Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation less than three minutes for biliary stone removal increases the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prevention Strategies for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis in Patients with Biliopancreatic Disorders and Acute Cholangitis: A Study from a Romanian Tertiary Hospital

Background/Objectives: Pancreatitis is the most frequent and serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with an incidence between 2 and 10% and a mortality rate of 1 in 500 patients. Etiopathogenesis remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and to identify potential patient- and procedure-related risk factors (RF) in a cohort of patients from a tertiary referral center in Romania. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-center study in which we analyzed ERCP procedures performed in the Gastroenterology Department of Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, between January 2019 and September 2024. All patients received intrarectal diclofenac before the ERCP and were hydrated with at least 1500 mL of Ringer's solution after the procedure in the absence of contraindications, according to the latest international recommendations. Results: In total, 2743 ERCPs were performed in the given time period, while 2350 procedures were analyzed in the study. PEP occurred in 350 cases (14.9%). Of these, 191 (54.6%) occurred in males with a mean age of 66.5 years. Procedural RF with adjusted odds ratios (OR) were as follows: difficult cannulation of the common bile duct, OR = 3.734, p < 0.001, main pancreatic duct catheterization, OR = 1.454, p = 0.022, and endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation, with an OR of 3.258, p < 0.001. Pancreatic duct stent placement was shown to prevent PEP in this study group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: PEP remains a serious complication of ERCP, associated with significant morbidity and occasional mortality. While some proven risk factors, such as age, gender, or comorbidities, are unmodifiable, avoiding Wirsung duct cannulation and pancreatography, or prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement, could play a significant role in PEP prevention.

Endoscopic Papillary Large Balloon Dilatation With or Without Endoscopic Sphincterotomy in the Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stones

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) has been proved to have better efficacy and safety in removing common bile duct stones. Conventional endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is usually performed before EPLBD. However, EPLBD without EST has recently reported short-term outcomes similar to those of EPLBD with EST. This article summarizes the latest research advances in EPLBD with or without EST for the treatment of large common bile duct stones (CBDS) as a way to provide further evidence to support the ERCP surgeon's choice of which technique to use for the treatment of large CBDS.

FINDINGS

EPLBD alone is recommended in cases of anatomical abnormalities or bleeding tendencies. EPLBD with EST is recommended in patients with stenosis of the duodenal papilla or distal common bile duct or with periportal diverticula. Most clinical studies have shown that the clinical efficacy and incidence of adverse events associated with ESLBD are comparable to those of standalone EPLBD. However, further large-scale prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Clinical efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in treatment of gallbladder stones with common bile duct stones: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The incidence of cholelithiasis has been on the rise in recent years, but the choice of procedure is controversial.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) in patients with gallbladder stones (GS) with common bile duct stones (CBDS).

METHODS

The clinical data of 102 patients with GS combined with CBDS were selected for retrospective analysis and divided into either an LC + EPBD group (n = 50) or an LC + endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) group (n = 52) according to surgical methods. Surgery-related indexes, postoperative recovery, postoperative complications, and expression levels of inflammatory response indexes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Total surgical time, stone free rate, rate of conversion to laparotomy, and successful stone extraction rate did not differ significantly between the LC + EPBD group and LC + EST group. Intraoperative hemorrhage, time to ambulation, and length of hospitalization in the LC + EPBD group were lower than those of the LC + EST group (P < 0.05). The rate of total complications of the two groups was 9.80% and 17.65%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. No serious complications occurred in either group. At 48 h postoperatively, the expression levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were lower in the LC + EPBD group than in the LC + EST group (P < 0.05). At 3 d postoperatively, the expression levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and total bilirubin were lower in the LC + EPBD group than in the LC + EST group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LC combined with EPBD and LC combined with EST are both effective procedures for the treatment of GS with CBDS, in which LC combined with EPBD is beneficial to shorten the patient's hospitalization time, reduce the magnitude of elevated inflammatory response indexes, and promote postoperative recovery.

Endoscopic Management of Difficult Biliary Stones: An Evergreen Issue

Choledocholithiasis is one of the most common indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in daily practice. Although the majority of stones are small and can be easily removed in a single endoscopy session, approximately 10-15% of patients have complex biliary stones, requiring additional procedures for an optimum clinical outcome. A plethora of endoscopic methods is available for the removal of difficult biliary stones, including papillary large balloon dilation, mechanical lithotripsy, and electrohydraulic and laser lithotripsy. In-depth knowledge of these techniques and the emerging literature on them is required to yield the most optimal therapeutic effects. This narrative review aims to describe the definition of difficult bile duct stones based on certain characteristics and streamline their endoscopic retrieval using various modalities to achieve higher clearance rates.

Prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis: current strategies and novel perspectives

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an advanced endoscopic procedure that might lead to severe adverse events. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common post-procedural complication, which is related to significant mortality and increasing healthcare costs. Up to now, the prevalent approach to prevent PEP consisted of employing pharmacological and technical expedients that have been shown to improve post-ERCP outcomes, such as the administration of rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aggressive intravenous hydration, and the placement of a pancreatic stent. However, it has been reported that PEP originates from a more complex interaction of procedural and patient-related factors. Appropriate ERCP training has a pivotal role in PEP prevention strategy, and it is not a chance that a low PEP rate is universally considered one of the most relevant indicators of proficiency in ERCP. Scant data on the acquisition of skills during the ERCP training are currently available, although some efforts have been recently done to shorten the learning curve by way of simulation-based training and demonstrate competency by meeting technical requirements as well as adopting skill evaluation scales. Besides, the identification of adequate indications for ERCP and accurate pre-procedural risk stratification of patients might help to reduce PEP occurrence regardless of the endoscopist's technical abilities, and generally preserve safety in ERCP. This review aims at delineating current preventive strategies and highlighting novel perspectives for a safer ERCP focusing on the prevention of PEP.

Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Prevention, Diagnosis and Management

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) carries a post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) rate of 2–10%, which could be as high as 30–50% in high-risk cases. PEP is severe in up to 5% of cases, with potential for life-threatening complications, including multi-organ failure, peripancreatic fluid collections, and death in up to 1% of cases. The risk of PEP is potentially predictable and may be modified with pharmacological measures and endoscopist technique. This review covers the definition, epidemiology and risk factors for PEP, with a focus on the latest evidence-based medical and endoscopic strategies to prevent and manage PEP.

Combined surgical and intraoperative endoscopic rescue of a biliary incarcerated balloon dilator: a successful rescue in a fortunate patient

Background

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) is the second proposed maneuver for the endoscopic retrieval of common bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). Being less traumatic, EPBD is acknowledged for fewer procedure-related complications compared to (EST).

Case presentation

We present a 55-year-old lady, who was referred to the pancreato-biliary division, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, for endoscopic management of a high likelihood of choledocholithiasis. Unfortunately, during the procedure, the balloon dilator was incarcerated inside the common bile duct (CBD) with failure of all endoscopic extraction trials. Because of the resultant cholangio-pancreatitis, the incarcerated inflated balloon had to be removed immediately. Open surgical rescue of the case in conjunction with the intraoperative endoscopic biliary stent deployment had made it possible to save the patient.

Conclusion

This case is one of the few reports of incarcerated balloon dilator during EPBD and failure of endoscopic retrieval, with subsequent acute pancreatitis/hepato-cholangitis, and gall bladder mucocele. Despite being a critical surgical candidate and owing to the attentive timely surgical intervention collaborated with the intra-operative endoscopic management, the case was fortunate.

Efficacy of endoscopic large balloon dilation extended for 2 minutes in bile duct stone removal: A multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

There is no evidence regarding the optimal balloon dilation time during endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD). The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of 2-minute extended balloon dilation for EPLBD.

METHODS

Two hundred and five patients who underwent EPLBD during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for bile duct stones at three tertiary centers were included in the analysis. Clinical outcomes and the adverse events were compared between the 0-minute group (n = 94, balloon deflated immediately after waist disappearance) and the 2-minute group (n = 111, balloon dilation maintained for 2 minutes after waist disappearance). The risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) after EPLBD were assessed.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the stone removal rates and hospitalization periods between the two groups. However, the total ERCP procedure time was significantly shorter in the 2-minute group (40.6 vs 48.9 min, P = .03). The incidence of PEP was 7.4% in the 0-minute group and significantly lower at 0.9% in the 2-minute group (P = .04). Multivariate analysis identified without 2-minute extended EPLBD as a significant risk factor of PEP (OR: 9.9, P = .045).

CONCLUSIONS

Extension of EPLBD for 2 minutes helped prevent PEP and shortened the procedure time.