A prospective randomized study on the benefits of a new small-caliber colonoscope.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: We compared the performance efficiency of a newly developed small-caliber colonoscope (PCF-PQ260 L) with passive bending, high force transmission, and an outer diameter of 9.2 mm with that of a standard colonoscope, in female and male patients, particularly with regard to passage through acute angulations or into the proximal colon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 330 patients were randomly allocated to undergo small-caliber (n = 164) or standard (n = 166) colonoscopy. The patients were assessed for pain using a visual analogue scale (0 = none, 100 = extremely painful), and for cecal intubation, withdrawal time, difficulty of colonoscopy, dosage and level of sedation used, and any complications. RESULTS: Median maximum pain and overall pain during colonoscopy were significantly lower in the small-caliber group than in the standard group in women (25 vs. 45, P < 0.001 and 15 vs. 26, P = 0.001, respectively), whereas no significant differences were seen in men (8 vs. 10, P = 0.103 and 16 vs. 20, P = 0.166, respectively). Furthermore, no significant differences were seen between groups in cecal intubation rate or time to cecum in all patients or by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the small-caliber colonoscope reduced pain in female patients, but offered no advantage over standard colonoscopy in male patients. The performance of the small-caliber colonoscope was equivalent to that of the standard colonoscope in terms of cecal intubation rate and time to cecum, regardless of the sex of the patient.

Usefulness of endoscopic retrograde biliary biopsy using large-capacity forceps for extrahepatic biliary strictures: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary biopsy samples are frequently too small and inadequate, which makes histological interpretation difficult. We therefore evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of forceps with a larger-sized cup and compared this with standard forceps for biliary biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included consecutive patients with extrahepatic biliary strictures who underwent retrograde biliary biopsy between March 2005 and March 2006 at the Toho University Ohashi Medical Center. The standard forceps used were 1.8-mm forceps (FB-39Q, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) and the large-capacity forceps were 2.2-mm forceps (Radial jaw3, Boston Scientific Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, USA). Four randomized biopsy specimens were taken from each patient, two using each type of forceps. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (30 with malignant biliary strictures and 2 with benign biliary strictures) were enrolled. The median size of the biopsy samples taken using the standard forceps was 0.68 mm (2) and that using the large-capacity forceps was 1.98 mm (2) ( P < 0.0001). Significant differences between the standard forceps and large-capacity forceps were observed in sensitivity (43 % vs. 70 %), adequacy of the specimens, and submucosal tissue sampling rate. CONCLUSIONS: Large-capacity forceps performed better than standard forceps in terms of size, adequacy of the sample, submucosal sampling rate, and detection of neoplasia.

Percutaneous T-tube placement for bilateral internal drainage in malignant hilar obstruction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the efficacy and safety of percutaneous T-tube placement for malignant hilar obstruction. Results were compared with self-expanding metal stents. METHODOLOGY: Between June 1989 and April 1999, 24 consecutive patients with type II, III, IV hilar obstructions underwent T-tube (n = 12) and metal stent placement (n = 12). A 9-F T-tube was placed percutaneously into the right and left hepatic ducts. Metal stents (diameter: 6-10 mm) were placed in both ducts. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in all patients. Early complications occurred in 2 patients in the metal stent group (arterio-biliary fistula and cholangitis). In the T-tube group, the 30-day mortality rate were 25%. These were not procedure related. The median patency period in the metal stent group (365.0 +/- 113.3 days) was longer than in the T-tube group (167.0 +/- 71.1 days). There were no significant differences in the median survival rates (224.0 +/- 39.0 days vs. 197.0 +/- 104.8 days). CONCLUSIONS: Internal T-tube placement for drainage of malignant hilar obstruction is safe and associated with few complications. The advantage of this procedure is removability of the T-tube stents.

Microwave coagulation versus insertion of a second stent for occluded biliary metal stent.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is no consensus regarding optimal management of self-expandable metallic stent occlusion. We investigated the efficacy of microwave coagulation therapy for recanalization as compared to second stent placement. METHODOLOGY: Sixty patients with malignant obstruction of the common bile duct were treated with metal stent placement from January 1992 to July 1999. Of these, 13 patients subsequently developed stent occlusion due to tumor ingrowth. We compared stent patency and patient survival rates after microwave coagulation to those after insertion of a second stent. The influence of the duration of patency of the first stent on the second stent patency was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients with stent occlusion, 7 were treated with microwave coagulation therapy, and 6 with insertion of a second metal stent. In all cases, occluded stents were successfully recanalized without any complications. There was no significant difference in duration of first stent patency between the two groups. The median duration of second stent patency was prolonged in microwave-treated patients (152 days vs. 104 days, P > 0.05). The median duration of patient survival after last recanalizing procedure was also prolonged in microwave-treated patients (131 days vs. 78 days, P > 0.05). Microwave energy did not induce destruction of the stent filament. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave coagulation did not offer significantly longer duration of stent patency and patient survival compared to insertion of a second metal stent. However, this procedure is safe, feasible, and certainly as good as a second stent placement. It may be an alternative to insertion of a second stent within the occluded stent.

Cholangioscopic extraction of intrahepatic stones associated with biliary strictures using a rendezvous technique.

Two patients with a severe biliary stricture of one intrahepatic duct and associated intrahepatic stones were successfully treated after dilatation of their stricture by a new endobiliary rendezvous technique with the aid of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS). The strictured bile duct was approached from a contralateral percutaneous tract via PTCS and from the diseased duct by introducing a guidewire. This guidewire was then extracted through the other side using a PTCS-guided biopsy forceps to form a communication between both sides which could be used as a pathway for subsequent dilatation. Our technique allows the extraction of intrahepatic stones even in the presence of biliary strictures.

