Long-term follow-up after biliary stent placement for postcholecystectomy bile duct strictures: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic stenting is a recognized treatment of postcholecystectomy biliary strictures. Large multicenter reports of its long-term efficacy are lacking. Our aim was to analyze the long-term outcomes after stenting in this patient population, based on a large experience from several centers in France. METHODS: Members of the French Society of Digestive Endoscopy were asked to identify patients treated for a common bile duct postcholecystectomy stricture. Patients with successful stenting and follow-up after removal of stent(s) were subsequently included and analyzed. Main outcome measures were long-term success of endoscopic stenting and related predictors for recurrence (after one stenting period) or failure (at the end of follow-up). RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were eligible for inclusion. The mean number of stents inserted at the same time was 1.9±0.89 (range 1-4). Stent-related morbidity was 22.9% (n=22). The median duration of stenting was 12 months (range 2-96 months). After a mean follow-up of 6.4±3.8 years (range 0-20.3 years) the overall success rate was 66.7% (n=64) after one period of stenting and 82.3% (n=79) after additional treatments. The mean time to recurrence was 19.7±36.6 months. The most significant independent predictor of both recurrence and failure was a pathological cholangiography at the time of stent removal. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic stenting helps to avoid surgery in more than 80% of patients bearing postcholecystectomy common bile duct strictures. However, a persistent anomaly on cholangiography at the time of stent removal is a strong predictor of recurrence and may lead to consideration of surgery.

[Image guided drainage of pelvic fluid collections: results in 42 patients]. / Drainage radiologique des collections pelviennes: résultats chez 42 malades.

PURPOSE: To review the etiology, location, and morphology of pelvic collection as well as the technique and results of image guided drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1996 to August 2002, we performed image guided drainage of pelvic fluid collections in 21 males and 21 females. In patients where a direct contact between the collection and the endocavitary probe was present, the drainage was performed either by transrectal or transvaginal approach using 10F, 12F, 14F or 16F catheters according to the viscosity of the fluid. When the patients were no longer septic, when drainage had stopped, the drains were removed at day 5. When a fistula was present, the drain was left in place until the fistula healed. RESULTS: The most common location of pelvic collections was the cul-desac (43%). A total of 81% of pelvic abscesses were digestive in origin, either from the colon or appendix. Transrectal or transvaginal drainage was possible in 83% of cases. Mean follow-up was 41 months. No drainage related complication was recorded. In two patients with collections of clear fluid, a simple aspiration was performed without insertion of a drain. In the 40 other patients, a drainage catheter was inserted. Twenty-nine patients were cured after 15 days of drainage. Two patients had recurrent collections. Image guided drainage failed in five patients, and all underwent successful surgical management. CONCLUSION: Image guided drainage of pelvic collections is a safe and effective procedure. Failures were due to initially undiagnosed pathology requiring surgical treatment.

Diagnosis and prognosis of AIDS-related cholangitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine more precisely the clinical and biological characteristics of AIDS-related cholangitis, and to investigate prognostic variables of this disease. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and prognostic study. SETTING: Biliary unit, Bicêtre Hospital, France. PATIENTS: HIV-positive patients (n = 52) referred to the unit between December 1986 and June 1993 for biliary symptoms leading to the suspicion of AIDS-related cholangitis, (42 men; 10 women; mean age, 37 +/- 8 years). INTERVENTION: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in order to determine the cause of the biliary symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical features and evolution of the cholangitis. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients, 45 met the ERCP criteria of AIDS-related cholangitis (36 men; nine women). The diagnosis of cholangitis was strongly suggested by abdominal ultrasonography in 47% of the cases. ERCP showed papillary stenosis, diffuse cholangitis, extrahepatic cholangitis alone, and intrahepatic cholangitis alone in 60, 67, 7 and 27%, respectively. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 28 patients. Pain was relieved by sphincterotomy in nine patients, but the other clinical or biological features were not influenced. One-year and 2-year survival rates were 41 +/- 7% and 8 +/- 4%, respectively. Multidimensional analysis using a Cox model showed that a lymphocyte count > 500 x 10(6)/l was the only independent predictive factor of better survival. CONCLUSION: AIDS-related cholangitis is a disease which leads preferentially to papillary stenosis or diffuse abnormalities of the biliary tract. Prognostic factors depend on the stage of the HIV infection. Another diagnosis of cholestasis was found in approximately 15% of the patients who showed biliary symptoms.

