EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy for malignant distal biliary obstruction palliation: an article review

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.

Hepatic subcapsular hematoma post-ERCP: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most frequently performed minimally invasive procedures currently available for diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases. Though considered a safe procedure, it has the highest rate of complications among the other endoscopic procedures, such as duodenal perforation and hepatic subcapsular hematoma (HSH). We are a presenting a case report and review of the current literature.

METHOD

We report one case HSH rupture, in a 25 years old female patient, 15 cm in diameter, affecting liver segments VI, VII and VIII, who underwent surgical treatment and performed a systematic literature review with the descriptors: endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography and hepatic subcapsular hematoma. All articles were reviewed and data on cases that presented rupture of the HSH analyzed separately.

RESULTS

Sixty one cases of HSH were described in the literature, fourteen of them ruptured. When analyzing only the subgroup of patients who had ruptured subcapsular hematoma, we showed a significant increase in the mortality rate of patients when compared to non-ruptured (21.4% × 2.2%). We also report that patients with rupture required some type of intervention, of which 78.6% required surgery. Conservative treatment may be the conduct and will suffice for most cases of non-ruptured hematomas. For patients who evolve with rupturing, surgical resolution, although non-mandatory, is necessary in most cases.

CONCLUSION

HSH ruptured is a rare and potentially fatal post-ERCP complication whose treatment is eminently surgical.

EUS assisted transmural cholecystogastrostomy fistula creation as a bridge for endoscopic internal gallbladder therapy using a novel fully covered metal stent

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the “gold standard” for treating symptomatic gallstones. Innovative methods, such as a scarless therapeutic procedure through a natural orifice are being introduced, and include transgastric or transcolonic endoscopic cholecystectomy. However, before clinical implementation, instruments still need modification, and a more convenient treatment is still needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic internal gallbladder therapy such as cholecystolithotomy in an animal survival model.

Methods

Four pigs underwent endoscopic-ultrasound (EUS)-guided cholecystogastrostomy and the placement of a novel covered mental stent. Four weeks later the stents were removed and an endoscope was advanced into the gallbladder via the fistula, and cholecystolithotomy was performed. Two weeks later the pigs were sacrificed, and the healing of the fistulas was assessed.

Results

EUS-guided cholecystogastrostomy with mental stent deployment was successfully performed in all the animals. Four weeks after the procedure, the fistulas had formed and all the stents were removed. Endoscopic cholecystolithotomy was performed through each fistula. All the animals survived until they were sacrificed 2 weeks later. The fistulas were found to be completely healed.

Conclusions

This study reports the first endoscopic transmural cholecystolithotomy after placement of a novel mental stent in an animal survival model.

Subcapsular hepatic haematoma after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancrea-tography: An unusual case

Subcapsular hepatic haematoma is a rare complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancrea-tography (ERCP), and there are few reports about this unusual complication worldwide. The primary symptom of most cases reported in the literature is abdominal pain. We report an unusual case with the primary symptom of fever. A 56-year-old man who had a six-month history of recurrent episodes of upper abdominal pain was diagnosed with a common bile duct stone by magnetic resonance cholangiopancrea-tography. Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy was performed, and stones from the common bile duct were successfully extracted with a basket. The patient had a persistent fever after ERCP, and treatment with intravenous antibiotics was unsuccessful. Computed tomography showed a 13 cm × 6 cm subcapsular hepatic haematoma filled with air and liquid on the surface of the right hepatic lobe. The patient was successfully treated with peritoneal drainage under B-ultra guidance. Subcapsular liver haematoma should be considered when hard-to- explain symptoms persist in the early period after ERCP. Percutaneous drainage is an effective treatment.