Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of mechanical lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy under direct peroral cholangioscopy, and their combination in the treatment of difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones.Methods:Clinical data of 345 patients with difficult CBD stones treated at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, between January 2020 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 176 males and 169 females, aged (71.2±14.2) years. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the lithotripsy technique used: mechanical lithotripsy group ( n=275), laser lithotripsy group under direct peroral cholangioscopy ( n=34), and combined lithotripsy group ( n=35). Operative time, hospitalization costs, stone clearance rate, and postoperative complications were recorded. Follow-ups were conducted through outpatient visits and telephone reviews to monitor stone recurrence. Propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1: 3 nearest-neighbor ratio with a caliper of 0.02 was performed, using lithotripsy method as the dependent variable, and age, sex, stone size, and bile duct diameter as independent variables, resulting in well-balanced mechanical and laser lithotripsy groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess recurrence-free survival, with comparisons performed using the log-rank test. Results:Before PSM, there were significant differences in age, sex, stone length, and bile duct diameter between the groups (all P<0.05). After PSM, 40 patients were included in the mechanical lithotripsy group, 34 in the laser group, and 35 in the combined group, with no significant differences in baseline or preoperative clinical characteristics (all P>0.05). The combined group had a significantly longer operative time compared to the mechanical group [71.0 (66.0, 92.0) min vs. 50.5 (40.4, 56.5) min, Z=-5.02, P<0.001] and the laser group [71.0 (66.0, 92.0) min vs. 53.0 (26.5, 73.5) min, Z=-2.61, P=0.001]. The laser group also had a longer operative time than the mechanical group [53.0 (26.5, 73.5) min vs. 50.5 (40.4, 56.5) min, Z=-2.27, P=0.023]. Hospitalization costs were significantly higher in the combined group compared to the mechanical group [43 000(33 000, 50 000) yuan vs. 30 000(26 000, 37 000) yuan; Z=-3.43, P<0.001]. The single-session stone clearance rates were 80.0% (32/40) for the mechanical group, 85.3% (29/34) for the laser group, and 62.9% (22/35) for the combined group. Postoperative complication rates were 20.0% (8/40), 11.7% (4/34), and 11.4% (4/35), respectively, with no statistically significant differences among the three groups (all P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in cumulative recurrence-free survival among the groups ( χ2=0.06, P=0.970). Conclusions:For endoscopic management of difficult CBD stones, combined lithotripsy is associated with longer operative time and higher hospitalization costs compared to mechanical and laser lithotripsy alone. Laser lithotripsy also requires more operative time than mechanical lithotripsy. However, the three lithotripsy strategies show no significant differences in postoperative complications or cumulative recurrence-free survival.

Objective To evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation(RFA)and photodynamic therapy(PDT)combined with biliary stenting for the treatment of unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods Clinical data of patients with cholangiocarcinoma who received endoscopic RFA or PDT treatment from February 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into RFA group(n=30,received endoscopic RFA combined with biliary stent placement)and PDT group(n=20,received PDT combined with biliary stent placement).The frequency of treatment,stent patency time,overall survival time and adverse events incidence were counted.The factors affecting the survival time of patients were analyzed.Results The overall survival time was 14.0(95%CI:11.8～16.2)months in RFA group and 18.0(95%CI:15.4～20.6)months in PDT group,the median patency time of stent was 4.0(95%CI:2.7～5.3)months in RFA group and 3.5(95%CI:2.3～4.7)months in PDT group,the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the H＾R of patients with≥2 endoscopic RFA or PDT treatments was 2.417,which was a protective factor affecting overall survival(P=0.018),while the H＾R of TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ was 0.300,which was a risk factor affecting the overall survival period(P=0.002).No significant difference was found in clinical success rate(both 100.00%)and adverse events incidence between the two groups[28.13%(9/32)vs.23.81%(5/21)],the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion The long-term efficacy of endoscopic RFA or PDT combined with biliary stenting in the treatment of unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is comparable,while the sequential treatment of endoscopic RFA or PDT≥2 times can effectively prolong the overall survival of patients.