Endoscopic treatment of postoperative biliary fistulae.

Postoperative biliary fistulae are difficult to manage, particularly in the face of obstruction or malignancy. We used endoscopic sphincterotomy or endoprosthesis placement to aide fistula closure in 52 patients with postoperative biliary fistulae. Thirty-seven patients with a fistula were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy alone. Twenty-four of these 37 patients had a history of lithiasis; 21 patients were treated successfully by endoscopic sphincterotomy alone. The fistula closed in 2.4 +/- 1.6 days. Among the other 13 patients without history of stone disease, the fistula closed in seven cases (54%), 8.4 +/- 2 days after endoscopic treatment. Three patients ultimately required surgical intervention. In 15 patients an attempt was made to pass a 10F endoprosthesis above the fistula. Among the eight patients with successful prosthesis insertion, the fistula healed in six patients (75%). In the seven patients in whom a prosthesis could not be passed endoscopically, the percutaneous transhepatic approach was used. Surgical treatment (hepaticojejunal anastomosis) was ultimately required in two of these seven patients. Sphincterotomy alone is the preferred treatment for biliary fistulae-complicating surgery for gallstone disease. Alternatively, when a fistula is large, endoscopic placement of a prosthesis can be proposed as the first treatment. In cases of endoscopic failure, placement of a prosthesis through the percutaneous transhepatic approach is a useful alternative, particularly when the fistula source is located in the intrahepatic biliary tract.

Retrograde pancreatography. Technical tips and spectrum of pathology.

ERP is an important technique in the diagnosis of diseases involving the pancreatic ducts, in determining therapeutic strategy, and in assessing the results of surgical bypass procedures. ERP facilitates the diagnosis of the majority of pancreatic tumors at a stage when they normally present to the clinician. It assists the diagnosis of small tumors in the ampullary region at an early stage when other tests are negative. In cases of obscure recurrent pancreatitis, ERP may identify a mechanical cause (e.g., stone, stricture). ERP is useful in the diagnosis of CCP only in the precalcified stage. If histologic confirmation already has been obtained at surgery, ERCP is not required. Compared with noninvasive techniques, ERP provides additional information: It enables a concomitant examination of the gastroduodenal tract and opacification of the bile ducts; additional procedures may be performed, such as intraductal cytologic brushings, biochemical and cytologic analysis of pancreatic juice, endoscopic manometry, and pancreatoscopy. The diagnostic yield is increased if these procedures are performed during ERCP. Because ERP outlines the ductal anatomy, it is of great value in assessing therapeutic strategy. In cases of acute recurrent pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis, ERP provides an important baseline for performing procedures such as ductal drainage and therefore reduces the inappropriate use of exploratory laparotomy. In cases of necrotic pancreatitis or pancreatic trauma, ERP enables accurate localization of a pancreatic fistula and facilitates any subsequent surgical procedure. Finally, ERP is the method of choice when assessing the patency of pancreatic-digestive anastomosis.

[Contribution of gastroscopy with aimed biopsy to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer]. / Apporto della gastroscopia con biopsia mirata nella diagnosi del cancro gastrico iniziale

Gastroscopy was carried out in 320 patients with gastric cancer. In 35 instances, the tumour was located in the mucosa or barely extended into the submucosa. Diagnostic corroboration was obtained by means of biopsies conducted during the examination. Gastric fibroscopy can now offer early diagnosis of carcinoma of the stomach. A barium meal often fails to reveal these lesions, especially in the initial stages, nor can it indicate whether an ulcer is benign or a tumour. The fact that biopsy can be performed at the same time is of fundamental importance in determing whether medical or surgical management should be chosen.

