Retrospective cohort study Lower incidence of complications in endoscopic nasobiliary drainage for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIM:To identify the most effective endoscopic biliary drainage technique for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.METHODS:In total,118 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent endoscopic management[endoscopic nasobiliary drainage(ENBD)or endoscopic biliary stenting]as a temporary drainage in our institution between 2009 and 2014.We retrospectively evaluated all complications from initial endoscopic drainage to surgery or palliative treatment.The risk factors for biliary reintervention,post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(post-ERCP)pancreatitis,and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD)were also analyzed using patient-and procedure-related characteristics.The risk factors for bilateral drainage were examined in a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent initial unilateral drainage.RESULTS:In total,137 complications were observed in92(78%)patients.Biliary reintervention was required in 83(70%)patients.ENBD was significantly associated with a low risk of biliary reintervention[odds ratio(OR)=0.26,95%CI:0.08-0.76,P=0.012].Post-ERCP pancreatitis was observed in 19(16%)patients.An absence of endoscopic sphincterotomy was significantly associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis(OR=3.46,95%CI:1.19-10.87,P=0.023).PTBD was required in 16(14%)patients,and Bismuth type III or IV cholangiocarcinoma was a significant risk factor(OR=7.88,95%CI:1.33-155.0,P=0.010).Of 102 patients with initial unilateral drainage,49(48%)required bilateral drainage.Endoscopic sphincterotomy(OR=3.24,95%CI:1.27-8.78,P=0.004)and Bismuth II,III,or IV cholangiocarcinoma(OR=34.69,95%CI:4.88-736.7,P<0.001)were significant risk factors for bilateral drainage.CONCLUSION:The endoscopic management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is challenging.ENBD should be selected as a temporary drainage method because of its low risk of complications.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: The road is open for almighty biliopancreatic endoscopists!

Commentary on the article written and published by Peng et al,investigating the role of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided biliary drainage for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatography(ERCP).For 40 years endoscopic biliary drainage was synonymous with ERCP,and EUS was used mainly for diagnostic purposes.The advent of therapeutic EUS has revolutionized the field,especially with the development of a novel device such as electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents.Complete biliopancreatic endoscopists with both skills in ERCP and in interven-tional EUS,would be ideally suited to ensure patients the best drainage technique according to each individual situation.

outcomes of preoperative endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage for malignant distal biliary obstruction prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy

AIM to compare the outcomes of preoperative endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS Data from 153 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage prior to PD between January 2009 and July 2016 were analyzed. We compared the clinical data, procedure-related complications of endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) and postoperative complications of PD between the ENBD and ERBD groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to identify the risk factors for deep abdominal infection after PD. RESULTS One hundred and two (66.7%) patients underwent ENBD, and 51 (33.3%) patients underwent ERBD. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was less frequently performed in the ENBD group than in the ERBD group (P = 0.039); the EBD duration in the ENBD group was shorter than that in the ERBD group (P = 0.036). After EBD, the levels of total bilirubin (TB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were obviously decreased in both groups, and the decreases of TB and ALT in the ERBD group were greater than those in the ENBD group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.000, respectively). However, the rate of EBD procedure-related cholangitis was significantly higher in the ERBD group than in the ENBD group (P = 0.007). The postoperative complications of PD as graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification system were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.864). However, the incidence of deep abdominal infection after PD was significantly lower in the ENBD group than in the ERBD group (P = 0.019). Male gender (OR = 3.92; 95% CI: 1.63-9.47; P = 0.002), soft pancreas texture (OR = 3.60; 95% CI: 1.37-9.49; P = 0.009), length of biliary stricture (= 1.5 cm) (OR = 5.20; 95% CI: 2.23-12.16; P = 0.000) and ERBD method (OR = 4.08; 95% CI: 1.69-9.87; P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for deep abdominal infection after PD. CONCLUSION ENBD is an optimal method for patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction prior to PD. ERBD is superior to ENBD in terms of patient tolerance and the effect of biliary drainage but is associated with an increased risk of EBD procedure-related cholangitis and deep abdominal infection after PD. (C) The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage using electrocauteryenhanced lumen-apposing metal stent for malignant biliary obstruction:A promising procedure

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Peng et al.Palliative drainage for biliary obstruction resulting from unresectable malignant lesions includes internal and external drainage.The procedures of biliary drainage are usually guided by fluoroscopy or transcutaneous ultrasound,endoscopic ultrasound(EUS),or both.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)has been primarily recommended for the management of biliary obstruction,while EUS-guided biliary drainage and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD)are alternative choices for cases where ERCP has failed or is impossible.PTBD is limited by shortcomings of a higher rate of adverse events,more reinterventions,and severe complications.EUS-guided biliary drainage has a lower rate of adverse events than PTBD.EUS-guided biliary drainage with electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent(ECE-LAMS)enables EUS-guided biliaryenteric anastomosis to be performed in a single step and does not require prior bile duct puncture or a guidewire.The present meta-analysis showed that ECELAMS has a high efficacy and safety in relieving biliary obstruction in general,although the results of LAMS depending on the site of biliary obstruction.This study has highlighted the latest advances with a larger sample-based comprehensive analysis.