Objective To evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation(RFA)and photodynamic therapy(PDT)combined with biliary stenting for the treatment of unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods Clinical data of patients with cholangiocarcinoma who received endoscopic RFA or PDT treatment from February 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively collected.The patients were divided into RFA group(n=30,received endoscopic RFA combined with biliary stent placement)and PDT group(n=20,received PDT combined with biliary stent placement).The frequency of treatment,stent patency time,overall survival time and adverse events incidence were counted.The factors affecting the survival time of patients were analyzed.Results The overall survival time was 14.0(95%CI:11.8～16.2)months in RFA group and 18.0(95%CI:15.4～20.6)months in PDT group,the median patency time of stent was 4.0(95%CI:2.7～5.3)months in RFA group and 3.5(95%CI:2.3～4.7)months in PDT group,the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the H＾R of patients with≥2 endoscopic RFA or PDT treatments was 2.417,which was a protective factor affecting overall survival(P=0.018),while the H＾R of TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ was 0.300,which was a risk factor affecting the overall survival period(P=0.002).No significant difference was found in clinical success rate(both 100.00%)and adverse events incidence between the two groups[28.13%(9/32)vs.23.81%(5/21)],the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion The long-term efficacy of endoscopic RFA or PDT combined with biliary stenting in the treatment of unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is comparable,while the sequential treatment of endoscopic RFA or PDT≥2 times can effectively prolong the overall survival of patients.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of mechanical lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy under direct peroral cholangioscopy, and their combination in the treatment of difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones.Methods:Clinical data of 345 patients with difficult CBD stones treated at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, between January 2020 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 176 males and 169 females, aged (71.2±14.2) years. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the lithotripsy technique used: mechanical lithotripsy group ( n=275), laser lithotripsy group under direct peroral cholangioscopy ( n=34), and combined lithotripsy group ( n=35). Operative time, hospitalization costs, stone clearance rate, and postoperative complications were recorded. Follow-ups were conducted through outpatient visits and telephone reviews to monitor stone recurrence. Propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1: 3 nearest-neighbor ratio with a caliper of 0.02 was performed, using lithotripsy method as the dependent variable, and age, sex, stone size, and bile duct diameter as independent variables, resulting in well-balanced mechanical and laser lithotripsy groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess recurrence-free survival, with comparisons performed using the log-rank test. Results:Before PSM, there were significant differences in age, sex, stone length, and bile duct diameter between the groups (all P<0.05). After PSM, 40 patients were included in the mechanical lithotripsy group, 34 in the laser group, and 35 in the combined group, with no significant differences in baseline or preoperative clinical characteristics (all P>0.05). The combined group had a significantly longer operative time compared to the mechanical group [71.0 (66.0, 92.0) min vs. 50.5 (40.4, 56.5) min, Z=-5.02, P<0.001] and the laser group [71.0 (66.0, 92.0) min vs. 53.0 (26.5, 73.5) min, Z=-2.61, P=0.001]. The laser group also had a longer operative time than the mechanical group [53.0 (26.5, 73.5) min vs. 50.5 (40.4, 56.5) min, Z=-2.27, P=0.023]. Hospitalization costs were significantly higher in the combined group compared to the mechanical group [43 000(33 000, 50 000) yuan vs. 30 000(26 000, 37 000) yuan; Z=-3.43, P<0.001]. The single-session stone clearance rates were 80.0% (32/40) for the mechanical group, 85.3% (29/34) for the laser group, and 62.9% (22/35) for the combined group. Postoperative complication rates were 20.0% (8/40), 11.7% (4/34), and 11.4% (4/35), respectively, with no statistically significant differences among the three groups (all P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in cumulative recurrence-free survival among the groups ( χ2=0.06, P=0.970). Conclusions:For endoscopic management of difficult CBD stones, combined lithotripsy is associated with longer operative time and higher hospitalization costs compared to mechanical and laser lithotripsy alone. Laser lithotripsy also requires more operative time than mechanical lithotripsy. However, the three lithotripsy strategies show no significant differences in postoperative complications or cumulative recurrence-free survival.

ObjectiveTo investigate the operation skills of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with periampullary duodenal diverticula. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 867 patients with periampullary duodenal diverticula who underwent ERCP in Department of Hepatobiliary Endoscopy in Shandong Jiaotong Hospital from March 2013 to February 2015. The rate of successful intubation, therapeutic effect, and development of complications were analyzed. ResultsThe rate of successful intubation was 99.8%. Of all patients, 793 underwent successful intubation with an incision knife, 44 were treated with double guide wires and pancreatic duct stenting, 3 underwent fixation of the papilla with hemostatic clips, 25 underwent the pre-cut technique, and 2 underwent failed intubation. There were 5 cases of pancreatitis, l case of perforation, l case of delayed bleeding, and all the patients were cured after conservative treatment. ConclusionWhen ERCP is used in the treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases complicated by periampullary duodenal diverticula, the indications for ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy should be clarified. Targeted operation skills selected based on the features of the papilla help to improve the success rate and reduce complications, and therefore, it is a safe minimally invasive therapy.