[Endoscopy in tumors of the Oddi region. Diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities]. / Endoscopie dans les tumeurs de la région oddienne. Possibilités diagnostiques et thérapeutiques.

Between 1976 and 1983, 92 patients (mean age: 70 years) with ampullary or periampullary tumors, were evaluated by endoscopic procedures. The ampulla appeared malignant in 66 p. 100 of cases, enlarged but not obviously malignant in 15 p. 100 and normal in 18 p. 100. In one case, a tight duodenal stenosis prevented the endoscopist from seeing the ampulla. ERCP was performed in 70 patients and the common bile duct was opacified in 63 cases; it was dilated in 60 patients. Two types of tumors could be distinguished: 67 p. 100 grew within the duodenum and were seen by duodenoscopy and 33 p. 100 grew outside the duodenum and ERCP opacified a dilated common bile duct above a stenotic region; in these cases, diagnosis was established by biopsies performed through the ampulla, after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). Biopsy specimens were obtained in 67 p. 100 of cases and yielded a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in 59 p. 100, questionable carcinoma in 15 p. 100, benign tumor in 16 p. 100 and normal mucosa in 10 p. 100. In 8 patients with the preoperative diagnosis of non-malignant tumor, operative biopsies finally revealed carcinoma in 7. EST or infundibulotomy was performed in 42 patients with 2 deaths from hemorrhage and cholangitis. Twenty-three patients received only EST as final treatment with complete disappearance of jaundice and/or cholangitis in 70 p. 100. Our results confirm the efficacy of duodenoscopy, ERCP and EST in the diagnosis and sometimes in the treatment of ampullary and periampullary tumors.

[Percutaneous treatment of intrahepatic lithiasis]. / Traitement percutané de la lithiase intra-hépatique.

AIM: To present our experience with percutaneous intracorporeal electrohydrolic lithotripsy in the treatment of intrahepatic lithiasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January 1989 to November 1998, 53 patients with intrahepatic lithiasis were treated with percutaneous intracorporeal electrohydrolic lithotripsy. Twenty-six patients had primary intrahepatic lithiasis. Intrahepatic stones were associated with intrahepatic duct abnormalities in 11 patients, 9 had strictures and 2 had cystic dilatations. Twenty-seven patients had secondary intrahepatic lithiasis formed a biliodigestive bypass in 20 patients. Intracorporeal electrohydrolic lithotripsy was performed under cholangioscopic guidance in all patients. The endoscope was introduced into the biliary ducts through a cutaneobiliary tract in 51 patients, through a cutaneocholecystic tract in one and through a cutaneojejunal tract in one. These tracts were created and gradually dilated in two sessions three days apart. In twenty-two patients stenosis or sharp angulation prevented adequate positioning of the scope which was only successful after balloon dilation or insertion of a stiff wire. RESULTS: Complete clearance of stones was achieved in 49 patients (92%). Biliary or hepaticojejunostomy strictures were successfully dilated with an angioplasty balloon in all patients. Ten patients (19%) had early complications: four had bilomas treated by percutaneous drainage, three had resolutive onset of cholangitis, two had transient arterial hemobilia, and one had a pneumothorax. The mean duration of follow-up was five years. During this period, 5 patients (9%) had recurrent symptoms of biliary obstruction. Among these patients, three (5.7%) had recurrent symptomatic intrahepatic lithiasis, one had a recurrent biliary stricture and one had secondary sclerosing cholangitis. Treatment of recurrent stones was repeated intracorporeal electrohydrolic lithotripsy in two and left hepatectomy in one; recurrent biliary stricture was treated by hepaticojejunostomy and secondary sclerosing cholangitis by antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Intracorporeal electrohydrolic lithotripsy is effective and safe and should be proposed as the first line treatment of primary or secondary intrahepatic lithiasis.

[Percutaneous treatment of malignant stenoses of the hilum]. / Traitement percutané des sténoses malignes du hile.