Self-expanding metal stents for palliative treatment of malignant biliary and duodenal stenoses.

Patients with malignant biliary stenosis due to pancreatic head cancer often have the associated problem of duodenal obstruction. We report here the case of a 78-year-old woman with this clinical situation, who was treated with self-expanding Gianturco metal stents placed in the distal common bile duct and, nine months later, placed in the descending duodenum. The patient's frequent vomiting resolved, and she was able to tolerate peroral solid food; jaundice also decreased (bilirubin pre-stenting: 7.8; post-stenting: 1.2). Self-expanding metal stents therefore appear to be effective for the palliative treatment of malignant duodenal stenosis as well as biliary stenosis.

Comparison of duodenal stent placement with surgical gastrojejunostomy for palliation in patients with duodenal obstructions caused by pancreaticobiliary malignancies.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Palliative treatment for duodenal stenosis with an enteral stent is effective in enhancing the quality of life of patients with duodenal obstruction. There have been no thorough comparisons of duodenal stent placement with standard surgical gastrojejunostomy. The present study evaluated the outcome of duodenal stent placement and surgical gastrojejunostomy for palliation of duodenal stenosis caused by pancreaticobiliary malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records for patients who underwent palliative enteral stenting during the past 9 years were retrospectively reviewed, and the patients' clinical outcome was compared with that in patients who underwent open surgical gastrojejunostomy during the same period. Patients who underwent prophylactic gastrojejunostomy were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Twenty patients (11 men, nine women; mean age 71.8 years) with pancreaticobiliary malignancy underwent palliative enteral stenting (stent group). Nineteen patients (12 men, seven women; mean age 68.7 years) with pancreaticobiliary malignancies underwent surgical gastrojejunostomy (bypass group). In the stent group, the diagnoses were 12 pancreatic cancers, six gallbladder cancers, one bile duct cancer, and one ampullary cancer. In the bypass group, the diagnoses were 14 pancreatic cancers and five gallbladder cancers. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to clinical background. Both procedures were successful. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to the technical or clinical success rates, patient survival, possibility of discharge, need for parenteral nutrition, or incidence of complications. However, the time from the procedure to resumption of food intake was shorter in the stent group than in the bypass group (1 day vs. 9 days; P < 0.0001). Improvement in the performance score after the procedure was observed more frequently in the stent group (65 % vs. 26.3 %; P < 0.05). In terms of the median hospital stay from the time of the procedure to the time of initial discharge home (12 patients vs. nine patients), there was no statistical difference (15 days vs. 30 days) due to the small size of the sample. There was no procedure-related mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Palliative stent placement was more beneficial than surgical gastrojejunostomy in enhancing the quality of life of patients with duodenal obstruction due to pancreaticobiliary malignancies.

A new cannula with a flexible tip (Swing Tip) may improve the success rate of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is sometimes unsuccessful because the anatomy of the papilla of Vater precludes cannulation by routine means. The efficacy of a new flexible tip cannula (the Swing Tip) was studied in patients in whom routine ERCP was unsuccessful. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Swing Tip cholangiographic catheter has an articulation at its tip which allows the tip to be flexed from 90 degrees to 30 degrees. Routine cholangiography was successful in 175 of 195 patients in whom it was attempted between September 2000 and November 2001. ERCP with the Swing Tip catheter was attempted in the 20 patients in whom ERCP had failed. RESULTS: In 17 of 20 patients, we attempted to insert the Swing Tip catheter into the common bile duct to perform cholangiography. Insertion was successful in 11 patients and unsuccessful in six. There were no complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The Swing Tip catheter is a useful adjunct to standard ERCP catheters for patient in whom standard techniques are unsuccessful.

Percutaneous choledochoscopic treatment of intrahepatic stones, including management of associated biliary stenoses.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Choledochoscopic lithotomy is a useful non-surgical treatment for intrahepatic stones. In patients with stenoses, the procedure often fails, and recurrence rates are high. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The efficacy and risks of choledochoscopic lithotomy using our procedure were investigated in 15 patients with intrahepatic stones, with and without strictures. Long-term follow-up results in patients after successful clearance were also reviewed. The follow-up period ranged from one month to 127 months (mean 75 months). RESULTS: Complete removal of stones was achieved in a mean of 2.0 sessions in all cases. The relationship between the number of sessions and the presence of the stenosis was not significant. One patient (6.7%) who had recurrent stones after complete clearance was successfully treated by repeat choledochoscopy. With regard to the rate of recurrence, there was no difference between patients with stenosis and those without. There was no procedure-related mortality. The rate of procedure-related complications was 6.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Choledochoscopic lithotomy for hepatolithiasis is an effective and safe procedure in most patients, even those with severe biliary stenosis. The choice of the appropriate route for lithotomy and appropriate management of stenoses offers a higher success rate and a lower rate of recurrence.

Successful repair of a damaged duodenal stent by cutting stent wires and placement of a second stent.

Duodenal stenting has been gradually established in recent years because it is less invasive than standard surgical procedures and produces a rapid therapeutic response. For palliation of both duodenal and biliary stenoses, double stenting may be performed. Duodenal stents offer a great advantage in allowing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) without the need for balloon dilation. When biliary stent dysfunction occurs, the patient undergoes diagnostic and/or therapeutic ERCP across the duodenal stent. We encountered a duodenal stent fracture in a patient who required repeated ERCPs for stent dysfunction. Duodenal stent fractures have not previously been reported. The damaged stent was successfully repaired by using a cutting wire filament and placing another duodenal stent coaxially with the first. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of stent fracture following endoscopic procedures, such as an ERCP, that require passage through the stent. The procedure described in this report would be of significant benefit if a gastrointestinal stent is fractured and occluded by a broken part.