Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has become a standard procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary disease. Like any invasive procedure, it carries a small, but significant rate of serious complications such as duodenal perforation. Primary surgical closure is the treatment of choice for the cases of duodenal perforation. However, there have been some case reports in which endoscopic metal clip closure of an iatrogenic duodenal perforation was successful. We experienced three cases of successful treatment of the iatrogenic duodenal perforation using endoscopic clipping and fibrin glue injections during a duodenoscope insertion.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Duodenoscopes ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive

No abstract available.
Common Bile Duct* ; Diverticulum* ; Duodenoscopes* ; Humans ; Stents*

A duodenoscope is complex instrument with an elevator and an elevator wire channel which are difficult to access and not readily amenable to cleaning and disinfection. Lapses in endoscope reprocessing have been regarded as a major cause of duodenoscope-associated transmission of infection. However, recent outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or other multidrug-resistant organisms have emerged in spite of proper adherence to the manufacturer's reprocessing instructions. It is the time to reestablish reprocessing protocol appropriate for duodenoscope and revise a new design of duodenoscope that makes reprocessing easier in order to prevent cross-transmission of infection by duodenoscope. This manuscript reviews current state of duodenoscope-associated infections, recent measures from the United States government agencies and its limitations, and future strategies to prevent duodenoscope-associated infections.
Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfection ; Duodenoscopes ; Elevators and Escalators ; Endoscopes ; Enterobacteriaceae ; United States Government Agencies

A duodenoscope has a very complex structure that contains many small parts which make reprocessing more challenging. The difficulty in cleaning duodenoscopes contributes to a higher risk of infection than that of conventional gastrointestinal endoscopes. However, a duodenoscope shares similar disinfection process with other gastrointestinal endoscopes. Recent outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections associated with duodenoscopes used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures have raised many concerns worldwide. Duodenoscope-associated infections involving CRE or other multidrug-resistant bacteria pose a great threat to patients undergoing procedures using duodenoscopes and should be dealt with a great concern. Updated guidelines regarding cleaning and disinfection of duodenoscope needs to be developed urgently to prevent transmission of infection and ensure patient safety. Meanwhile, healthcare staff should pay special attention to thorough cleaning and disinfection of duodenoscopes.
Bacteria ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfection ; Duodenoscopes ; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Humans ; Patient Safety

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has been used effectively as the palliative treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. In high grade strictures, endoscopic stenting can be achieved by dilating devices such as dilating or balloon catheters. Subgroup of malignant biliary obstructions are too stenotic to allow passage of plastic or metal stents. In cases of failure of conventional stenting, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of the 7-Fr Soehendra stent retriever (SSR) used as a dilator. METHODS: From January 1999 to September 2001, 14 patients with malignant pancreaticobiliary stirictures (2 pancreatic, 12 biliary) that could not be traversed with plastic or metal stents, underwent stricture dilation with SSR. An endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed and a guide wire was inserted beyond the stricture. Then the SSR was introduced over the guide wire via duodenoscope. Then the stricture was traversed by torquing the SSR clockwise while pushing it. The SSR was removed and then the plastic or metal stents were inserted above the stricture. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, 13 patients (93%) underwent successful stenting using SSR. Symptom relief was observed in all patients after endoscopic biliary stenting. One patient (7%) went on to percutaneous biliary drainage because we failed to insert the metal stent into the stenotic left hepatic duct after traversing the stricture with SSR. There were no significant complications such as bile duct or duodenal perforation and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The Soehendra stent retriever is useful and safe for dilation with subsequent stent placement of malignant pancreaticobiliary stirictures resistant to conventional stenting. However, this device may be difficult to pass a tortuous or small-diameter hilar stricture.
Bile Ducts ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Drainage* ; Duodenoscopes ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Plastics ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents*

Biliopancreatic malignancies such as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has notoriously been diagnosed late. As such most therapy have been palliative in nature. Cholangioscopy allows for an earlier diagnosis to be made. Brachytherapy with the insertion of catheter with iridium-132 seeds, percutaneously or through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was the earliest ablative techniques used. It has been shown to have a beneficial effect only in prolonging survival. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has also been used for several years. stenting with PDT versus stenting alone for unresectable CCA showed a marked survival benefit with the addition of PDT. However the most exciting endoscopic ablative modality appears to be intraductal radiofrequency ablation using the Habib catheter and device. Several case series have shown the effectiveness of this technique in ablating tumors. This technique is evolving and coupled with early diagnosis of CCA through cholangioscopy will allow for a curative therapy. The crux to the effective treatment of early cancerous lesions in the bile or pancreatic duct is the early diagnosis of such lesions. Effective endoscopic ablative therapy is now available with the advent of radiofrequency ablation probes that can be passed through the duodenoscope via ERCP.
Bile ; Brachytherapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Duodenoscopes ; Early Diagnosis ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Photochemotherapy ; Stents