PURPOSE: The endoscopic treatment of malignant hilar obstruction is followed in 70% of the case by infection of undrained biliary sectors. We report the influence of complete biliary drainage on post procedural cholangitis. METHOD: From January 1990 to January 1993 we treated 120 consecutive patients presenting with a malignant hilar obstruction. There were 61 women and 59 men, mean age 65 +/- 7.5 years. The level of stenosis was type II in 45 patients (37%), type III in 18 patients (13%) and above type III in 57 patients (48%). Complete biliary drainage with multiple biliary access was attempted in all patients. Long term internal drainage was achieved by metallic autoexpansive endoprosthesis. RESULTS: Complete drainage was achieved in all patients with type II or type III biliary stenosis. Drainage was incomplete in all patients with biliary stenosis above type III. Early complications were observed in 35% of the patients. Persistent cholangitis, the most frequent complication (22%) was only observed in patients with above type III biliary stenosis. Mortality at 30 days was 17%. Recurrent biliary obstruction was observed in 22% of the patients after an average of 187 days. Median survival was 95 days. CONCLUSION: Complete biliary drainage prevents persistent cholangitis in patients with type II or III biliary stenosis without increasing other complications related to biliary drainage.

[Lithiasis of the common bile duct in the aged subject treated with endoscopy (227 patients)]. / Lithiase de la voie biliaire principale du sujet âgé traitée par voie endoscopique (277 malades).

One hundred and sixteen patients aged from 65 to 80 years (first group including 39 previously cholecystectomized patients) and 161 patients aged over 80 years (second group, including 31 previously cholecystectomized patients) underwent endoscopic papillotomy for choledocholithiasis. We compared clinical, biochemical and morphological features of choledocolithiasis with early results of endoscopic papillotomy. Clinical symptoms were not different between the old and very old patients, cholecystectomized or not. Charcot's triade was observed in one third of patients. Biochemical data just before endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were not different according to groups: 21 p. 100 of the 277 patients had a biological cholestasis without elevation of bilirubin and 10 p. 100 of the patients had no abnormality of the liver function. Diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was accurately suspected in 90 p. 100 of patients. Complete removal of gallstones after endoscopic papillotomy was obtained in 95 p. 100 of patients in the first group and 93 p. 100 of patients in the second group. Morbidity and mortality rates related to endoscopic papillotomy were not different between the 2 groups (6.9 and 0.8 p. 100 in the first group and 8.7 and 3.1 p. 100 in the second group, the first group and 8.7 and 3.1 p. 100 in the second group, respectively). These results suggest that clinical and biochemical features of choledocholithiasis, and early results of endoscopic treatment do not present any particularities in the elderly.

[Results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in common bile duct lithiasis]. / Résultats de la sphinctérotomie endoscopique pour lithiase de la voie biliaire principale.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was attempted in 409 patients with common bile duct stone(s) (CBDS). The mean age of patients was 72.0 +/- 0.8 years (m +/- SEM); 47 p. 100 presented risk factors; 57 p.100 had previously been cholecystectomized while 43 p. 100 had not. On an average, patients in the former group were older (80 +/- 0.7 years) than in the latter 65.4 +/- 1.0 years, p less than 0.001). The procedure was successful in 98 p. 100 of the patients, after a standard ES in 78.5 p. 100 or after different technical artifices in 21.5 p. 100. The vacuity of the CBD was obtained in 96.5 p. 100 of the cases. During the first month after the ES, 13 p. 100 of the patients had complications and 4 p. 100 died; 37 complications (9 p. 100) were related to the ES and were responsible for death in 4 patients: 18 episodes of bleeding at the site of ES, 7 acute pancreatitis, 6 cholangitis, 4 retroperitoneal perforations and 2 other complications. The occurrence of these complications was closely related to the technique of ES being more frequent after technical artifices than after a standard ES (p less than 0.001). On the other hand, these complications occurred independently of the age of patients or of previous cholecystectomy. Seventeen complications (4 p. 100) did not depend directly on ES and were responsible for death in 14 patients (3 p. 100): pneumopathy, pulmonary embolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Sclerosing cholangitis after chemotherapy by continuous hepatic intra-arterial infusion of fluorodeoxyuridine]. / Cholangite sclérosante après chimiothérapie par perfusion intra-artérielle hépatique continue de fluorodésoxyuridine (FUDR).

