Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct drainage is a well-established procedure for managing pancreaticojejunostomy anastomotic strictures (PJAS) post-Whipple surgery. In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy (EUS-PJS). Methods: This retrospective, single-arm study was performed at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital on 10 patients who underwent EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy through the afferent jejunal loop using a forward-viewing echoendoscope when endoscopic retrograde pancreatography failed. Our primary endpoint was technical success rate, defined as successful stent insertion. The secondary endpoints were early and late adverse events. Results: A total of 10 patients underwent EUS-PJS between February 2019 and October 2023. The technical success rate was 100%. The median procedure time was 23.5 minutes. No remarkable early or late adverse events related to the procedure, except for fever, occurred in two patients. The median follow-up duration was 9.5 months, and the median number of stent exchanges was two. A stent-free state was achieved in three patients. Conclusions EUS-PJS for PJAS management after pancreaticoduodenectomy appears to be an effective and safe procedure with the potential advantages of fewer reinterventions and the creation of a permanent drainage fistula.

Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct drainage is a well-established procedure for managing pancreaticojejunostomy anastomotic strictures (PJAS) post-Whipple surgery. In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy (EUS-PJS). Methods: This retrospective, single-arm study was performed at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital on 10 patients who underwent EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy through the afferent jejunal loop using a forward-viewing echoendoscope when endoscopic retrograde pancreatography failed. Our primary endpoint was technical success rate, defined as successful stent insertion. The secondary endpoints were early and late adverse events. Results: A total of 10 patients underwent EUS-PJS between February 2019 and October 2023. The technical success rate was 100%. The median procedure time was 23.5 minutes. No remarkable early or late adverse events related to the procedure, except for fever, occurred in two patients. The median follow-up duration was 9.5 months, and the median number of stent exchanges was two. A stent-free state was achieved in three patients. Conclusions EUS-PJS for PJAS management after pancreaticoduodenectomy appears to be an effective and safe procedure with the potential advantages of fewer reinterventions and the creation of a permanent drainage fistula.

Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct drainage is a well-established procedure for managing pancreaticojejunostomy anastomotic strictures (PJAS) post-Whipple surgery. In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy (EUS-PJS). Methods: This retrospective, single-arm study was performed at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital on 10 patients who underwent EUS-guided pancreaticojejunostomy through the afferent jejunal loop using a forward-viewing echoendoscope when endoscopic retrograde pancreatography failed. Our primary endpoint was technical success rate, defined as successful stent insertion. The secondary endpoints were early and late adverse events. Results: A total of 10 patients underwent EUS-PJS between February 2019 and October 2023. The technical success rate was 100%. The median procedure time was 23.5 minutes. No remarkable early or late adverse events related to the procedure, except for fever, occurred in two patients. The median follow-up duration was 9.5 months, and the median number of stent exchanges was two. A stent-free state was achieved in three patients. Conclusions EUS-PJS for PJAS management after pancreaticoduodenectomy appears to be an effective and safe procedure with the potential advantages of fewer reinterventions and the creation of a permanent drainage fistula.

Background/Aims: Biliary obstruction drainage in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with symptom palliation, improved access to chemotherapy, and improved survival. Stent placement and exchange via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary drainage risk traversing the HCC, a hypervascular tumor and causing bleeding. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) potentially prevents procedure-related bleeding. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS as an alternative treatment for biliary obstruction in patients with HCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all EUS-HGS procedures performed in patients with HCC at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, from February 2017 to August 2023. Results: A total of 14 EUS-HGS procedures (42.9% primary) were attempted in 10 HCC patients (mean age 71.5 years, 80.0% male). Clinical and technical success rates were 92.9% and 90.9%, respectively. The observed procedure details in the 13 successful procedures included B3 puncture (53.8%), 22-G needle (53.8%), fully covered self-expandable metal stent (100%), and mean procedure time (32.7 minutes). There was no bleeding. Mild complications occurred in 27.3%. All patients resumed oral intake within 24 hours. Conclusions EUS-HGS is a technically feasible and clinically effective initial or salvage drainage option for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with HCC.

Background/Aims: Dilation of the tract before stent deployment is a challenging step in endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD). In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of a novel spiral dilator, Tornus ES (Asahi Intec), for EUS-PDD. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-arm, observational study at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. The punctured tract was dilated using a Tornus ES dilator in all EUS-PDD cases. Our primary endpoint was the technical success rate of initial tract dilation. Technical success was defined as successful fistula dilation using a Tornus ES followed by successful stent insertion. Secondary endpoints were procedure times and early adverse events. Results: A total of 12 patients were included between December 2021 and March 2023. EUS-PDD was performed in 11 patients for post-pancreaticoduodenectomy anastomotic strictures and one patient with pancreatitis with duodenal perforation. The technical success rates of stent insertion and fistula dilation using a Tornus ES dilator was 100%. The median procedure time was 24 minutes. No remarkable adverse events related to the procedure were observed, apart from fever, which occurred in 2 patients. Conclusions Tract dilation in EUS-PDD using a Tornus ES is effective and safe.