Esophageal mucosal tear occurred during scope insertion in a 71-year-old male patient who previously underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) several times without any complications. The mucosal tear was successfully sealed with endoclips using a forward-viewing scope. However, this mishap leads to the incidental discovery of both esophageal cancer and early gastric cancer. Duodenoscope has inherent limitation in observing the gastrointestinal tract, especially the esophagus, and may miss clinically significant lesions. Therefore, in addition to applying sufficient lubricant to the scope tip and considering the possibility of anatomical variation to prevent mucosal injury or perforation, performing upper endoscopy during ERCP should be considered in a certain patient population, albeit the utility of and the population benefiting from it remains to be proven by a large-scale study.
Aged ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Duodenoscopes ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Tears

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with a congenitally or surgically altered anatomy such as a large diverticulum in which an ampullary orifice exists or a Billroth-II gastrectomy, have an increased complication rate after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) compared to normal anatomies. An experience involving a stent-guided sphincterotomy using an endoprosthesis is herein reported. METHODS: 10 patients with a Billroth-II gastrectomy and 9 patients with a large diverticulum received a stent-guided EST. In the diverticula cases, all the ampullary orifices were located either inside the diverticulum or in an unusual position. All patients had common bile duct stones and symptoms of cholangitis. After a 0.035 inch guide wire was inserted through the side-viewing duodenoscope, a 10 Fr. endoprosthesis (MTW, Germany) was inserted and a needle-knife sphincterotome was introduced. In patients with a Billroth-II anatomy, the incision was made from the papillary orifice of the 12 o'clock position toward 6 o'clock. In patients with periampullary diverticula, the incision was made with sweeps of the needle-knife in a 6 to 12 o'clock direction. The cautery current was applied to the mucosa along the stent and the stent was retrieved by a polypectomy snare through the biopsy channel without removal of an endoscope. RESULTS: Among the 19 patients, the guide wire and stent insertion were possible in all except one patient due to the inability of selective cannulation. An EST was performed in all patients after stent insertion. There were no serious complications during and after the stent-guided EST except for two minor bleedings which were treated with a coagulation current using the needle-knife. Consequently, complete endoscopic stone removal was achieved in all patients including three patients in whom a mechanical lithotriptor was needed. CONCLUSIONS: In stent-guided EST, the stent not only guides the adequate direction of the incision but also allows a controlled incision under a favorable visual field. Therefore, blind cutting and exploration during EST can be avoided and successful EST is possible even in difficult situations such as that created by an altered anatomy.
Biopsy ; Catheterization ; Cautery ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Diverticulum* ; Duodenoscopes ; Endoscopes ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; SNARE Proteins ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents ; Visual Fields

Infection is a known complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), occurring in up to 1.5% of cases. However, it is important to realize that true incidence may be underestimated because infection may go unnoticed. Post-ERCP infections are considered to be endogenous infections arising from the intestinal bacteria of the patient and introduction of exogenous bacteria through inadequately reprocessed duodenoscopes. During the past years, carbapenem resistance has become a major concern for public health. The infection outbreaks after ERCP are linked to breaches in adherence to disinfection manual and complex design of duodenoscopes difficult to reprocess. The most important risk factor for ERCP-related cholangitis is inadequate biliary drainage. To minimize the risk of post-ERCP infection it would be helpful that the volume of contrast injected into the biliary tree has to be minimized to obtain adequate cholangiogram. In patients with bile duct obstruction and failed drainage of infected bile via ERCP, every effort should be made to achieve prompt decompression of an obstructed biliary system. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended only in patients with biliary obstruction in which there is a possibility that complete drainage may not be achieved at the ERCP.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Bacteria ; Bile ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystitis ; Cholestasis ; Decompression ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfection ; Drainage ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Duodenoscopes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Public Health ; Risk Factors

Infection is a known complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), occurring in up to 1.5% of cases. However, it is important to realize that true incidence may be underestimated because infection may go unnoticed. Post-ERCP infections are considered to be endogenous infections arising from the intestinal bacteria of the patient and introduction of exogenous bacteria through inadequately reprocessed duodenoscopes. During the past years, carbapenem resistance has become a major concern for public health. The infection outbreaks after ERCP are linked to breaches in adherence to disinfection manual and complex design of duodenoscopes difficult to reprocess. The most important risk factor for ERCP-related cholangitis is inadequate biliary drainage. To minimize the risk of post-ERCP infection it would be helpful that the volume of contrast injected into the biliary tree has to be minimized to obtain adequate cholangiogram. In patients with bile duct obstruction and failed drainage of infected bile via ERCP, every effort should be made to achieve prompt decompression of an obstructed biliary system. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended only in patients with biliary obstruction in which there is a possibility that complete drainage may not be achieved at the ERCP.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Bacteria ; Bile ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystitis ; Cholestasis ; Decompression ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfection ; Drainage ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Duodenoscopes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Public Health ; Risk Factors