A case of sclerosing cholangitis after a two-month treatment by hepatic artery infusion of FUDR is reported. The patient presented with jaundice and a marked increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity which persisted after withdrawal of FUDR infusion. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram revealed a stricture of the middle part of the common bile duct, which was treated by endoprosthesis insertion. From this report, as well as those previously published, it is concluded that sclerosing cholangitis may complicate continuous hepatic artery infusion with FUDR. This lesion could be secondary to an FUDR-induced arteritis in the branches of hepatic artery which supply bile ducts.

[Treatment of jaundice caused by neoplastic obstruction of the bile ducts with percutaneous placement of endoprostheses: 53 cases]. / Traitement des ictères par obstruction néoplasique des voies biliaires par mise en place percutanée d'endoprothèses: 53 cas.

From October 1983 to October 1985, 53 patients with malignant biliary obstruction were referred to our institution for a transhepatic biliary stent. One or two endoprostheses were inserted in 46 patients (87 p. 100). Stent insertion was usually performed in two sessions, after two or three days of external drainage. There were 23 men and 23 women. Their mean age was 70.6 years +/- 12 years (m +/- DS). Fourty-two patients (91 p. 100) were referred after failure of an endoscopic or surgical drainage procedure; fourty-four p. 100 of the patients had stage II or III high periportal obstruction. Five cases of severe early complications (11 p. 100) and 8 delayed complications requiring in-hospital treatment (17 p. 100) were observed. Among the latter, 7 were due to plugging of the endoprosthesis. All patients were unfit for surgery either because at a high operative risk or because of the extent of the cancer. Our results showed that percutaneous biliary drainage can be achieved in a high percentage of cases following failure of a surgical or endoscopic drainage procedure. The endoscopic transpapillary approach, which allows the insertion of 12 French endoprostheses in one session should be tried first. Percutaneous biliary drainage should be performed as a complementary procedure when endoscopic drainage has failed or in stage II or III high periportal obstruction associated with persistent jaundice or cholangitis.

[Pancreas divisum: clinical and therapeutic study in man. Apropos of 87 cases]. / Le pancréas divisum: étude clinique et thérapeutique chez l'homme. A propos de 87 cas.

In order to evaluate the responsibility of pancreas divisum in the occurrence of pancreatitis, we studied retrospectively 1,808 endoscopic retrograde pancreatograms. Eighty-seven pancreas divisum (4.8 p. 100) were found in 50 males and 37 females, mean age 53.3 +/- 16.8 yrs. Acute pancreatitis was significantly more frequent (p less than 0.001) in this group (19.6 p. 100) than in the patients with fused pancreas (4.3 p. 100). The difference was also significant (p less than 0.01) for idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis. Histologic lesions in the dorsal pancreas were in favor of a retentional mechanism of pancreatitis. Sphincterotomy of the accessory papilla, proposed to improve the drainage of the dorsal pancreas, was performed in 11 patients (10 endoscopic, 1 surgical). This treatment, repeated in case of secondary stenosis of the accessory papilla, was successful in 5 out of 8 patients with acute pancreatitis followed up from 12 to 30 months. After reviewing the literature, secondary stenosis of accessory papilla was found significantly less frequently (p less than 0.05) after surgical sphincterotomy or sphincteroplasty (4 out of 46, 8.6 p. 100) than after endoscopic sphincterotomy (6 out of 22, 27.2 p. 100). Treatment, preferentially surgical, should be proposed only to patients with idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis before constitution of chronic non reversible pancreatitis.

[Cholestasis caused by an intradiverticular bezoar. Endoscopic treatment]. / Cholestase due à un bézoard intradiverticulaire. Traitement endoscopique.

