Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Choledocho-Enterostomy by Using Lumen Apposing Metal Stent in Patients with Failed Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Literature Review

Role of endoscopic-ultrasound-guided biliary drainage with electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction

In this editorial, we discuss the article by Peng et al in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, focusing on the evolving role of endoscopic-ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) with electrocautery lumen apposing metal stent (LAMS) for distal malignant biliary obstruction. Therapeutic endoscopy has rapidly advanced in decompression techniques, with growing evidence of its safety and efficacy surpassing percutaneous and surgical approaches. While endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the gold standard for biliary decompression, its failure rate approaches 10.0%, prompting the exploration of alternatives like EUS-BD. This random-effects meta-analysis demonstrated high technical and clinical success of over 90.0% and an adverse event rate of 17.5%, mainly in the form of stent dysfunction. Outcomes based on stent size were not reported but the majority used 6 mm and 8 mm stents. As the body of literature continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique, the challenges of stent dysfunction need to be addressed in future studies. One strategy that has shown promise is placement of double-pigtail stents, only 18% received the prophylactic intervention in this study. We expect this to improve with time as the technique continues to be refined and standardized. The results above establish EUS-BD with LAMS as a reliable alternative after failed ERCP and considering EUS to ERCP upfront in the same session is an effective strategy. Given the promising results, studies must explore the role of EUS-BD as first-line therapy for biliary decompression.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biliary Drainage in Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction

Malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) is a challenging medical problem that often negatively impacts the patient's quality of life (QoL), postoperative complications, and survival rates. Endoscopic approaches to biliary drainage are generally performed by ERCP or, in selected cases, with a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Recent advances in therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allow drainage where previous methods have failed. EUS has evolved from a purely diagnostic technique to one that allows a therapeutic approach in the event of ERCP failure in distal MBO. Moreover, the introduction of dedicated accessories and prostheses for EUS-guided transmural biliary drainage (EUS-BD) made these procedures more successful with regard to technical success, clinical outcomes and reduction of adverse events (AEs). Finally, lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) have improved the therapeutic role of the EUS. Subsequently, the electrocautery enhanced tip of the LAMS (EC-LAMS) allows a direct access of the delivery system to the target lumen, thereby simplifying and reducing the EUS-BD procedure time. EUS-BD using LAMS and EC-LAMS has proven effective and safe with a low rate of AEs. This review aims to evaluate biliary drainage techniques in malignant obstruction, focusing on the role of EUS biliary drainage by LAMS.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Indications for Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Patients with Pancreatic and Biliary Disease—Novel Interventional Procedures

There is growing evidence supporting the substantial, essential and indispensable role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a key diagnostic armamentarium for upper GI oncologic surgery. Well described in countless publications, EUS holds that position in gastroenterological expert centers all over Europe. Despite its undisputable contributions to oncologic upper GI surgery, the availability of this technique at the expert level shows up in an irregular spread pattern. Endoscopic ultrasound’s primary use during the first few years after its creation was the detection of pancreatic cancer. From then on, EUS developed in different directions, becoming a diagnostic tool that increasingly better defines its status as a method of minimally invasive therapeutic applications and a useful addition to surgical options. As a result, several surgical interventions could even be replaced by ultrasound-targeted interventions. This process took place in just a few years and was made possible by technical development that sensibly combined high-resolution ultrasound with therapeutic endoscopy. The present article will serve to cover the most prevalent uses with supporting data considering the growing list of suggested indications for EUS while also examining cutting-edge initiatives that might soon become the standard of clinical practice. Endoscopic centers with high expertise are needed to train future experts in the growing field of EUS interventions.

Multicenter study of lumen-apposing metal stents with or without pigtail in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant obstruction-BAMPI TRIAL: an open-label, randomized controlled trial protocol

Background

It is unclear whether the insertion of an axis-orienting double-pigtail plastic stent (DPS) through biliary lumen-apposing meal stent (LAMS) in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) improves the stent patency. The aim of this study is to determine whether this technical variant offers a clinical benefit in EUS-guided biliary drainage (BD) for the management of distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Methods/design

This is a multicenter open-label, randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighty-four patients with malignant biliary obstruction will undergo EUS-BD (CDS type) using LAMS in 7 tertiary hospitals in Spain and will be randomized to the LAMS and LAMS plus DPS groups. The primary endpoint is the rate of recurrent biliary obstruction, as a stent dysfunction parameter, detected during follow-up. Secondary endpoints: technical and clinical success (reduction in bilirubin > 50% within 14 days of stent placement), safety, and others (number of reinterventions, time to biliary obstruction, prognostic factors, survival rate).