Use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage as a rescue approach in cases of unsuccessful biliary drainage

This narrative review provides an overview of the utilization of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage(EUS-GBD)as a salvage approach in cases of unsuccessful conventional management.EUS-GBD is a minimally invasive and effective technique for drainage in patients with acute cholecystitis with high risk of surgery.The procedure has demonstrated impressive technical and clinical success rates with low rates of adverse events,making it a safe and effective option for appropriate candidates.Furthermore,EUS-GBD can also serve as a rescue option for patients who have failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or EUS biliary drainage for relief of jaundice in malignant biliary stricture.However,patient selection is critical for the success of EUS-GBD,and proper patient selection and risk assessment are important to ensure the safety and efficacy of the procedure.As the field continues to evolve and mature,ongoing research will further refine our understanding of the benefits and limitations of EUS-GBD,ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage(EUS-BD)directs bile flow into the digestive tract and has been mostly used in patients with malignant biliary obstruction(MBO)where endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-guided biliary drainage was unsuccessful or was not feasible.Lumen apposing metal stents(LAMS)are deployed during EUS-BD,with the newer electrocautery-enhanced LAMS reducing procedure time and complication rates due to the inbuilt cautery at the catheter tip.EUS-BD with electrocautery-enhanced LAMS has high technical and clinical success rates for palliation of MBO,with bleeding,cholangitis,and stent occlusion being the most common adverse events.Recent studies have even suggested comparable efficacy between EUS-BD and endosc-opic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as the primary approach for distal MBO.In this editorial,we commented on the article by Peng et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery in 2024.

Electrocautery vs non-electrocautery dilation catheters in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage

AIM: To investigate the safety and utility of an electrocautery dilation catheter for endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage.METHODS: A single-center, exploratory, retrospective study was conducted between August 2010 and August 2014. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of our institution. Informed, written consent was obtained from each patient prior to the procedure. The subjects included 28 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-guided transmural drainage(EUS-TD) for symptomatic pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections(PFCs) by fine needle aspiration using a 19-gauge needle. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the use of an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device; 15 patients were treated with an electrocautery dilation catheter(electrocautery group), and 13 patients were treated with a non-electrocautery dilation catheter(non-electrocautery group). We evaluated the technical and clinical successes and the adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs between the two groups.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, type, location and diameter of PFCs between the groups. Thirteen patients(87%) in the electrocauterygroup and 10 patients(77%) in the non-electrocautery group presented with infected PFCs. The technical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 100%(15/15) and 100%(13/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively. The clinical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 67%(10/15) and 69%(9/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.794). The procedure time of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs in the electrocautery group was significantly shorter than that of the non-electrocautery group(mean ± SD: 30 ± 12 min vs 52 ± 20 min, P < 0.001). Adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs occurred in 0 patients and 1 patient for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.942).CONCLUSION: EUS-TD using an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device for the treatment of symptomatic PFCs appears safe and contributes to a shorter procedure time.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage vs percutaneous transhepatic bile duct drainage in the management of malignant obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND Malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)is a condition characterized by varying degrees of bile duct stenosis and obstruction,accompanied by the progressive development of malignant tumors,leading to high morbidity and mortality rates.Currently,the two most commonly employed methods for its management are percutaneous transhepatic bile duct drainage(PTBD)and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage(EUS-BD).While both methods have demonstrated favorable outcomes,additional research needs to be performed to determine their relative efficacy.To compare the therapeutic effectiveness of EUS-BD and PTBD in treating MOJ.METHODS This retrospective analysis,conducted between September 2015 and April 2023 at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University(The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou),involved 68 patients with MOJ.The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of surgical procedure received:EUS-BD subgroup(n=33)and PTBD subgroup(n=35).Variables such as general data,preoperative and postoperative indices,blood routine,liver function indices,myocardial function indices,operative success rate,clinical effectiveness,and complication rate were analyzed and compared between the subgroups.RESULTS In the EUS-BD subgroup,hospital stay duration,bile drainage volume,effective catheter time,and clinical effect-iveness rate were superior to those in the PTBD subgroup,although the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The puncture time for the EUS-BD subgroup was shorter than that for the PTBD subgroup(P<0.05).Postoperative blood routine,liver function index,and myocardial function index in the EUS-BD subgroup were significantly lower than those in the PTBD subgroup(P<0.05).Additionally,the complication rate in the EUS-BD subgroup was lower than in the PTBD subgroup(P<0.05).CONCLUSION EUS-BD may reduce the number of punctures,improve liver and myocardial functions,alleviate traumatic stress,and decrease complication rates in MOJ treatment.