A 49 year old woman presented with fever. Blood chemistry showed cholestasis. Sonography and abdominal computed tomography showed a dilated biliary tract and a fluid collection in the head of the pancreas. A large, interposed, diverticulum of the second duodenum, filled with a bezoar, was documented by duodenoscopy. The bezoar was fragmented and removed by biopsy forceps. Retrograde visualization of the common bile duct then showed a normal biliary tree with good clearance of contrast material. The ulterior course was uncomplicated. This is the second reported case for cholestasis due to an intradiverticular bezoar in an interposed duodenal diverticula. Diagnosis and treatment were made by duodenoscopy.

[Value of echotomography for the diagnosis of lithiasis of the common bile duct]. / Valeur de l'échotomographie pour le diagnostic de lithiase de la voie biliaire principale.

The accuracy of ultrasonography (US) for the diagnosis of cholelithiasis and for dilatation of the intra- and extra-hepatic biliary tree is well known. However, the value of US for the diagnosis of common bile duct stones remains poorly defined. We performed a prospective study in 100 patients who were referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); all the examinations were carried out by the same sonographist in the 24 h preceding the ERCP. Fifty patients had choledocholithiasis, 20 patients had obstruction of the bile ducts without lithiasis and the common bile duct (CBD) was free in 30 patients. The sensitivity of US for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was 40 p. 100, the specificity 90 p. 100. The positive and negative predictive values of the "CBD stone" sign was 80 p. 100 and 60 p. 100 respectively. In a total of 30 false negatives, the CBD could not be explored in 4 cases, dilatation of the CBD was missed in one case, and obstruction of the CBD by an other disease was diagnosed in 2; in all the other cases, US was able to appreciate the CBD size as well as the ERCP. In the 20 patients with an obstructed CBD but without choledocholithiasis, US diagnosed a stone in 5 cases. Age, serum bilirubin, existence of a previous cholecystectomy, technical difficulties, stone size were comparable in patients with true positive tests and in patients with false negative tests. However the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was more frequently achieved in patients with dilated CBD over 10 mm (p less than 0.05) and in patients with multiple stones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Dilatation of the common bile duct without visible obstruction at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Description and development]. / Dilatation de la voie biliaire principale sans obstacle visible à la cholangiographie rétrograde endoscopique. Description et évolution.

The aim of this study was to specify the signs and course of patients with a dilated common bile duct without obstruction. We included patients with a dilated common bile duct of more than 12 mm on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, and we excluded patients with stones, tumor or other visible obstruction. Two hundred and seven patients (8.4 p. 100 of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography) were included. One hundred and nineteen (57.5 p. 100) had undergone cholecystectomy. Sixty-five p. 100 of patients had signs suggesting biliary tract disease, and 78 p. 100 had biological signs of cholestasis. The size of the common bile duct was not different whether the patient had been cholecystectomized (16.2 +/- 0.3 mm.M +/- SEM) or not (16.2 +/- 0.4 mm). Forty-one patients in the non cholecystectomized group had gallbladder stones. Thus, 47 of our 207 patients (23 p. 100) had neither gallbladder stones nor previous cholecystectomy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was completed by endoscopic sphincterotomy in 130 patients, either in the intent of not missing obstruction, or for therapeutic purposes. Follow-up more than one month after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was available for 159 patients (77 p. 100). The median survival was 73 months. One hundred and ten patients (69 p. 100) were asymptomatic, 36 (23 p. 100) had atypical abdominal pain while 13 (8 p. 100) patients had episodes of biliary colic and/or fever and/or jaundice. During follow-up, an initially unrecognized obstacle was discovered in 8 patients: 5 common bile duct stones, 2 ampullary tumors and one pancreatic tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Current results of endoscopic sphincterotomy for lithiasis of the common bile duct]. / Résultats actuels de la sphinctérotomie endoscopique pour lithiase de la voie biliaire principale.

