Comparison of Metal and Plastic Stents for Preoperative Biliary Drainage in Resectable and Borderline Resectable Periampullary Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and System Review

Fully covered self-expandable metallic stents versus plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with pancreatic head cancer and the risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

Objectives

Optimal stents for preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for patients with possible resectable pancreatic cancer remain controversial, and risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP), followed by PBD, are unknown. In this study, the efficacy and safety of fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSEMSs) and plastic stents (PSs) were compared, and the risk factors for PEP, followed by PBD, were investigated for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods

Consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent PBD between April 2005 and March 2022 were included. We retrospectively evaluated recurrent biliary obstruction, adverse events (AEs), and postoperative complications for FCSEMS and PS groups and investigated the risk factors for PEP.

Results

A total of 105 patients were included. There were 20 patients in the FCSEMS group and 85 patients in the PS group. For the FCSEMS group, the rate of recurrent biliary obstruction (0% vs. 25%, p = 0.03) was significantly lower. There was no difference in AE between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the overall postoperative complications, but the volume of intraoperative bleeding was larger for the PS group than it was for the FCSEMS group (p < 0.001). From multivariate analysis, being female and lack of main pancreatic duct dilation were independent risk factors for pancreatitis (odds ratio, 5.68; p = 0.028; odds ratio, 4.91; p = 0.048).

Conclusions

FCSEMSs are thought to be preferable to PSs for PBD due to their longer time to recurrent biliary obstruction. Being female and the lack of main pancreatic duct dilation were risk factors for PEP.

Best Practices in Pancreatico-biliary Stenting and EUS-guided Drainage

Indications for endoscopic placement of endoluminal and transluminal stents have greatly expanded over time. Endoscopic stent placement is now a well-established approach for the treatment of benign and malignant biliary and pancreatic diseases (ie, obstructive jaundice, intra-abdominal fluid collections, chronic pancreatitis etc.). Ongoing refinement of technical approaches and development of novel stents is increasing the applicability and success of pancreatico-biliary stenting. In this review, we discuss the important developments in the field of pancreatico-biliary stenting, with a specific focus on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound-associated developments.

Metal vs plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with periampullary cancer: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Metal stents (MS) are recommended for preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with periampullary cancer, but whether MS are superior in terms of re-intervention and direct cost is debatable. This study aimed to compare the effects of MS and PS on the outcomes of patients with periampullary cancer.

METHODS

For this random-effects meta-analysis, electronic databases were screened for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until January 2022. Subgroup analyses were performed basis on the center type and presence of NAC.

RESULTS

In this meta-analysis, seven RCTs (440 participants) were included. MS reduced re-interventions (risk ratio [RR] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-0.72) and direct costs (mean difference = -474 USD, 95% CI = -656 to -292). PBD-related complications (RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.32-1.71) and postoperative complications (RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.45-1.17) did not differ between MS and PS. Compared PS, MS reduced postoperative complications in high-volume centers (RR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.49-0.84) and PBD-related complications in patients receiving NAC (RR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.08-1.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Metal stents likely reduces re-interventions and direct costs. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of MS on the outcomes.

Impact of biliary drainage prior to pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

There is still a lack of clarity about the benefits of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD), which was introduced to improve the perioperative outcome in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by a periampullary tumour. The aim of this study was to determine whether operative and postoperative complications increase in patients undergoing PBD during pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective examination was made of patients who underwent PBD for a periampullary tumour in our hospital between 2006 and 2014. From these, the patients were identified who had PBD with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and these patients were further separated into two groups, as one group of patients with plastic stents and the other group of patients with metallic stents. Patients with pancreas head cancer were also separated into two groups as those who were and were not applied with PBD. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Biliary stent placement with PBD was applied to 48 patients, of whom 31 had metallic stents and 17 had plastic stents. In general, there was no difference between the PBD and the non-PBD groups in respect of the preoperative, operative and postoperative results. When patients with tumour of the pancreas head only were examined, the rate of wound infection was higher in the PBD group and there was no difference in the other parameters. Moreover, there was no difference between the patients with metallic stents and those with plastic stents in respect of outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

With the exception of wound site infection, although no difference was observed between the PBD and the non-PBD groups based on intraoperative and postoperative complications, because of the distinctive inherent complications of PBD it is essential to manage such patients properly and to carefully select the patients for the PBD procedure.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Antegrade Stent Placement in Patients with Failed ERCP as a Modality of Preoperative and Palliative Biliary Drainage

BACKGROUND

No large studies have addressed the role of endoscopic-ultrasound biliary drainage (EUS-BD) as preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) for malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction (MEBO). We aimed to discuss the outcomes of EUS antegrade stent placement (EUS-AG) in the preoperative and palliative setting.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent EUS-AG for MEBO between December 2019 and December 2021 was done. Primary outcome measures were technical success and clinical success. Secondary outcome measures were number of days of hospitalization postprocedure, adverse events related to EUS-AG procedure, morbidity related to surgery, and 3-month mortality after surgery.

RESULTS

54 patients underwent attempt for EUS-AG (mean age 54.8 ± 12.1 years; female 44.4%). Most common primary cancer was pancreatic cancer in 42.1% (23/54) patients. Indication was palliative in 34 (62.9%) patients and PBD in 20 (37%) patients. Level of block was distal in 35 (64.8%) and proximal in 19 (35.1%) patients. Technical success of EUS-AG was 88.7% (47/53). Clinical success was seen in 95.7% (45/47) patients. Median number of days of hospitalization postprocedure was 1 day. No procedure-related severe adverse events were seen. Of 20 patients who underwent EUS-AG as PBD, 19 had technical success (95%) with clinical success in 94.5% (18/19). Surgery was performed in 11 patients, of whom 10 patients underwent successful PPPD (one intraoperative liver metastasis). Two patients had Clavein-Dindo III/IV complication post-PPPD, with one mortality within 30 days of surgery.

CONCLUSION

EUS-AG is safe and effective after failed ERCP in both preoperative and palliative setting.

Preoperative biliary drainage for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is currently one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality with dismal long term survival after diagnosis. Nearly 85% of pancreatic cancer patients present with advanced disease precluding curative surgical resection. In those who are candidates for surgery, preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) has been developed since the 1960s in order to improve surgical outcomes. While obstructive jaundice in resectable pancreatic cancer has been traditionally treated before surgical resection in all patients, data over the past decade demonstrated increased perioperative complications and morbidity with systematic PBD compared to direct surgery. With new evidence of potential adverse events, the role of routine PBD is being reassessed. Current indications for PBD include cholangitis, delayed surgery, and relief of jaundice in patients planned to receive neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). NAT is being increasingly utilized in borderline resectable as well as resectable pancreatic cancer and a higher proportion of patients with likely require PBD in the future. The evidence for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as first line for PBD is robust with supporting data from endoscopic ultrasound assisted biliary drainage. Self-expanding metal stent was shown to be cost-effective in recent studies without increase in morbidity compared to plastic stents in this setting. In this review, we will summarize the current evidence for PBD in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Plastic or self-expandable metal stent: Which is the most suitable for patients with pancreatic head cancer in the upcoming era of neoadjuvant chemotherapy? A review

Obstructive jaundice is a major symptom of pancreatic head cancer, and although its amelioration is required before scheduling chemotherapy, the decision to perform biliary drainage for resectable pancreatic cancer has remained controversial. In recent years, the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer has been reported. Preoperative biliary drainage has become increasingly necessary, making the choice of stent an important one; thus, the longer the waiting period extends through neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the more durable stents - such as self-expandable metallic stents, rather than plastic stents - would be desired as an option. Still, there is insufficient evidence regarding surgical outcomes and long-term prognosis, and further confirmatory studies are needed. Through this review, we aim to provide an update on the characteristics of biliary stents and preoperative biliary drainage for potentially resectable pancreatic cancer.