Endoscopic-ultrasound-guided biliary drainage with placement of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction:Updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage using electrocautery-enhanced(ECE)delivery of lumen-apposing metal stent(LAMS)is gradually being re-cognized as a viable palliative technique for malignant biliary obstruction after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)failure.However,most of the studies that have assessed its efficacy and safety were small and hetero-geneous.Prior meta-analyses of six or fewer studies that were published 2 years ago were therefore underpowered to yield convincing evidence.AIM To update the efficacy and safety of ECE-LAMS for treatment of biliary ob-struction after ERCP failure.METHODS We searched PubMed,EMBASE,and Scopus databases from the inception of the ECE technique to May 13,2022.Primary outcome measure was pooled technical success rate,and secondary outcomes were pooled rates of clinical success,re-intervention,and adverse events.Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model following Freeman-Tukey double-arcsine transformation in R soft-ware(version 4.1.3).RESULTS Fourteen eligible studies involving 620 participants were ultimately included.The pooled rate of technical success was 96.7%,and clinical success was 91.0%.Adverse events were reported in 17.5%of patients.Overall reinter-vention rate was 7.3%.Subgroup analyses showed results were generally consistent.CONCLUSION ECE-LAMS has favorable success with acceptable adverse events in relieving biliary obstruction when ERCP is impossible.The consistency of results across most subgroups suggested that this is a generalizable approach.

Defining failure of endoluminal biliary drainage in the era of endoscopic ultrasound and lumen apposing metal stents

The role of endoscopy in pathologies of the bile duct and gallbladder has seen notable advancements over the past two decades.With advancements in stent technology,such as the development of lumen-apposing metal stents,and adoption of endoscopic ultrasound and electrosurgical principles in therapeutic endoscopy,what was once considered endoscopic failure has transformed into failure of an approach that could be salvaged by a second-or third-line endoscopic strategy.Incorporation of these advancements in routine patient care will require formal training and multidisciplinary acceptance of established techniques and collaboration for advancement of experimental techniques to generate robust evidence that can be utilized to serve patients to the best of our ability.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage vs percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failure

In a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery,a meta-analysis investigated the safety and efficacy of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stent(ECE-LAMS)implantation for managing malignant biliary obstruction following failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.This manusc-ript endeavors to offer a comprehensive look at the progression of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage(EUS-BD)technologies,weighing their merits and drawbacks against traditional percutaneous methods.Several meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials have compared the performance of EUS-BD and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage(PTCD).These studies revealed that the technical success rate,clinical success rate,and adverse events were similar between EUS-BD and PTCD.Nevertheless,given that most of these studies preda-te 2015,the safety and effectiveness of novel EUS-BD techniques,including ECE-LAMS,compared with those of percutaneous biliary drainage remain elusive.Further investigation is imperative to ascertain whether these novel EUS-BD techniques can safely and efficaciously replace conventional percutaneous thera-peutic approaches.

Revolutionizing palliative care:Electrocautery-enhanced lumenapposing metal stents in endoscopic-ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for malignant obstructions

Patients with malignant biliary obstruction,following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)failure could be referred for endoscopicultrasound-guided biliary drainage through electrocautery-enhanced(ECE)lumen-apposing metal stent(LAMS)placement.However,the efficacy and safety of ECE-LAMS in this scenario have remained debatable due to minimal scientific evidence.The current confirmed 91.0%clinical success,96.7%technical success,7.3%reintervention rate,and 17.5%adverse events,following the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction with ECE-LAMS delivery.Finally,ECE-LAMS proved to be a generalizable strategy for managing biliary obstruction for patients who were excluded from ERCP.

Unveiling the potential of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage

This editorial delves into Peng et al's article,published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.Peng et al's meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents(ECE-LAMS)in ultrasound-guided biliary drainage for alleviating malignant biliary obstruction.Examining 14 studies encompassing 620 participants,the research underscores a robust technical success rate of 96.7%,highlighting the efficacy of ECE-LAMS,particularly in challenging cases which have failed endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography.A clinical success rate of 91.0% underscores its impact on symptom alleviation,while a reasonably tolerable adverse event rate of 17.5% is observed.However,the 7.3% re-intervention rate stresses the need for post-procedural monitoring.Subgroup analyses validate consistent outcomes,bolstering the applicability of ECE-LAMS.These findings advocate for the adoption of ECELAMS as an appropriate approach for biliary palliation,urging further exploration in real-world clinical contexts.They offer valuable insights for optimizing interventions targeting malignant biliary obstruction management.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage: Where are we?