Between January 1989 and June 1990, endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 308 consecutive patients with common bile duct stones (mean age: 74 years). Complete clearance of common bile duct was achieved at the first attempt in 65% of cases. This rate was significantly related to the size and the number of biliary stones. The success rate reached 97 percent after repeated endoscopic sessions (127 patients), mechanical lithotripsy (20 patients), extracorporeal or intracorporeal lithotripsy (18 and 11 patients, respectively). During the month following the endoscopic sphincterotomy, 39 patients (13%) developed one or more complications and 11 patients (3.7%) died. The complication rate was related to the time elapsed between biliary opacification and endoscopic sphincterotomy (P = 0.04) and between endoscopic sphincterotomy and total common bile duct clearance (P = 0.0007). No patient younger than 75 years died, but death occurred in 4.5% of the patients older than 75 years. Thirty patients (10%) developed endoscopic sphincterotomy-related complications. Cholangitis and bleeding were the most frequent complications (4 and 2%, respectively). Cholangitis occurred more frequently among the patients older than 75 (P < 0.05) or when transhepatic guided endoscopic sphincterotomy or intracorporeal lithotripsy was used (P < 0.005). Cholangitis led to death in 2 patients, 86 and 87 years old (0.7%). Endoscopic sphincterotomy related complications developed within 48 hours in all but 4 patients (2 patients with pancreatitis and 2 patients with cholecystitis).

[Endoscopic drainage of pseudocysts of the pancreas. Study of 26 cases]. / Drainage endoscopique des pseudo-kystes du pancréas. Etude de 26 cas.

Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts has been proposed for several years as an alternative to surgical treatment. We report the results of 26 endoscopic cystostomies of pancreatic pseudocysts (13 cystoduodenostomies, 13 cystogastrostomies) performed in two specialized centres, from 1985 to 1991. The patients were divided into 3 groups (I, II, III) according to the pseudocysts' clinical presentation. The opening of the collection into digestive lumen was achieved in 22 cases; there were 3 puncture failures and 1 cystostomy was not performed because of a prior haemorrhagic puncture. Pain relief was obtained rapidly after cystodigestive drainage in 13 out of the 14 symptomatic patients. Three complications required surgery: 1 bleeding after cystoduodenostomy, 1 perforation and 1 peritonitis after cystogastrostomies. Two of them occurred after recutting a cystostomy. Two pseudocyst surinfections healed with antibiotic therapy. No deaths occurred due to the procedure. Among the 18 long-term followed-up patients (average = 33 months), 4 required surgery for persistence or relapse of pseudocysts. The results were excellent for the 14 other patients without any difference between cystoduodenostomies and cystogastrostomies, neither between the I, II and III groups. Each of the 5 cases with a digestive lumen-pseudocyst cavity thickness above 1 cm (measured on 20 CT scans) failed: 1 puncture failure, 3 complications, 1 relapse.

[Septicemias after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Risk factors and antibiotic prophylaxis]. / Scepticémies après cholangiopancréatographie rétrograde endoscopique. Facteurs de risque et antibioprophylaxie.

The infection following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most severe complications. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and the prognosis of this complication, to look for the risk factors and to define bacterial ecology in order to put forward the most appropriate antibiotherapy. Two thousand and ten patients were included in this study. Among these, 51 (2.5%) had a septic complication following ERCP. Endoscopy biliary drainage was complete in 24 cases, incomplete in 19 and lacking in 8. Transhepatic biliary drainage was carried out in 17 cases. Sixteen patients (31%) with tumor obstructions died within 30 days after ERCP. Four risk factors were isolated when comparing infected patients with other patients: the completeness of biliary obstruction (90 vs 48%, P < 0.001); multiple cannulation attempts (1.76 +/- 1.12 vs 1.25 +/- 0.70, P < 0.001); the malignant nature of the obstruction (80 vs 23%, P < 0.002) and the lack of satisfactory drainage following endoscopy (53 vs 23%, P = 0.009). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated species, both from blood cultures (30%) and bile samples (23%). The preventive therapy of septic complications following ERCP must include strict rules concerning the disinfection of endoscopic material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)