Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has progressed beyond diagnostic imaging to include EUS-guided tissue acquisition and EUS-directed therapies. This review provides an update on EUS-guided drainage and anastomotic procedures, and other therapeutic procedures. Today, EUS-guided drainage of symptomatic walled-off pancreatic fluid collections is the norm, with endoscopic necrosectomy as an adjunct. For high-risk surgical patients unsuitable for cholecystectomy, EUS-guided gallbladder drainage of acute cholecystitis is an option. Additionally, EUS-guided drainage of obstructed biliary and pancreatic ductal system can be performed as salvage procedures after unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Bariatric procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass alter the gastric anatomy, hindering access to the major papilla. This can be overcome by creating a conduit through the excluded stomach using EUS-directed transgastric ERCP. Gastric outlet obstruction and afferent loop syndrome can be treated using EUS-guided gastrojejunostomy. These therapeutic interventions are a major advancement in the field of interventional EUS, achieving significant clinical impact.
Humans ; Endosonography/methods* ; Drainage/methods* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/methods* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional/methods* ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods*

Jaundice in older children can occur when any obstruction is found within the bile ducts, either from bile stones, parasites, choledochal cysts and rarely, secondary to tumors. We present a previously well, 10-year-old Filipino boy with three-week history of progressive jaundice and tea-colored urine, and was initially assessed to have biliary ascariasis. Ultrasound showed a heterogeneous focus spanning the gallbladder neck and confirmed on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as an exophytic mass at the ampulla of Vater. Tumor biopsy and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Bile Ducts. Chemotherapy was initiated to reduce the size of the tumor before any surgical intervention could be attempted. Despite chemotherapy, the tumor progressively grew. He acquired a respiratory infection which led to sepsis and his eventual demise. The disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child with obstructive jaundice after exclusion of other more common causes.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases in children. Methods: The clinical data of 127 children who were treated with ERCP in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2007 to July 2021 were analyzed. According to the diseases they suffered from, the children were divided into biliary group and pancreatic group. The operation times, technical success rate, diagnosis, interventions and post-ERCP complications between the groups were compared by t-test or χ² test. The risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Results: A total of 127 children, including 54 males and 73 females, with a median age of 14 years at first ERCP, were included in this study. ERCP was performed in 181 cases, with a success rate of 98.3% (178/181). In pre-ERCP imaging examination, the positive diagnostic rates of ultrasound, CT and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for biliary and pancreatic diseases were 54.1% (53/98), 56.1% (37/66) and 79.3% (88/111), respectively. MRCP had the highest positive diagnostic rate, and the difference among the three measures was statistically significant (χ²=17.33, P<0.001). The most common indications for ERCP in biliary and pancreatic diseases were choledocholithiasis (77.0%, 107/139) and congenital structural abnormalities of the pancreas (31.0%, 13/42), respectively. After ERCP, the abdominal pain was dramatically relieved and the liver function was significantly improved (all P<0.001). The blood amylase level of the children with pancreatic diseases was significantly lower than that before ERCP (t=7.73, P<0.001). The overall incidence of post-ERCP complications was 12.2% (22/181), of which post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was the most common (7.2%, 13/181). The incidence of PEP was significantly higher in the pancreatic group than in the biliary group (16.7% (7/42) vs. 4.3% (6/139),χ²=7.38, P=0.007). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that young age was the independent risk factor of PEP (OR=0.80, 95%CI 0.67-0.96). Conclusions: MRCP is the first choice for pre-ERCP imaging examination of biliary and pancreatic diseases in children. ERCP can be safely and effectively used in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases in children, with a high success rate and obvious alleviation of symptoms.
Child ; Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/adverse effects* ; Pancreatic Diseases/surgery* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Pancreas/surgery* ; Pancreatitis/etiology*

