Project description:RationaleAs a main complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic duct stones (PDSs) are often associated with ductal obstruction resulting in increasing intraductal and parenchymal pressure and long-lasting pain. There are many methods for removing PDSs. However, for large stones, it is technically difficult to remove them entirely by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).Patient concernsA 57-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of severe epigastric pain radiating to his back 3 or 4 times annually for 2 years.DiagnosisThe abdominal computed tomography scan revealed dilation of the proximal pancreatic duct with an irregular high-density calcification shadow located at the head of the pancreas.InterventionsA pancreatic stent was placed initially by ERCP to relieve epigastric pain and alleviate symptom. Repeated ERCP was subsequently performed 2 months later to extract the impacted large pancreatic stone.OutcomeBy using grasping forceps, the huge coralloid stone (272?×?0?mm) was successfully extracted in an en bloc manner. Then, a 7-French?×?5?cm plastic pancreatic stent was placed for 2 weeks. The patient was free of any pancreatic pain during the 2-year follow-up.LessonsGenerally, for large or impacted pancreatic stones, endoscopic removal is technically difficult to achieve. Pancreatic stenting can be an effective method of alleviating abdominal pain and facilitating subsequent endoscopic lithoextraction. Extraction of large stones with grasping forceps can be an alternative approach instead of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or surgery when stones are impacted at the papilla's orifice and partially protruding into the duodenal lumen.
Project description:Video 1EUS-guided pancreatic drainage using the rendezvous technique in a patient with pancreaticojejunal anastomosis stenosis and pancreatic duct stone.
Project description:Background and aimsCertain pancreaticobiliary conditions remain challenging to treat using standard endoscopic techniques. Examples include difficult-to-remove gallstones and foreign objects in the bile ducts. Two tools designed for these purposes are the SpyGlass retrieval basket and the SpyGlass retrieval snare, which are passed through the cholangioscope channel for use under direct visualization. We present 3 cases in which these tools were used successfully.MethodsThree cases using the SpyGlass retrieval basket and retrieval snare were reviewed for efficacy.ResultsPatient 1 had hepatitis C cirrhosis and underwent liver transplantation with T tube placement at the site of biliary anastomosis. Image-guided T tube removal by interventional radiology was unsuccessful. Endoscopic removal with the SpyGlass retrieval snare was completed. Patient 2 presented with cholangitis from an impacted common bile duct stone. Fragmentation with electrohydraulic lithotripsy was performed, and the fragments were removed with the SpyGlass retrieval basket. Patient 3 presented for removal of a migrated biliary stent. The stent was placed a year prior during an ERCP for treatment of choledocholithiasis. Initial removal attempt at an area hospital failed, so the patient was referred to our center, where the Spyglass retrieval snare was used to remove the biliary stent.ConclusionsThis case series demonstrates initial successes treating biliary pathologic conditions with the SpyGlass retrieval basket and retrieval snare, 2 tools designed for use under direct visualization with the cholangioscope.
Project description:To investigate the feasibility of initial endoscopic common bile duct (CBD) stone removal in patients with acute cholangitis (AC).A single-center, retrospective study was conducted between April 2013 and December 2014 and was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee at our institution. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the procedure. The cohort comprised 31 AC patients with CBD stones who underwent endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) for naïve papilla within 48 h after AC onset. We retrospectively divided the participants into two groups: 19 patients with initial endoscopic CBD stone removal (initial group) and 12 patients with delayed endoscopic CBD stone removal (delayed group). We evaluated the feasibility of initial endoscopic CBD stone removal in patients with AC.We observed no significant differences between the groups regarding patient characteristics. According to the assessments based on the Tokyo Guidelines, the AC severity of patients with initial endoscopic CBD stone removal was mild to moderate. The use of antithrombotic agents before EBD was less frequent in the initial group than in the delayed group (11% vs 58%, respectively; P = 0.004). All the patients underwent successful endoscopic CBD stone removal and adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups. The number of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures was significantly lower in the initial group than in the delayed group [median (interquartile range) 1 (1-1) vs 2 (2-2), respectively; P < 0.001]. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter for the initial group than for the delayed group [10 (9-15) vs 17 (14-20), respectively; P = 0.010].Initial endoscopic CBD stone removal in patients with AC may be feasible when AC severity and the use of antithrombotic agents are carefully considered.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Conscious sedation is not routinely administered for therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in many countries. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare the safety and rate of success and complications during common bile duct (CBD) stone extraction using ERCPs performed with no-sedation (NS) or under general endotracheal anesthesia (GET). METHODS:The medical records of all patients who underwent ERCP for biliary stone extraction between January 2010 and September 2013 were reviewed, and patients classified to the NS and GET groups. The primary outcomes were the rate of success of complete stone removal and rate of complications, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), perforation, bleeding, pneumonia, and mortality within 30 days post-ERCP. Operative time was recorded for analysis. RESULTS:During the study period, 630 patients underwent ERCP, 402 with NS and 105 with GET. Among the 402 patients in the NS group, 37 (9.2%) could not complete the procedure due to an inability to tolerate the procedure. The success rate of complete stone extraction was higher among patients in the GET group than the NS group (94.3% versus 75.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). The rate of contrast injection into the pancreatic duct was higher for the NS than GET group (24.9% versus 15.2%, respectively; p = 0.008). Although non-significant, there was a higher incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in the NS than in the GET group (10.4% versus 5.7%, respectively; p = 0.105), while the incidence of pneumonia was higher for the GET group. Biliary pancreatitis, contrast injection into the pancreatic duct and an operation time ?30 min were independent risks factors for PEP. CONCLUSIONS:ERCP under GET is effective for CBD stone removal, but with slightly higher pneumonia rate after the procedure than non-sedated ERCP.
Project description:BackgroundTo assess if trans-urethral snare of bladder tumor (TUSnBT) with subsequent stone basket retrieval can be used as an effective, time-saving adjunct resection technique for papillary bladder lesions.MethodsVia standard cystoscopy, TUSnBT was performed using a standard endoscopic polypectomy snare with subsequent tumor extraction utilizing a standard stone retrieval basket, when lesions were more than 10 mm in diameter. Smaller lesions were removed with the polypectomy snare. Standard trans-urethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) of the tumor bed was performed post TUSnBT. Histological assessment was performed and assessed separately per session.ResultsIn total, 18 papillary lesions, measuring between 9 and 26 mm, were resected via TUSnBT. Operative TUSnBT time, ranged between 10 and 60 seconds duration per lesion. No significant postoperative morbidity was experienced by patients within this cohort. Histo-pathological assessment revealed adequate muscle representation in 83.3 % of TUSnBT grouped sessions assessed.ConclusionTUSnBT with stone retrieval basket retrieval is a feasible method in selected papillary bladder lesions, and may be coupled with standard TURBT resection techniques. This method is less time consuming and would prove beneficial in select lesions. It may also be beneficial to assist with reducing the resection time or inadvertent bladder perforation encountered during the conventional TURBT.