Discussion

The BAMPI trial has been designed to determine whether the addition of a coaxial axis-orienting DPS through LAMS is superior to LAMS alone to prevent stent dysfunction.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04595058. Registered on October 14, 2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06106-1.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage: Are we there yet?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the mainstay procedure of choice for management of obstructive biliary disease. While ERCP is widely performed with high success rates, the procedure is not feasible in every patient such as cases of non-accessible papilla. In the setting of unsuccessful ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has become a promising alternative to surgical bypass and percutaneous biliary drainage (PTBD). A variety of different forms of EUS-BD have been described, allowing for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic approaches. Recent studies have reported high success rates utilizing EUS-BD for both transpapillary and transluminal drainage, with fewer adverse events when compared to PTBD. Advancements in novel technologies designed specifically for EUS-BD have led to increased success rates as well as improved safety profile for the procedure. The techniques of EUS-BD are yet to be fully standardized and are currently performed by highly trained advanced endoscopists. The aim of our review is to highlight the different EUS-guided interventions for achieving biliary drainage and to both assess the progress that has been made in the field as well as consider what the future may hold.

Serious Complications of EUS-Guided Hepaticoesophagostomy due to Transmural Stent Migration

Thoracic complications, such as biliopleural fistula and bile leaking into the right pleural cavity, are serious adverse events of transmural endoscopic ultrasound- (EUS-) guided biliary drainage involving EUS-guided hepaticoesophagostomy (EUS-HES). In this article, the authors present endoscopic treatment of biliopleural fistula as a serious thoracic complication of EUS-HES. The authors highlight key components of EUS-guided transmural biliary drainage and their experience with particular emphasis on endoscopic treatment of thoracic complications.

Relief of biliary obstruction: choosing between endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was originally devised as a novel diagnostic technique to enable endoscopists to stage malignancies and acquire tissue. However, it rapidly advanced toward therapeutic applications and has provided gastroenterologists with the ability to effectively treat and manage advanced diseases in a minimally invasive manner. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has gained considerable attention as an approach to provide relief in malignant and benign biliary obstruction for patients when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fails or is not feasible. Such instances occur in those with surgically altered anatomy, gastroduodenal obstruction, periampullary diverticulum or prior transampullary duodenal stenting. While ERCP remains the gold standard, a multitude of studies are showing that EUS-BD can be used as an alternative modality even in patients who could successfully undergo ERCP. This review will shed light on recent EUS-guided advancements and techniques in malignant and benign biliary obstruction.

Outcomes and limitations of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy in malignant biliary obstruction

Background

Transpapillary biliary drainage in ERCP is an established method for symptomatic treatment of patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage frequently remains the treatment of choice when the transpapillary approach proves ineffective. Recently, EUS-guided extra-anatomical anastomoses of bile ducts to the gastrointestinal tract have been reported as an alternative to percutaneous biliary drainage. To assess the usefulness of extra-anatomical intrahepatic biliary duct anastomoses to the gastrointestinal tract as endotherapy for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction and to determine factors affecting the efficacy of treatment.

Methods

A prospective analysis of the treatment results of all patients with unresectable biliary obstruction treated with EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy at our institution in the years 2016–2019.

Results

Transmural intrahepatic biliary drainage (EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy) was performed due to the ineffectiveness of ERCP in 53 patients (38 males, 15 females; mean age 74.66 [56–89] years) with unresectable biliary obstruction. Technical success of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy was achieved in 52/53 (98.11%) patients. Complications of endoscopic treatment were observed in 10/53 (18.87%) patients. Clinical success of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy was achieved in 46/53 (86.79%) patients. Bismuth type II–IV cholangiocarcinoma, hepatic metastases, ascites, suppurative cholangitis, and high blood bilirubin levels exceeding 30 mg/dL were independent factors for increased complications and inefficacy of EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy.