Pancreatic fluid collections(PFCs)result from injury to the pancreas from acute or chronic pancreatitis,surgery,or trauma.Management of these collections has evolved over the last 2 decades.The choice of interventions includes percu-taneous,endoscopic,minimally invasive surgery,or a combined approach.Endoscopic drainage is the drainage of PFCs by creating an artificial communication between the collection and gastrointestinal lumen that is maintained by placing a stent across the fistulous tract.In this editorial,we endeavored to update the current status of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of PFCs.

Contrast-enhanced guided endoscopic ultrasound procedures

Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound(CH-EUS)can overcome the limi-tations of endoscopic ultrasound-guided acquisition by identifying microvessels inside inhomogeneous tumours and improving the characterization of these tumours.Despite the initial enthusiasm that oriented needle sampling under CH-EUS guidance could provide better diagnostic yield in pancreatic solid lesions,further studies did not confirm the supplementary values in cases of tissue acquisition guided by CH-EUS.This review details the knowledge based on the available data on contrast-guided procedures.The indications for CH-EUS tissue acquisition include isoechoic EUS lesions with poor visible delineation where CH-EUS can differentiate the lesion vascularisation from the surrounding parenchyma and also the mural nodules within biliopancreatic cystic lesions,which occur in select cases.Additionally,the roles of CH-EUS-guided therapy in patients whose pancreatic fluid collections or bile ducts that have an echogenic content have indications for drainage,and patients who have nonvisualized vessels that need to be highlighted via Doppler EUS are presented.Another indication is represented if there is a need for an immediate assessment of the post-radiofrequency ablation of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours,in which case CH-EUS can be used to reveal the incomplete tumour destruction.

Gallbladder drainage guided by endoscopic ultrasound

The gold-standard management of acute cholecystitis is cholecystectomy.Surgical intervention may be contraindicated due to permanent causes.To date,the classical approach is percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients unresponsive to medical therapy.However, with this treatment some patients may experience discomfort,complications and a decrease in their quality of life.In these cases,endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided gallbladder drainage may represent an effective minimally invasive alternative.Our objective is to describe in detail this new and not well-known technique:EUS-guided cholecystenterostomy.We will describe how the patient should be prepared,what accessories are needed and how the technique is performed.We will also discuss the possible indications for this technique and will provide a brief review based on published reports and our own experience.

Lumen-apposing-metal stent misdeployment in endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainages:A systematic review focusing on issues and rescue management

BACKGROUND The introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents(LAMS)for endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided drainages has marked a turning point in the field of interventional ultrasound and it is gathering worldwide diffusion in different clinical settings.Nevertheless,the procedure may conceal unexpected pitfalls.LAMS misdeployment is the most frequent cause of technical failure and it can be considered a procedure-related adverse event when it hampers the conclusion of the planned procedure or results in significant clinical consequences.Stent misdeployment can be managed successfully by endoscopic rescue maneuvers to allow the completion of the procedure.To date,no standardized indication is available to guide an appropriate rescue strategy depending on the type of procedure or of misdeployment.AIM To evaluate the incidence of LAMS misdeployment during EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy(EUS-CDS),gallbladder drainage(EUS-GBD)and pancreatic fluid collections drainage(EUS-PFC)and to describe the endoscopic rescue strategies adopted under the circumstance.METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the literature on PubMed by searching for studies published up to October 2022.The search was carried out using the exploded medical subject heading terms“lumen apposing metal stent”,“LAMS”,“endoscopic ultrasound”and“choledochoduodenostomy”or“gallbladder”or“pancreatic fluid collections”.We included in the review on-label EUS-guided procedures namely EUS-CDS,EUS-GBD and EUS-PFC.Only those publications reporting EUS-guided LAMS positioning were considered.The studies reporting a technical success rate of 100%and other procedure-related adverse events were considered to calculate the overall rate of LAMS misdeployment,while studies not reporting the causes of technical failure were excluded.Case reports were considered only for the extraction of data regarding the issues of misdeployment and rescue techniques.The following data were collected from each study:Author,year of publication,study design,study population,clinical indication,technical success,reported number of misdeployment,stent type and size,flange misdeployed and type of rescue strategy.RESULTS The overall technical success rate of EUS-CDS,EUS-GBD and EUS-PFC was 93.7%,96.1%,and 98.1%respectively.Significant rates of LAMS misdeployment have been reported for EUS-CDS,EUS-GBD and EUS-PFC drainage,respectively 5.8%,3.4%,and 2.0%.Endoscopic rescue treatment was feasible in 86.8%,80%,and 96.8%of cases.Non endoscopic rescue strategies were required only in 10.3%,16%and 3.2%for EUS-CDS,EUS-GBD,and EUS-PFC.The endoscopic rescue techniques described were over-the-wire deployment of a new stent through the created fistula tract in 44.1%,8%and 64.5%and stent-in-stent in 23.5%,60%,and 12.9%,respectively for EUSCDS,EUS-GBD,and EUS-PFC.Further therapeutic option were endoscopic rendezvous in 11.8%of EUS-CDS and repeated procedure of EUS-guided drainage in 16.1%of EUS-PFC.CONCLUSION LAMS misdeployment is a relatively common adverse event in EUS-guided drainages.There is no consensus on the best rescue approach in these cases and the choice is often made by the endoscopist relying upon the clinical scenario,anatomical characteristics,and local expertise.In this review,we investigated the misdeployment of LAMS for each of the on-label indications focusing on the rescue therapies used,with the aim of providing useful data for endoscopists and to improve patient outcomes.