Short-term preoperative drainage is associated with improved postoperative outcomes compared to that of long-term biliary drainage in pancreatic surgery

Purpose

The treatment of choice for patients presenting with obstructive cholestasis due to periampullary carcinoma is oncologic resection without preoperative biliary drainage (PBD). However, resection without PBD becomes virtually impossible in patients with obstructive cholangitis or severely impaired liver cell function. The appropriate duration of drainage by PBD has not yet been defined for these patients.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 170 patients scheduled for pancreatic resection following biliary drainage between January 2012 and June 2018 at the University Hospital Dresden in Germany. All patients were deemed eligible for inclusion, regardless of the underlying disease entity. The primary endpoint analysis was defined as the overall morbidity (according to the Clavien-Dindo classification). Secondary endpoints were the in-hospital mortality and malignancy adjusted overall and recurrence-free survival rates.

Results

A total of 170 patients were included, of which 45 (26.5%) and 125 (73.5%) were assigned to the short-term (< 4 weeks) and long-term (≥ 4 weeks) preoperative drainage groups, respectively.

Surgical complications (Clavien-Dindo classification > 2) occurred in 80 (47.1%) patients, with significantly fewer complications observed in the short-term drainage group (31.1% vs. 52%; p = 0.02). We found that long-term preoperative drainage (unadjusted OR, 3.386; 95% CI, 1.507–7.606; p < 0.01) and periampullary carcinoma (unadjusted OR, 5.519; 95% CI, 1.722–17.685; p-value < 0.01) were independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity, based on the results of a multivariate regression model. The adjusted overall and recurrence-free survival did not differ between the groups (p = 0.12).

Conclusion

PBD in patients scheduled for pancreatic surgery is associated with substantial perioperative morbidity. Our results indicate that patients who have undergone PBD should be operated on within 4 weeks after drainage.

Use of stents in patients undergoing chemotherapy for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer-causing biliary obstruction while awaiting surgery: A cost-effectiveness analysis

Background and study aims  Biliary stenting is indicated to relieve obstruction from borderline resectable pancreatic cancer while patients receive preoperative neoadjuvant therapy. We compared the cost-effectiveness of plastic versus metal biliary stenting in this setting. Methods  A decision tree analysis compares two competing types of biliary stents (initially metal vs. initially plastic) to treat malignant distal biliary obstruction while receiving neoadjuvant therapy with different scenarios including possible complications as bridge till the patient undergoes curative surgical attempt. Using published information, effectiveness was chosen as the probability of successfully reaching a state of being ready for surgery once chemotherapy was completed. Costs (2018 US$) were based on national data. A third-party payer perspective was adopted, and sensitivity analyses were performed over a time-horizon of one year. Results  Initially inserting a metal versus a plastic biliary stent was more efficacious with a higher probability of reaching the readiness for surgery endpoint (96 % vs. 85 %), on average 18 days earlier while also being less expensive (US$ 9,304 vs. US$ 11,538). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of these results across varying probability assumptions of plausible ranges and remained a dominant strategy even when lowering the willingness-to-pay threshold to US$ 1,000. Conclusions  Initial metal stenting to relieve malignant biliary obstruction from borderline resectable pancreatic cancer in patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery is a dominant intervention in economic terms, when compared to initially inserting a plastic biliary stent as it results in a greater proportion of patients being fit for surgery earlier and at a lower cost.

Clinical insights and prognostic factors from an advanced biliary tract cancer case series: a real-world analysis

Advanced biliary tract cancer (aBTC) comprises a heterogeneous group of rare malignancies with dismal prognosis. Given the scarcity of prospective evidence, the aim of this study was to derive clinically useful insights and prognostic factors from a large, real-world series of aBTC. Clinicopathologic variables and treatment outcomes were retrospectively collected involving 940 patients diagnosed with aBTC between 2001 and 2017, and treated with first-line chemotherapy (CT1) at 14 Italian medical oncology institutions. Median overall survival (OS) was 10.3 months (CI_95% 9.5-11.1). CT1 with gemcitabine-Platinum salts doublets achieved OS of 11.7 months vs 7.5 with gemcitabine alone (HR 0.67, p < 0.001). However, a clear temporal trend towards improved OS could not be demonstrated. Radical surgery of recurrent disease achieved a relapse-free survival of 5.9 months. A substantial minority (44.5%) of patients were able to receive a second-line chemotherapy, which achieved a response rate of 7.6%, and disease control in 30% of patients with no significant differences between combination regimens and monotherapies. In a large retrospective series of real-world aBTC, outcomes of standard CT1 closely resembled those of the registrational trials. A limited set of easily retrievable independent prognostic factors was defined. Further research is needed on second-line regimens.

