Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography pancreatitis:Is time for a new preventive approach?

Acute pancreatitis is the most common serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancre-atography (ERCP) and its incidence may exceed 25% in some high-risk patient subsets. In some patients, pancreatitis may follow a severe course with pancreatic necrosis, multiorgan failure, permanent disability and even death. Hence, approaches which minimize both the incidence and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis are worth pursuing. Pancreatic stents have been used with some success in the prevention of post-ERCP, while so far pharmacological trials have yielded disappointing results. A recent multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial has shown that rectally administered indomethacin is effective in reducing the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis, the occurrence of episodes of moderate-to-severe pancreatitis and the length of hospital stay in high-risk patients. These results together with the demonstration that rectal administration of indomethacin is not associated with en-hanced risk of bleeding strongly support the use of this drug in the prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Propofol vs traditional sedative agents for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography:A meta-analysis

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and safety of propofol sedation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).METHODS:Databases including PubMed,Embase,and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials updated as of October 2010 were searched.Main outcome measures were ERCP procedure duration,recovery time,incidence of hypotension and hypoxia.RESULTS:Six trials with a total of 663 patients were included.The pooled mean difference in ERCP procedure duration between the propofol and traditional sedative agents was-8.05(95%CI:-16.74 to 0.63),with no significant difference between the groups.Thepooled mean difference in the recovery time was-18.69(95%CI:-25.44 to-11.93),which showed a significant reduction with use of propofol sedation.Compared with traditional sedative agents,the pooled OR with propofol sedation for ERCP causing hypotension or hypoxia was 1.69(95%CI:0.82-3.50)and 0.90(95%CI:0.55-1.49),respectively,which indicated no significant difference between the groups.CONCLUSION:Propofol sedation during ERCP leads to shorter recovery time without an increase of cardiopulmonary side effects.Propofol sedation can provide adequate sedation during ERCP.

Prophecy about post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis:From divination to science

One unresolved issue of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)is post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP),which occurs in up to 40%of patients.Identification of risk factors for PEP is especially important in the field of ERCP practice because it may assist physicians in taking protective measures in situations with high risk.A decade ago,Freeman et al meticulously evaluated a large number of potentially relevant risk factors for PEP,which can be divided into patient-relat-ed and procedure-related issues.In this commentary, we summarize this classic article and reevaluate the risk factors for PEP from the current point of view.This is followed by assessment of strategies for prevention of PEP that can be divided into mechanical and pharmacologic methods.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with altered anatomy: How to deal with the challenges?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy is challenging. Several operative interventions of both the gastrointestinal tract and the biliary and/or pancreatic system lead to altered anatomy, rendering ERCP more difficult or even impossible with a conventional side-viewing duodenoscope. Adapted endoscopes are avail-able to reach the biliopancreatic system and to perform ERCP in patients with altered anatomy. However, both technical difficulties and complications determine the procedure's success. Different technical approaches have been described and are highly dependent on local expertise and endoscopic equipment. Standard-ized practical guidelines are currently unavailable. This review focuses on the challenges encountered during ERCP in patients with altered anatomy and how to deal with them. The first challenge is reaching the papilla or the bilioenteric/pancreatoenteric anastomosis in the patient with postoperative altered anatomy. The sec-ond challenge is the cannulation of the biliopancreatic system and performing all conventional ERCP interven-tions and the third challenge is the control of possible complications. The available literature data on this topicis reviewed and illustrated with clinical cases.

Current endoscopic approach to indeterminate biliary strictures

Biliary strictures are considered indeterminate when basic work-up, including transabdominal imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with routine cytologic brushing, are non-diagnostic. Indeterminate biliary strictures can easily be mischaracterized which may dramatically affect patient's outcome. Early and accurate diagnosis of malignancy impacts not only a patient's candidacy for surgery, but also potential timely targeted chemotherapies. A significant portion of patients with indeterminate biliary strictures have benign disease and accurate diagnosis is, thus, paramount to avoid unnecessary surgery. Current sampling strategies have suboptimal accuracy for the diagnosis of malignancy. Emerging data on other diagnostic modalities, such as ancillary cytology techniques, single operator cholangioscopy, and endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration, revealed promising results with much improved sensitivity.

Entering the duodenal diverticulum:A method for cannulation of the intradiverticular papilla

Successful cannulation of the common bile duct may be difficult in patients in whom the papilla is located entirely within a diverticulum.In this study,we report successful biliary cannulation in three patients following intubation of the distal tip of the duodenoscope into the duodenal diverticulum and locating the major papilla.No complications occurred during the operation or during the postoperative period.This method didn't need second incubation an endoscope and might lower the burden of patients.So this skill is useful to deal with the papilla hidden inside the large diverticulum because of its safety and convenience.

Portal vein cannulation:An uncommon complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Portal vein cannulation is a rare complication of endo-scopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).It has been reported that it usually occurs after endo-scopic sphincterotomy,whereas in cases without prior sphincterotomy,the presence of portobiliary fistulas has been shown.Here,we present a case in which cannulation of the portal vein occurred despite careful wire-guided cannulation and the absence of sphinc-terotomy.Although fatal cases of cerebral and pulmo-nary air and/or bile embolism have been reported in patients with combined portal and hepatic vein trauma after ERCP and sphincterotomy,isolated portal vein cannulation,as in the current case,does not usu-ally result in mortality or serious morbidity.However,awareness of this rare complication is important so that no further intervention is performed.

Fetal radiation exposure: Is monitoring really needed?

The effect of fetal radiation during endoscopic retro-grade cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on pregnant women is a very interesting topic. Smith et al recently estimated the fetal radiation exposure in pregnant women undergoing ERCPs using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). The authors concluded that TLDs are unnecessary during ERCP with modified techniques. We believe that an extreme caution is needed in clinical practice before drawing such conclusions when they are not strongly supported by enough experimental evidence. Therefore, we recommend that fetal radiation exposure be monitored in clinical practice by using dosimeters, bearing in mind that all relevant techniques to control and minimize the exposure must be applied.