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.

Evaluation of diagnostic cytology via endoscopic naso-pancreatic drainage for pancreatic tumor

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of cytology of the pancreatic juice obtained via the endoscopic naso-pancreatic drainage tube(ENPD-C).METHODS: ENPD was performed in cases where a diagnosis could not be made other than by using en-doscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and in cases of pancreatic neoplasms or cystic tumors, includ-ing intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN) suspected to have malignant potential. 35 patients(21 males and 14 females) underwent ENPD between January 2007 and June 2013. The pancreatic duct was imaged and the procedure continued in one of ENPD-C or ENPD-C plus brush cytology(ENPD-BC). We checked the cytology result and the final diagnosis.RESULTS: The mean patient age was 69 years(range, 48-86 years). ENPD-C was performed in 24 cases andENPD-C plus brush cytology(ENPD-BC) in 11 cases. The ENPD tube was inserted for an average of 3.5 d. The final diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of the resected specimen in 18 cases and of follow-up findings at least 6 mo after ENPD in the 18 inoperable cases. Malignancy was diagnosed in 21 cases and 14 patients were diagnosed as having a benign condition. The ratios of class Ⅴ/Ⅳ:Ⅲ:Ⅱ/Ⅰ?findings were 7:7:7 in malignant cases and 0:3:11 in benign cases. The sensitivity and specificity for all patients were 33.3% and 100%, re-spectively. The cytology-positive rate was 37.5%(6/16) for pancreatic cancer. For IPMN cases, the sensitivity and specificity were 33% and 100%, respectively.CONCLUSION: Sensitivity may be further increased by adding brush cytology. Although we can diagnosis cancer in cases of a positive result, the accuracy of ENPD-C remains unsatisfactory.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic walled-off necrosis using self-expanding metal stents without fluoroscopy

AIM To investigate whether endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided insertion of fully covered self-expandable metal stents in walled-off pancreatic necrosis(WOPN) is feasible without fluoroscopy.METHODS Patients with symptomatic pancreatic WOPN undergoing EUS-guided transmural drainage using self-expandable and fully covered self expanding metal stents(FCSEMS) were included. The EUS visibility of each step involved in the transmural stent insertion was assessed by theoperators as "visible" or "not visible":(1) Access to the cyst by needle or cystotome;(2) insertion of a guide wire;(3) introducing of the diathermy and delivery system;(4) opening of the distal flange; and(5) slow withdrawal of the delivery system until contact of distal flange to cavity wall. Technical success was defined as correct positioning of the FCSEMS without the need of fluoroscopy.RESULTS In total, 27 consecutive patients with symptomatic WOPN referred for EUS-guided drainage were included. In 2 patients large traversing arteries within the cavity were detected by color Doppler, therefore the insertion of FCSEMS was not attempted. In all other patients(92.6%) EUS-guided transgastric stent insertion was technically successful without fluoroscopy. All steps of the procedure could be clearly visualized by EUS. Nine patients required endoscopic necrosectomy through the FCSEMS. Adverse events were two readmissions with fever and one self-limiting bleeding; there was no procedure-related mortality. CONCLUSION The good endosonographic visibility of the FCSEMS delivery system throughout the procedure allows safe EUS-guided insertion without fluoroscopy making it available as bedside intervention for critically ill patients.