Conclusions

In the event of transpapillary biliary drainage proving ineffective, extra-anatomical anastomoses of intrahepatic bile ducts to the gastrointestinal tract provide an effective method for the treatment of patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Efficacy and Safety of EUS-Guided Choledochoduodenostomy Using Electrocautery-Enhanced Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents (ECE-LAMS) in the Treatment of Biliary Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents (ECE-LAMS) have been newly developed to perform EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), but its benefits and harms remain obscure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-CDS using ECE-LAMS. Method. In the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases through January 1, 2001, and April 27, 2020. The primary outcomes of the pooled analysis were to determine the technical success, clinical success, and overall adverse events rates. The secondary outcomes were pooled rates of short-term and long-term adverse events. Results. Six studies with 270 patients were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled rates of technical, clinical success, and adverse events were 95.1% (95% CI = 90.6–97.5%, I2 = 25%), 93.3% (95% CI = 87.4–96.5%, I2 = 28%), and 15.3% (95% CI = 10.6–21.6%, I2 = 13%), respectively. The pooled rates of short-term and long-term adverse events were 3.6% (95% CI = 1.3–9.6%, I2 = 0%) and 11.3% (95% CI = 7.6–16.5%, I2 = 0%), respectively. Conclusion. EUS-CDS using ECE-LAMS provides favorable outcomes in patients with biliary obstruction. It has been associated with a higher success rate and a lower rate of adverse events when compared with the biliary drainage approaches previously used. Large and randomized controlled observational studies are required to further refine the findings in the present analysis.

Is a coaxial plastic stent within a lumen-apposing metal stent useful for the management of distal malignant biliary obstruction?

BACKGROUND

There are uncertainties concerning the possible benefits derived from the insertion of double-pigtail plastic stents (DPS) within lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) in EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS). The aim of this study was to determine whether a DPS within a biliary LAMS offers a potential benefit in EUS-guided CDS for the palliative management of malignant biliary obstruction.

METHODS

This was a multicentre retrospective study at three tertiary institutions.

PERIOD

May 2015 to August 2020. Two interventional strategies (LAMS alone and LAMS plus DPS) were compared. The choice was the endoscopist's discretion. Inclusion: unresectable/inoperable biliopancreatic tumours with previous failed ERCP. Clinical success: bilirubin decrease > 30% at 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Forty-one consecutive cases of EUS-CDS using biliary LAMS were treated (22 women; mean age, 72.3 years) during the study period. The procedure was technically successful in 39 (95.1%), who were managed using the two strategies (22 LAMS alone; 17 LAMS plus DPS). No differences between the groups, in terms of clinical success (77.3 vs 87.5%, p = 0.67), adverse events (AEs, 13.6 vs 11.8%, p = 0.99), recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO, 13.6 vs 23.5%, p = 0.67), or survival rate (p = 0.67) were encountered. The LAMS alone group had a shorter length of procedure (50 min vs 66 min, p = 0.102). No risk factors related to clinical success, AEs, RBO, or survival were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The technical variant of adding a coaxial DPS within LAMS in EUS-CDS seems not to be enough to prevent biliary morbidities, and it is a time-consuming strategy. Although prospective studies are needed, these results do not support its routine use.

Effectiveness and safety of EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) is emerging as an alternative technique for biliary drainage in patients who fail conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are being increasingly used for CDD. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CDD using LAMS.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of multiple databases through May 2019 to identify studies on CDD using covered self-expanding metal stents. Pooled rates of technical success, clinical success, adverse events, and recurrent jaundice associated with CDD using LAMS were estimated. A subgroup analysis was performed based on use of LAMS with electrocautery-enhanced delivery system (EC-LAMS).

RESULTS

Seven studies on CDD using LAMS (with 284 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled rates of technical and clinical success (per-protocol analysis) were 95.7% (95% CI 93.2-98.1) and 95.9% (95% CI 92.8-98.9), respectively. Pooled rate of post-procedure adverse events was 5.2% (95% CI 2.6-7.9). Pooled rate of recurrent jaundice was 8.7% (95% CI 4.5-12.8). On subgroup analysis of CDD using EC-LAMS (5 studies with 201 patients), the pooled rates of technical and clinical success (per-protocol analysis) were 93.8% (95% CI 90.4-97.1) and 95.9% (95% CI 91.9-99.9), respectively. Pooled rate of post-procedure adverse events was 5.6% (95% CI 1.7-9.5). Pooled rate of recurrent jaundice was 11.3% (95% CI 6.9-15.7). Heterogeneity (I²) was low to moderate in the analyses.

CONCLUSION

CDD using LAMS/EC-LAMS is an effective and safe technique for biliary decompression in patients who failed ERCP. Further studies are needed to assess CDD using LAMS as primary treatment modality for biliary obstruction.

Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of lumen-apposing metal stents and anti-migrating tubular self-expandable metal stents for EUS-guided gallbladder drainage in high surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using an anti-migrating tubular self-expandable metal stent (ATSEMS) is performed in high surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis. The newly introduced lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is expected to reduce the risk of tubular self-expandable metal stent-related adverse events such as stent migration, but no comparative studies have been carried out between LAMSs and ATSEMSs for EUS-GBD.

