One- and two-step self-expandable metal stent placement for distal malignant biliary obstruction: a propensity analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are widely used for distal malignant biliary obstruction, one-step SEMS (direct placement without a prior plastic stent) and two-step SEMS (placement at second endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] following plastic stent placement) have not been fully compared. METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective study, patients were included who underwent first-time endoscopic SEMS placement between September 1994 and December 2010. We compared the one-step and two-step strategies using a propensity analysis. RESULTS: In total, 370 patients were identified and one-step SEMS was performed in 59 patients. After adjustment using propensity scores, the median times to dysfunction were 116 and 219 days, respectively, for one-step and two-step SEMS (P = 0.058). Stent migration was more frequently observed in one-step SEMS as compared with two-step SEMS (25 vs. 11 %, P = 0.031). In one-step SEMS, the number of days of hospitalization associated with first-time SEMS placement was shorter compared with that in two-step SEMS (21 vs. 30 days, P = 0.001), and the total costs of SEMS-related interventions within 6 months were lower (6510 and 8100 USD, P = 0.004). The pathological diagnosis rates for pancreatic and biliary tract cancer at initial ERCP were 52 and 61 %. After failed diagnosis at initial ERCP, pathological diagnosis rates for pancreatic cancer were 32 versus 76 % (P = 0.005) by repeated ERCP versus endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA). CONCLUSIONS: One-step SEMS was associated with increased stent migration, despite having potential cost-effectiveness. The additional yield of pathological diagnosis at repeated ERCP was low compared with that yielded by EUS-guided FNA.

Intraductal US in the assessment of tumor involvement to the orifice of the cystic duct by malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Tumor involvement to the orifice of the cystic duct (OCD) is a risk factor for cholecystitis after metallic stent (MS) placement. OBJECTIVE: ERCP and intraductal US (IDUS) were used to assess tumor involvement to the OCD. DESIGN: A prospective consecutive study. SETTING: The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Between January 2003 and May 2007, 34 patients with resectable malignant biliary obstruction underwent an ERCP and an IDUS before preoperative biliary drainage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: ERCP and IDUS findings were confirmed via a histopathologic analysis of surgical specimens. RESULTS: An ERCP showed that the cystic duct was opacified in 22 of 34 patients (64.7%). Eight patients were diagnosed with OCD tumor involvement. In the remaining 12 patients, tumor involvement was impossible to evaluate via an ERCP. An IDUS identified tumor involvement to the OCD in all 34 patients. Tumor involvement to the OCD was diagnosed in 12 patients, including 4 patients with previously negative results during an ERCP. Tumor involvement was confirmed by histopathology of surgical specimens. The sensitivity and specificity of detection were 66.7% (8/12) and 63.6% (14/22), respectively, via ERCP, and 100% (12/12) and 100% (22/22), respectively, via IDUS. LIMITATION: The small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: IDUS, in addition to ERCP, provides an accurate evaluation of tumor involvement to the OCD in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.