Endoscopic drainage of malignant distal biliary obstruction. Will ERCP no longer be necessary?

ABSTRACT

We read with interest the Editorial by Vila et al. on the paradigm shift for endoscopic biliary drainage of malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO) which places Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) drainage as the first option instead of traditional ERCP drainage. The modern biliary endoscopist must have the duodenoscope in one hand and the therapeutic echoendoscope in the other. ERCP training alone is no longer appropriate because the goal is to drain the obstruction during a single session. That is why in more and more centers the patient signs a single consent for endoscopic biliary drainage, whether by ERCP, EUS or combined. Should EUS drainage be used first for MDBO without attempting ERCP? A possible protocol for endoscopic drainage of MDBO could be to start with the duodenoscope for ERCP. If the papilla of Vater is accessible, try cannulation considering the ESGE criteria for a difficult cannulation more than 5 contacts with the papilla; more than 5 minutes spent attempting to cannulate following visualization of the papilla; more than one unintended pancreatic duct cannulation or opacification. If biliary cannulation is not achieved, immediately switch to EUS drainage during the same session. Occasionally, the double guidewire technique or even transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy could be used, but not needle-knife precut.