Predictors of re-bleeding after endoscopic hemostasis for delayed post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding

AIM: To predict the re-bleeding after endoscopic hemostasis for delayed post-endoscopic sphincterotomy(ES) bleeding.METHODS: Over a 15-year period, data from 161 patients with delayed post-ES bleeding were retrospectively collected from a single medical center. To identify risk factors for re-bleeding after initial successful endoscopic hemostasis, parameters before, during and after the procedure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were analyzed. These included age, gender, blood biochemistry, comorbidities, endoscopic diagnosis, presence of periampullary diverticulum, occurrence of immediate postES bleeding, use of needle knife precut sphincterotomy, severity of delayed bleeding, endoscopic features on delayed bleeding, and type of endoscopic therapy.RESULTS: A total of 35 patients(21.7%) had rebleeding after initial successful endoscopic hemostasis for delayed post-ES bleeding. Univariate analysis revealed that malignant biliary stricture, serum bilirubin level of greater than 10 mg/d L, initial bleeding severity, and bleeding diathesis were significant predictors of rebleeding. By multivariate analysis, serum bilirubin level of greater than 10 mg/d L and initial bleeding severity remained significant predictors. Re-bleeding was controlled by endoscopic therapy in a single(n = 23) or multiple(range, 2-7; n = 6) sessions in 29 of the 35 patients(82.9%). Four patients required transarterial embolization and one went for surgery. These five patients had severe bleeding when delayed post-ES bleeding occurred. One patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis died from re-bleeding.CONCLUSION: Re-bleeding occurs in approximately one-fifth of patients after initial successful endoscopic hemostasis for delayed post-ES bleeding. Severity of initial bleeding and serum bilirubin level of greater than 10 mg/d L are predictors of re-bleeding.

Treating delayed endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced bleeding:Epinephrine injection with or without thermotherapy

AIM:To compare the hemostatic efficacy between epinephrine injection alone and epinephrine injection combined with thermotherapy for delayed post-endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) bleeding.METHODS: Cases with delayed post-ES bleeding undergoing epinephrine injection alone (epinephrine injection group, n=26) or epinephrine combined with thermotherapy (combination therapy group, n=33) in our institution between 1999 and 2007 were retrospectively investigated. The main outcome measurements wereRESULTS: The initial hemostatic efficacy was 96.2% for epinephrine injection alone and 100% for combination therapy (P=0.44). There were four patients with re-bleeding in each group (16.0% vs 12.1%, P=0.72). There was only one complication of pancreatitis from the combination therapy group. Three patients (11.5%) in the epinephrine injection group and one patient (3%) in the combination therapy group required angiographic embolization or surgery (P=0.31). The total number of blood transfusions was not significantly different between the two groups (3.5±4.6 U vs 3.5±4.5 U, P=0.94). There was no bleeding-related death in either group.CONCLUSION: Epinephrine injection alone is as effective as epinephrine injection combined with thermotherapy for the management of delayed post-ES bleeding.

Poorly expandable common bile duct with stones on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography

AIM:To describe characteristics of a poorly expandable(PE) common bile duct(CBD) with stones on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.METHODS:A PE bile duct was characterized by a rigid and relatively narrowed distal CBD with retrograde dilatation of the non-PE segment.Between 2003 and 2006,endoscopic retrograde cholangiography(ERC) images and chart reviews of 1213 patients with newly diagnosed CBD stones were obtained from the computer database of Therapeutic Endoscopic Center in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.Patients with characteristic PE bile duct on ERC were identified from the database.Data of the patients as well as the safety and technical success of therapeutic ERC were collected and analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS:A total of 30 patients with CBD stones and characteristic PE segments were enrolled in this study.The median patient age was 45 years(range,20 to 92 years);66.7% of the patients were men.The diameters of the widest non-PE CBD segment,the PE segment,and the largest stone were 14.3 ± 4.9 mm,5.8 ± 1.6 mm,and 11.2 ± 4.7 mm,respectively.The length of the PE segment was 39.7 ± 15.4 mm(range,12.3 mm to 70.9 mm).To remove the CBD stone(s) completely,mechanical lithotripsy was required in 25(83.3%) patients even though the stone size was not as large as were the difficult stones that have been described in the literature.The stone size and stone/PE segment diameter ratio were associated with the need for lithotripsy.Post-ERC complications occurred in 4 cases:pancreatitis in 1,cholangitis in 2,and an impacted Dormia basket with cholangitis in 1.Two(6.7%) of the 28 patients developed recurrent CBD stones at follow-up(50 ± 14 mo) and were successfully managed with therapeutic ERC.CONCLUSION:Patients with a PE duct frequently require mechanical lithotripsy for stones extraction.To retrieve stones successfully and avoid complications,these patients should be identified during ERC.

Double balloon endoscopy increases the ERCP success rate in patients with a history of Billroth Ⅱ gastrectomy

AIM:To evaluate the effect of double balloon endoscope(DBE)on the endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography(ERCP)success rate in patients with a history of BillrothⅡ(BⅡ)gastrectomy.METHODS:From April 2006 to March 2007,32 patients with a BⅡgastrectomy underwent 34 ERCP attempts.In all cases,the ERCP procedures were started using a duodenoscope.If intubation of the afferent loop or reaching the papilla failed,we changed to DBE for the ERCP procedure(DBE-ERCP).We assessed the success rate of afferent loop intubation,reaching the major papilla,selective cannulation,possibility of therapeutic approaches,procedure-related complications,and the overall success rate.RESULTS:Among the 32 patients with a history of BⅡgastrectomy,the duodenoscope was successfully passed up to the papilla in 22 patients(69%),and cannulation was successfully performed in 20 patients(63%).Six patients(2 with failure in afferent loop intubation and 4 with failure in reaching the papilla)underwent DBE-ERCP.The DBE reached the papilla in all the 6 patients(100%)and selective cannulation was successful in 5 patients(83%).Four patients(67%)who had common bile duct stones were successfully treated.One patient underwent diagnostic ERCP only and the other one,in whom selective cannulation failed,was diagnosed with papilla cancer proven by biopsy.There were no complications related to the DBE.The overall ERCP success rate increased to 88%(28/32).CONCLUSION:The overall ERCP success rate increases with DBE in patients with a previous BⅡgastrectomy.