple and useful method to prevent post-EBS pancreatic damage and pancreatitis.