Metal stents are safe and cost-effective for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable pancreaticobiliary tumours

BACKGROUNDS

To compare the complication rates and overall costs of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) and plastic stents (PS) in clinically indicated preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) prior to a pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODS

We conducted an Australian multicentre retrospective cohort study using the databases of four tertiary hospitals. Adult patients who underwent clinically indicated endoscopic PBD prior to PD from 2010 to 2019 were included. Rates of complications attributable to PBD, surgical complications and pre-operative endoscopic re-intervention were calculated. Costing data were retrieved from our Financial department.

RESULTS

Among the 157 included patients (mean age 66.6 ± 9.8 years, 45.2% male), 49 (31.2%) received SEMS and 108 received PS (68.8%). Baseline bilirubin was 187.5 ± 122.6 μmol/L. Resection histopathology showed mainly adenocarcinoma (93.0%). Overall SEMS was associated less complications (12.2% vs. 28.7%, p = 0.02) and a lower pre-operative endoscopic re-intervention rate (4.3 vs. 20.8%, p = 0.03) compared with PS. There was no difference in post-PD complication rates. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, stent type was an independent risk factor of PBD complication (OR of SEMS compared to PS 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.79, p = 0.02) but not for any secondary outcome measures. Upfront material costs were $56USD for PS and $1991USD for SEMS. Accounting for rates of complications, average costs were similar ($3110USD for PS and $3026USD for SEMS).

CONCLUSION

In resectable pancreaticobiliary tumours, SEMS for PBD was associated with reduced risk of overall PBD-related complications and pre-surgical endoscopic reintervention rates and was comparable to PS in terms of overall cost.

Endoscopic management of ampullary tumors: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline

1: ESGE recommends against diagnostic/therapeutic papillectomy when adenoma is not proven.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 2: ESGE recommends endoscopic ultrasound and abdominal magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for staging of ampullary tumors.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 3: ESGE recommends endoscopic papillectomy in patients with ampullary adenoma without intraductal extension, because of good results regarding outcome (technical and clinical success, morbidity, and recurrence).Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 4: ESGE recommends en bloc resection of ampullary adenomas up to 20-30 mm in diameter to achieve R0 resection, for optimizing the complete resection rate, providing optimal histopathology, and reduction of the recurrence rate after endoscopic papillectomy.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence. 5: ESGE suggests considering surgical treatment of ampullary adenomas when endoscopic resection is not feasible for technical reasons (e. g. diverticulum, size > 4 cm), and in the case of intraductal involvement (of > 20 mm). Surveillance thereafter is still mandatory.Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 6: ESGE recommends direct snare resection without submucosal injection for endoscopic papillectomy.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 7: ESGE recommends prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting to reduce the risk of pancreatitis after endoscopic papillectomy.Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 8: ESGE recommends long-term monitoring of patients after endoscopic papillectomy or surgical ampullectomy, based on duodenoscopy with biopsies of the scar and of any abnormal area, within the first 3 months, at 6 and 12 months, and thereafter yearly for at least 5 years.Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

Achieving 'Marginal Gains' to Optimise Outcomes in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

Improving outcomes in pancreatic cancer is achievable through the accumulation of marginal gains. There exists evidence of variation and undertreatment in many areas of the care pathway. By fully realising the existing opportunities, there is the potential for immediate improvements in outcomes and quality of life.

Abstract

Improving outcomes among patients with resectable pancreatic cancer is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. Major improvements in survival will result from the development of novel therapies. However, optimising existing pathways, so that patients realise benefits of already proven treatments, presents a clear opportunity to improve outcomes in the short term. This narrative review will focus on treatments and interventions where there is a clear evidence base to improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer, and where there is also evidence of variation and under-treatment. Avoidance of preoperative biliary drainage, treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, prehabiliation and enhanced recovery after surgery, reducing perioperative complications, optimising opportunities for elderly patients to receive therapy, optimising adjuvant chemotherapy and regular surveillance after surgery are some of the strategies discussed. Each treatment or pathway change represents an opportunity for marginal gain. Accumulation of marginal gains can result in considerable benefit to patients. Given that these interventions already have evidence base, they can be realised quickly and economically.

Improving biliary stent patency for malignant obstructive jaundice using endobiliary radiofrequency ablation: experience in 150 patients

BACKGROUND

Although self-expandable mental stents (SEMS) placement is the standard care for relieving obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable malignant biliary stricture, how to maintain stent potency remains an intractable problem. This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) through percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) pathway in treating such patients.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who were performed endobiliary RFA as well as SEMS placement because of unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice in single institution in recent 8 years were retrospectively reviewed. As comparison, patients who underwent only percutaneous SEMS placement for unresectable malignant biliary stricture during the contemporary period were reviewed. Stent patency, complications, complications, and overall survival (OS) were investigated and analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty patients who underwent endobiliary RFA and 127 patients who underwent only stent placement were included in this study. In the study group of endobiliary RFA, 87 patients (58.0%) underwent ablation for 1 time, 49 (32.7%) for 2 times, and 14 (9.3%) for 3 times. Complications related to RFA as well as SEMS placement happened in 113 patients (75.3%), without severe complications that needed emergent surgery or interventional therapy. The median duration of stent patency after ablation was 11.2 month, and the median survival time was 12.3 month. As comparison, difference was found in the number of interventional procedures and stents placed, duration of initial stent patency, and the incidence of moderate bleeding and pain. In the study group, only the type of tumor that caused biliary obstruction (intrahepatic carcinoma vs. extrahepatic carcinoma) was a poor independent factor (P = 0.035) for recurrent biliary obstruction. Repeated interventional therapy and adoption of subsequent therapy were only independent factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Endobiliary RFA and SEMS placement is technically safe and feasible for unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice to improve the quality of life and prolong survival.

Nationwide practice and outcomes of endoscopic biliary drainage in resectable pancreatic head and periampullary cancer

BACKGROUND

Guidelines advise self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) over plastic stents in preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) for malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction. This study aims to assess nationwide practice and outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with pancreatic head and periampullary cancer who underwent EBD before pancreatoduodenectomy were included from the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Audit (2017-2018). Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 575/1056 patients (62.0%) underwent preoperative EBD: 246 SEMS (42.8%) and 329 plastic stents (57.2%). EBD-related complications were comparable between the groups (44/246 (17.9%) vs. 64/329 (19.5%), p = 0.607), including pancreatitis (22/246 (8.9%) vs. 25/329 (7.6%), p = 0.387). EBD-related cholangitis was reduced after SEMS placement (10/246 (4.1%) vs. 32/329 (9.7%), p = 0.043), which was confirmed in multivariable analysis (OR 0.36 95%CI 0.15-0.87, p = 0.023). Major postoperative complications did not differ (58/246 (23.6%) vs. 90/329 (27.4%), p = 0.316), whereas postoperative pancreatic fistula (24/246 (9.8%) vs. 61/329 (18.5%), p = 0.004; OR 0.50 95%CI 0.27-0.94, p = 0.031) and hospital stay (14.0 days vs. 17.4 days, p = 0.005; B 2.86 95%CI -5.16 to -0.57, p = 0.014) were less after SEMS placement.

CONCLUSION

This study found that preoperative EBD frequently involved plastic stents. SEMS seemed associated with lower risks of cholangitis and less postoperative pancreatic fistula, but without an increased pancreatitis risk.

An update on treatment options for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid organ tumors. Due to the rising incidence, late diagnosis, and limited treatment options, it is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in high income countries in the next decade. The multidisciplinary treatment of this disease depends on the stage of cancer at diagnosis (resectable, borderline, locally advanced, and metastatic disease), and combines surgery, chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and supportive care. The landscape of multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer treatment is changing rapidly, especially in locally advanced disease, and the number of treatment options in metastatic disease, including personalized medicine, innovative targets, immunotherapy, therapeutic vaccines, adoptive T-cell transfer, or stemness inhibitors, will probably expand in the near future. This review summarizes the current literature and provides an overview of how new therapies or new therapeutic strategies (neoadjuvant therapies, conversion surgery) will guide multidisciplinary disease management, future clinical trials, and, hopefully, will increase overall survival.