Endoscopic treatment in biliary strictures after pediatric liver transplantation

Novel technique for recanalization of severe hepaticojejunal obstruction using a transseptal needle in a pediatric liver transplant recipient

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic and PTB interventions are common nonsurgical interventions for biliary anastomotic strictures that occur after liver transplantation. When these nonsurgical interventions fail, surgical re-anastomosis is considered; however, this is quite invasive and can cause additional injury that may lead to graft loss. We report a case in which conventional nonsurgical interventions failed, but a new method that involve the use of a transseptal needle-a device to create a transseptal left-heart access during cardiac catheter interventions-was successfully used in recanalization of the hepaticojejunal anastomotic obstruction.

CASE

A 21-year-old man, who had received living-donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia at the age of 23 months presented with recurrent cholangitis and liver dysfunction due to a biliary anastomotic stricture of the hepaticojejunostomy. Therapeutic interventions for biliary stricture, including the PTB approach, double-balloon enteroscopic approach, and rendezvous approach failed. We then performed needle puncture of the anastomotic obstruction using a transseptal needle and succeeded in recanalizing the complete anastomotic obstruction. To perform the procedures safely, we evaluated the organ and needle positions using biplane fluoroscopy and placed a balloon in the afferent jejunal limb as a target for puncture. The 12 Fr catheter via the biliary route was removed 7 months after the procedure, without using a catheter, there was no recurrent stricture or cholangitis for 26 months.

CONCLUSION

Using a transseptal needle to manage hepaticojejunal anastomotic obstruction can reduce the number of patients who need surgical re-anastomosis.

Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Pediatric Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) disease has different causes and types between children and adults, which has been increasingly diagnosed in the pediatric group. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been gradually considered as a therapeutic method in adults, while in pediatric patients, there are not many reports of its usage. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the use condition of therapeutic ERCP in the management of pediatric HPB diseases.

METHODS

This systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases to identify all relevant articles published from inception to February 2022 that evaluated therapeutic ERCP in pediatric patients with HPB diseases. The researchers included studies in which patients were less than 18 years old and underwent therapeutic ERCP procedures. A random-effects model was used to analyze the usage rate of therapeutic ERCP procedures, procedural success rates, adverse event rates, and the rate of different therapeutic procedures. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were conducted to analyze the source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 33 articles were included. After homogenization, the overall use of therapeutic interventions accounts for 77% [95% confidence interval (CI) 74-81%] of all ERCP procedures. After excluding outlier studies, the estimation success rate of the therapeutic procedure is 74% (95% CI 69-79%), and adverse event rate is 8% (95% CI 6-10%). In our study, stent placement is the most common procedure, which makes up 75% (95% CI 65-86%) of all therapeutic procedures. In addition, the usage proportion of sphincterotomy (ST), stone extraction/removal, bougienage/balloon dilation is, respectively, 46% (95% CI 39-53%), 34% (95% CI 31-38%), and 26% (95% CI 22-29%).

CONCLUSION

The ERCP procedure is gradually considered a therapeutic technique in pediatric patients, the proportion of therapeutic ERCP is 77% of total usage, which is increasing every year. Meanwhile, its success rate is relatively high. It reflects that this operation modality is promising in the treatment of HPB disorders and is gradually expanded as more branch technologies are being used. A variety of operations can be achieved through ERCP procedures, and more functions should be developed in the future.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022302911].

Percutaneous removal of biliary stones post-liver transplant in a pediatric patient: Case report and review of the literature

This case report describes an 8-year-old girl who underwent a segmental LT for a primary diagnosis of citrullinemia at the age of 12 months. She presented with cholangitis secondary to stenosis of the biliary-enteric anastomosis. MRI revealed dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts associated with multiple stones. An endoscopic approach failed to decompress the bile ducts and remove the stones. A percutaneous approach was then undertaken. After placement of a temporary external biliary drain for 12 days, a 26 French sheath was placed to access the bile ducts. Using a 14Fr flexible cystoscope, 80%-90% of the biliary stones were removed. This was followed by antegrade balloon dilatation of the biliary-enteric anastomosis. Two months later, the procedure was repeated, resulting in complete clearance of the biliary stones. An internal-external biliary drain was maintained in placed for 10 months. The patient has been asymptomatic, with no evidence of stone recurrence for 13 months after drain removal. Percutaneous biliary stone removal is commonly performed in adults with non-transplanted livers, especially in complex cases, and has also been shown to be successful in the pediatric population. However, it is rarely reported in transplanted livers in adults, and to the best of our knowledge, no pediatric cases have been reported. This case illustrates that this technique can be successfully utilized in pediatric LT patients.