METHODS

We reviewed the prospectively collected EUS-GBD database at Asan Medical Center and Bucheon Soonchunhyang hospital to analyze consecutive patients with acute cholecystitis who underwent EUS-GBD with LAMSs or ATSEMSs between January 2015 and December 2017. Technical success, clinical success, adverse events, and recurrence of cholecystitis were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 71 patients (36 with LAMSs, 35 with ATSEMSs) were analyzed. The LAMS group had longer median procedure time (15.5 minutes) than the ATSEMS group (11 minutes; P = .017). The 2 groups did not show significant differences in terms of technical success (LAMS, 94% vs ATSEMS, 100%; P = .49), clinical success (94% vs 100%; P = .49), procedure-related adverse events (0% vs 2.9%; P = .99), and stent-related late adverse events (11.8% vs 5.8%; P = .43). During follow-up, the 2 groups had similar rates of cholecystitis recurrence at 6 months (LAMS, 3.4% vs ATSEMS, 3.1%, P = .99) and 12 months (8.3% vs 3.1%, P = .56).

CONCLUSIONS

In high surgical risk patients with acute cholecystitis, LAMSs and ATSEMSs for EUS-GBD showed similar rates of technical success, clinical success, procedure-related adverse events, stent-related late adverse events, and recurrence of cholecystitis.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage: A change in paradigm?

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been developed as an alternative means of biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). Compared to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, EUS-BD offers effective internal drainage in a single session in the event of failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and has fewer adverse events (AE). In choosing which technique to use for EUS-BD, a combination of factors appears to be important in decision-making; technical expertise, the risk of AE, and anatomy. With the advent of novel all-in-one EUS-BD specific devices enabling simpler and safer techniques, as well as the growing experience and training of endosonographers, EUS-BD may potentially become a first-line technique in biliary drainage for MBO.

Therapeutic EUS: New tools, new devices, new applications

Linear echoendoscopes with large instrument channels enable EUS-guided interventions in organs and anatomical spaces in proximity to the gastrointestinal tract. Novel devices and tools designed for EUS-guided transluminal interventions allow various new applications and improve the efficacy and safety of these procedures. New-generation biopsy needles provide higher histology rates and require less passes. Specially designed stents and stent insertion devices enable intra- and extra-hepatic bile and pancreatic duct stenting as well as gallbladder drainage. Currently, EUS-guided biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice due to malignant distal bile duct obstruction is feasible and safe when ERCP has failed. It might replace ERCP as first choice intervention in future. EUS-guided transmural stenting is regarded as the preferred intervention in the management of symptomatic peripancreatic fluid collections. Creating a new anastomosis between different organs such as gastrojejunostomy has also become possible with lumen-apposing stents. EUS-guided creation of a gastrogastrostomy is a promising novel technique to access the excluded stomach to facilitate conventional ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass anatomy. The role of EUS in tumor ablation and targeted angiotherapy is also constantly expanding. In this review, we report on the newest developments of therapeutic EUS within the past 4 years.

De-novo Gastrointestinal Anastomosis with Lumen Apposing Metal Stent

Gastric outlet obstruction, afferent or efferent limb obstruction, and biliary obstruction among patients with altered anatomy often require surgical intervention which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic dilation for benign etiologies requires multiple sessions, whereas self-expandable metal stents used for malignant etiologies often fail due to tumor in-growth. Lumen apposing metal stents, placed endoscopically with the intent of creating a de-novo gastrointestinal anastomosis bypassing the site of obstruction, can potentially achieve similar efficacy, with a much lower complication rate. In our study cohort (n=79), the composite technical success rate and clinical success rate was 91.1% (72/79) and 97.2% (70/72), respectively. Five different techniques were used: 43% (34/79) underwent the balloon-assisted method, 27.9% (22/79) underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided balloon occluded gastro-jejunostomy bypass, 20.3% (16/79) underwent the direct technique, 6.3% (5/79) underwent the hybrid rendezvous technique, and 2.5% (2/79) underwent natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)-assisted procedure. All techniques required an echoendoscope except NOTES. In all, 53.2% (42/79) had non-cautery enhanced Axios stent, 44.3% (35/79) had hot Axios stent, and 2.5% (2/79) had Niti-S spaxus stent. Symptom-recurrence was seen in 2.8%, and 6.3% had a complication (bleeding, abdominal pain or peritonitis). All procedures were performed by experts at centers of excellence with adequate surgical back up.