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish clinical features, safety and efficiency of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients after bilioenteric anstomosis based on retrospectively analyzed clinical data and endoscopy procedures. METHODS: Data extracted from patients after bilioenteric anstomosis due to biliary disease treated with ERCP from January 2005 to December 2021 in the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data and endoscopic pictures were reevaluated and analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups, including the patients with choledochoduodenostomy (CDD), Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYHJ) and Whipple. Differences between ERCP success and failure were conducted. RESULTS: In the study, 89 cases with 132 ERCP procedures were involved, 9-80 years old, median 57 years old, containing 4 CDD, 30 RYHJ, 54 Whipple and 1 bile duct ileocecal anastomosis patients; The time between ERCP and surgery were 30 (1-40), 2.75 (0.5-14), 2 (0.3-19), and 10 years, respectively; The time between surgery and symptom were 240 (3-360), 12 (1-156), 22 (0-216), and 60 months, respectively. Fifty percent of CDD could succeed only under local anaesthesia, RYHJ (96.7%) and Whipple (100.0%) needed under general anaesthesia (P < 0.001). Successful first entry rates of CDD, RYHJ and Whipple were 100.0%, 40.0% and 77.8%, respectively. After changing the endoscopy type, successful entry rate could increase to 43.3% of RYHJ and 83.3% of Whipple. The successful entry rate of different anastomotic methods was significant (P < 0.001). The cannulation success rates of CDD, RYHJ and Whipple were 100.0%, 53.8% and 86.7% respectively, with significant difference between the groups (P=0.031). ERCP success rates of CDD, RYHJ and Whipple were 100.0%, 33.3% and 78.8% respectively, with significant difference between the groups (P < 0.001). Complications were found in 23.9% (21/88) patients, including infection (14.8%), pancreatitis (9.2%), bleeding (3.4%), and perforation (2.3%) ranked by incidence. Causes of ERCP in post bilioenteric anstomosis were anastomotic stenosis (50.0%, benign 39.3%, malignant 10.7%), choledocholithiasis (37.5%) and reflux cholangitis (12.5%). Anastomotic method was the only predicting factor of ERCP success in patients after bilioenteric anstomosis (OR=7, 95%CI: 2.591-18.912, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION ERCP in post bilioenteric anstomosis patients with gastrointestinal reconstruction need general anaesthe-sia, with good safety and efficiency. The successful rate of RYHJ was significantly lower than Whipple. Anastomotic method was the only predicting factor of ERCP success.
Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/methods* ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Intestine, Small ; Anastomosis, Surgical

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the endoscopic modality of choice for the treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases. However, patients with cirrhosis, particularly those with decompensated cirrhosis, are believed to be at increased risk for complications associated with ERCP. There is a paucity of literature describing the outcomes of ERCP for patients with cirrhosis. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of ERCP for cirrhosis patients, especially adverse events, and evaluated its safety and efficacy. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of all patients at Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Xijing Hospital affiliated to Air Force Military Medical University, Beijing Youan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, and the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital from June 2003 to August 2019. The adverse events of inpatient ERCP for patients with ( n  = 182) and without liver cirrhosis (controls; n  = 385) were compared. RESULTS: A total of 567 patients underwent ERCP between January 2003 and December 2019 were enrolled in this study. Compared to patients without cirrhosis, patients with cirrhosis were at higher risk for postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR], 4.172; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.232-7.031; P  < 0.001) such as postoperative pancreatitis (OR, 2.026; 95% CI, 1.002-4.378; P  = 0.001) and cholangitis (OR, 3.903; 95% CI, 1.001-10.038; P  = 0.036). The main indications for ERCP for patients with cirrhosis in this study included choledocholithiasis (101 cases; 55.5%), benign bile duct strictures (46 cases; 25.3%), and malignant bile duct strictures (28 cases; 15.4%). Among them, 23 patients (12.6%) underwent balloon dilation and 79 patients (43.4%) underwent sphincterotomy. Of the patients with cirrhosis, delayed bleeding occurred in ten patients (5.5%), postoperative pancreatitis occurred in 80 patients (44.0%), and postoperative cholangitis occurred in 25 patients (13.7%). An additional multivariate analysis showed that the total bilirubin (TBIL) level (OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 2.37-6.70) and Child-Pugh score of C (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.04-5.37) were risk factors for postoperative complications in patients with cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS Compared with the general population of patients undergoing ERCP, patients with cirrhosis were more prone to postoperative pancreatitis and cholangitis. TBIL levels and Child-Pugh scores were risk factors for postoperative complications in patients with cirrhosis.
Humans ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Risk Factors ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications* ; Pancreatitis/etiology* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Cholangitis

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Common Bile Duct ; Humans ; Mirizzi Syndrome/surgery*

Endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure performed widely to induce locoregional tumor control by the transfer of thermal energy to the lesion and subsequent tumor necrosis. A 72-year-old male with a prior history of acute calculous cholangitis and perforated cholecystitis was admitted to the Kyungpook National University Hospital complaining of fever and nausea. He had an indwelling percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) catheter from the previous episode of perforated cholecystitis. An abdominal CT scan showed marked dilation of both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Common bile duct cancer was confirmed histologically after an endobiliary biopsy. A surgical resection was considered to be the initial treatment option. During open surgery, multiple metastatic nodules were present in the small bowel mesentery and anterior abdominal wall. Resection of the tumor was not feasible, so endobiliary RFA was performed prior to biliary stenting. Cholecystectomy was required for the removal of the PTGBD catheter, but the surgical procedure could not be performed due to a cystic ductal invasion of the tumor. Instead, chemical ablation of the gallbladder (GB) with pure ethanol was performed to breakdown the GB mucosa. Palliative treatment for a biliary obstruction was achieved successfully using these procedures. In addition, a PTGBD catheter was removed successfully without significant side effects. As a result, an improvement in the patient's quality of life was accomplished.
Abdominal Wall ; Aged ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biopsy ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage ; Ethanol ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; Mucous Membrane ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Palliative Care ; Quality of Life ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical application of preoperative retrograde portal venography for children with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). METHODS: The clinical data of 8 cases of CTPV admitted in the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2018 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative retrograde portography was performed to determine the corresponding vascular morphology and size of portal vein system. If the retrograde portography showed that the left branch of the shadow portal vein was unobstructed and its diameter was greater than 3 mm, Rex shunt would be performed after anatomic exploration of Rex recess; if retrograde portography showed that the diameter of left portal vein was less than 3 mm, but the diameter of left renal vein dissected during shunt operation was greater than 5 mm, Warren operation was selected. The patients were followed up for 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge, and then were followed up every 6 months. RESULTS: Retrograde portal venography was successfully performed in 8 child patients.The anatomical position and size of main portal vein and its left and right branches, left renal vein and other important vessels were determined. Among them, there was the well-developed left and right branches of portal vein in 4 child patients, in which the left and right branches of portal vein converged together, but did not communicate with the main portal vein. In addition, the left branch diameter of the portal vein was greater than 3 mm, and the anatomical exploration results during shunt were consistent with it, so Rex shunt was performed. In the other 4 cases, the left branch diameter of the portal vein was small (less than 3 mm) in 3 cases, and the right branch was not clearly developed. Moreover, the left branch of the portal vein was poorly developed and almost occluded in 1 case. However, the left renal vein in these 4 child patients was well developed, the blood flow was unobstructed and the diameter was greater than 5 mm, so Warren operation was performed. Seven patients recovered well after the operation, and the other one had digestive tract rudimentary one year after operation, and the condition was stable after conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS The preoperative retrograde portal venography can be used to evaluate the portal vein system in children with CTPV, which provides important clinical basis for making appropriate treatment plan before surgery.
Child ; Humans ; Portal Vein/surgery* ; Portography ; Retrospective Studies

Sclerosing cholangitis (SC) is defined as a condition with progressive stenosis and destruction of the bile ducts due to diffuse inflammation and fibrosis and currently includes three categories: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), secondary cholangitis, and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). SC categories share similar clinical features, such as cholestasis. Patients with SC present with cholestatic symptoms, including jaundice and pruritus, and blood tests reveal elevation of cholestatic enzymes. Cholangiography, endoscopic or magnetic, is inevitably required for making a diagnosis. Although the presentation of IgG4-SC and PSC are similar, the comorbidities, treatment response, and outcomes differ significantly, and therefore, it is strongly advisable to be familiar with these two diseases to make a correct diagnosis. Differentiation of cholangiocarcinoma from IgG4-SC and PSC is also extremely important. In this review, the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, treatment and outcomes of IgG4-SC and PSC will be outlined based on experience mainly from Japan.
Bile Ducts ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangiography ; Cholangitis ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; Cholestasis ; Comorbidity ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Inflammation ; Japan ; Jaundice ; Pruritus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of localized stenosis of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) for early detection of pancreatic cancer.METHODS: Among 689 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography from January 2008 to September 2018, 19 patients with MPD findings were enrolled. These patients showed findings for indicating suspicious pancreatic cancer at an early stage (FiCE); FiCE was defined as a single, localized stenosis in the MPD without a detectable mass (using any other imaging methods) and without other pancreatic diseases, such as definite chronic pancreatitis, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and autoimmune pancreatitis. Final diagnoses were established by examining resected specimens or through follow-up examinations after an interval of >5 years.RESULTS: Among 19 patients with FiCE, 11 underwent surgical resection and 8 were evaluated after a >5-year observation period. The final diagnosis of the MPD stenosis was judged to be pancreatic cancer in 9 patients (47%), including 3 with intraepithelial cancer, and to be a non-neoplastic change in 10. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of preoperative pancreatic juice cytology were 75%, 100%, and 88%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The predictive value of FiCE for pancreatic cancer prevalence was 47%. Histological confirmation with pancreatic juice cytology is necessary before surgical resection.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mucins ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Juice ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity