Randomized controlled trial of hemostatic powder versus endoscopic clipping for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite advances in pharmacological and endoscopic management of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB), mortality is still relevant. TC-325 (Hemospray-Cook Medical) is a mineral powder with adsorptive properties, designed for endoscopic hemostasis. There are still no comparative trials studying this new hemostatic modality. The objective of this research was to compare the use of TC-325 (associated with epinephrine injection) with the combined technique of endoscopic clipping and epinephrine injection for the treatment of patients with NVUGIB. METHODS: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial with patients that presented NVUGIB with an actively bleeding lesion at the endoscopic evaluation. Patients were randomized either to the Hemospray or Hemoclip group. The randomization list was generated by a computer program and remained unknown throughout the entire trial. All patients underwent second-look endoscopy. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Peptic ulcer was the most frequent etiology. Primary hemostasis was achieved in all Hemospray cases and in 90% of Hemoclip group (p = 0.487). Five patients in Hemospray group underwent an additional hemostatic procedure during second-look endoscopy, while no patient in the Hemoclip group needed it (p = 0.04). Rebleeding, emergency surgery and mortality rates were similar in both groups. No toxicity, allergy events, or gastrointestinal obstruction signs were observed in Hemospray group. CONCLUSIONS: TC-325 presents similar hemostatic results when compared with conventional dual therapy for patients with NVUGIB. Hemospray's excellent primary hemostasis rate certifies it as a valuable tool in arduous situations of severe bleeding or difficult location site.

Endoscopic hemostasis for peptic ulcer bleeding: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer represents the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic therapy can reduce the risks of rebleeding, continued bleeding, need for surgery, and mortality. The objective of this review is to compare the different modalities of endoscopic therapy. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, DARE, and CINAHL. We selected randomized clinical trials that assessed contemporary endoscopic hemostatic techniques. The outcomes evaluated were: initial hemostasis, rebleeding rate, need for surgery, and mortality. The possibility of publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots. An additional analysis was made, including only the higher-quality trials. RESULTS: Twenty-eight trials involving 2988 patients were evaluated. Injection therapy alone was inferior to injection therapy with hemoclip and with thermal coagulation when evaluating rebleeding and the need for emergency surgery. Hemoclip was superior to injection therapy in terms of rebleeding; there were no statistically significant differences between hemoclip alone and hemoclip with injection therapy. There was considerable heterogeneity in the comparisons between hemoclip and thermal coagulation. There were no statistically significant differences between thermal coagulation and injection therapy, though their combination was superior, in terms of rebleeding, to thermal coagulation alone. CONCLUSIONS: Injection therapy should not be used alone. Hemoclip is superior to injection therapy, and combining hemoclip with an injectate does not improve hemostatic efficacy above hemoclip alone. Thermal coagulation has similar efficacy as injection therapy; combining these appears to be superior to thermal coagulation alone. Therefore, we recommend the application of hemoclips or the combined use of injection therapy with thermal coagulation for the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding.

Management of common bile duct stones in cirrhotic patients with coagulopathy: a comparison of supra-papillary puncture and standard cannulation technique.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Bleeding is not uncommon following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Supra-papillary puncture (SPP) might be safer than standard cannulation (SC) techniques in patients with coagulopathy. The aim of the study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of SPP and SC. PATIENT AND METHODS: This was a prospective case control intervention study. Decompensated cirrhotic patients with coagulopathy and choledocolithiasis underwent SC and SPP methods for biliary access. RESULTS: One hundred five patients (56 [53.3%] men, mean [SD] age 56 [15.8]) underwent ERCP. SC and SPP were performed in 63 and 42 patients, respectively. Biliary access was achieved in 56/63 (89%) and 40/42 (95%) of patients undergoing SC and SPP, respectively (P = 0.13; 95% CI [-0.16; 0.03]). Complications occurred in 10/63 (15.8%) patients undergoing SC and 5/42 (11.9%) SPP (P = 0.28; 95% CI [-0.17, 0.16]). Five (7.9%) and two (3.2%) episodes of post-sphincterotomy bleeding was seen in the SC and SPP groups, respectively (P = 0.36; 95% CI [-0.16, 0.05]). In contrast, three (4.8%) episodes of pancreatitis were seen in the SC and none in the SPP group (P = 0.05; 95% CI [0.001; 0.004]). A cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that SPP is an acceptable alternative at an ICER of US$ 5,974.92 per additional successful procedure. CONCLUSION: SPP is a safe and effective technique for the management of common bile duct stones in decompensated cirrhotic patients. Conditional to the willingness-to-pay and to the local ERCP-related costs, SPP is also a cost-effective alternative to the SC methods. SPP is associated with a lower rate of complications but larger studies to validate these findings are necessary.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography drainage for palliation of malignant hilar biliary obstruction - stent-in-stent or side-by-side? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biliary drainage, either by the stent-in-stent (SIS) or side-by-side (SBS) technique, is often required when treating a malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO). Both methods differ from each other and have distinct advantages. AIM: To compare both techniques regarding their efficacy and safety in achieving drainage of MHBO. METHODS: A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, BIREME, Cochrane) was conducted and grey literature from their inception until December 2020 with no restrictions regarding the year of publication or language, since there was at least an abstract in English. The included studies compared SIS and SBS techniques through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Outcomes analyzed included technical and clinical success, early and late adverse events (AEs), stent patency, reintervention, and procedure-related mortality. RESULTS: Four cohort studies and one randomized controlled trial evaluating a total of 250 patients (127 in the SIS group and 123 in the SBS group) were included in this study. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning the evaluated outcomes, except for stent patency, which was higher in the SIS compared with the SBS technique [mean difference (d) = 33.31; 95% confidence interval: 9.73 to 56.90, I 2 = 45%, P = 0.006]. CONCLUSION: The SIS method showed superior stent patency when compared to SBS for achieving bilateral drainage in MHBO. Both techniques are equivalent in terms of technical success, clinical success, rates of both early and late AEs, reintervention, and procedure-related mortality.

Pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A narrative review.

Acute post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) is a feared and potentially fatal complication that can be as high as up to 30% in high-risk patients. Pre-examination measures, during the examination and after the examination are the key to technical and clinical success with a decrease in adverse events. Several studies have debated on the subject, however, numerous topics remain controversial, such as the effectiveness of prophylactic medications and the amylase dosage time. This review was designed to provide an update on the current scientific evidence regarding PEP available in the literature.

Fistulopapilotomia por sobre balão transpapilar em pacientes com Billroth II: uma nova técnica / Fistulotomy over transpapillary balloon in patientes with Billroth II: a new technique

Introdução: A CPRE diagnóstica e terapêutica, em pacientes com gastrectomia à Billroth 11, é mais difícil devido às alterações anatômicas. Acessórios e técnicas têm sido desenvolvidos para minimizar estas adversidades. Objetivo: Nova técnica de acesso biliar em pacientes gastrectomizados à Billroth 11. Pacientes: No período de fevereiro de 2003 a agosto de 2007, foram realizadas 157 CPRE em pacientes gastrectomizados à Billroth 11, por coledocolitíase. Em 37 desses pacientes, não foi possível cateterização pela técnica convencional, sendo submetidos a nova técnica. Métodos: Após fistulopapilotomia para acessar via biliar principal, passava-se fio-guia de 0,035mm, seguido por balão dilatador de 8mm, que se mantinha transpapilar. Pelo canal de trabalho, passava-se o estilete; ao posicionar em frente à papila, procedia-se secção do esfíncter por sobre balão insuflado com contraste até desaparecimento da cintura na radioscopia. Resultados: Dos 37 pacientes submetidos ao novo procedimento, seis foram excluídos. Dezesseis pacientes (51,6%) eram do sexo feminino e quinze (48,4%) do masculino. A idade variou de 29 a 89 anos, com média de 62,3 anos. Todos tinham icterícia clínica e laboratorial. O tempo do procedimento variou de 18 a 48 minutos (30 minutos). O diâmetro da via biliar foi de 4,5 a 12,8mm (7,7mm), apresentando de um a quatro cálculos. Ocorreram seis (19,3%) complicações relacionadas ao procedimento, sendo três (9,7%) pancreatites, duas (6,4%) hemorragias e uma (3,2%) perfuração. Não houve óbitos relacionados ao procedimento. Conclusão: O sucesso desta técnica foi de 83,8% (31 dos 37 casos), sendo 88,6% (31 de 35 casos) se considerarmos apenas a canulação da via biliar, portanto método seguro e eficaz em pacientes com Billroth 11 e papila duodenal difícil.

Terapêutica endoscópica da pancreatite crônica / Endoscopic therapy of chronic pancreatitis

O mecanismo mais aceito da dor na pancreatite crônica é o aumento da pressäo do ducto pancreático secundário à obstruçäo por estenoses, cálculos intraductais e/ou por compressäo de pseudocistos. Dentre outros mecanismos citam-se a presença de hipertensäo intersticial, isquemia e neurite associada a pancreatite. O objetivo da drenagem pancreática é diminuir a pressäo intraductal, facilitando o fluxo do suco pancreático e permitindo a melhora da dor. A abordagem endoscópica no tratamento da pancreatite crônica vem-se difundindo por ser mais fácil, menos invasiva e com menores custos. No presente estudo, foram tratados 19 pacientes com pancreatite crônica; em 89,5 por cento deles conseguiu-se a remissäo da dor. Os procedimentos de drenagem endoscópica incluem: esfincterotomia pancreática, dilataçäo de estenoses, passagem de próteses pancreáticas, retirada de cálculos com ou sem auxílio da litotripsia extracorpórea e drenagem de pseudocistos. Esta abordagem poderá ser eletiva em pacientes que näo se beneficiam com o tratamento clínico, sem invalidar a possibilidade de intervençäo cirúrgica posterior.

Uso de endoprótese biliar na coledocolitíase / Use pf plastic biliary stents for common bile duct stones

O tratamento endoscópico da coledocolitíase é factivel em aproximadamente 90 por cento dos casos, através da papilotomia e remoçäo dos cálculos com o cesto de Dormia ou cateter balonado. Entretanto, nos casos de cálculos gigantes, isto é, com mais de 20mm de diâmetro, essa remoçäo poderá näo ser possível pelo método referido, havendo necessidade de outros métodos. Litotripsia mecànica, eletro-hidráulica ou estracorpórea (shock-wave) säo os mais utilizados, embora exista método mais sofisticado, como o laser altamente específico para este fim. Na impossibilidade de dispor esses recursos, a colocaçäo de endoprótese biliar é importante, com o intuito de prevenir a impactaçäo do cálculo, evitando o desenvolvimento da colangite. No presente estudo, foi indicada a colocaçäo de endoprótese biliar em 45 (29,6 por cento) pacientes dos 152 que foram encami nhados para o tratamento endoscópico da coledocolitíase. As indicaçöes foram para cálculos gigantes em 14 (31,2 por cento), cálculos múltiplos com remoçäo incompleta em 28 (62,1 por cento), cálculos menores que 2,0cm de diâmetro, porém, com desproporçäo ao colédoco distal estreitado em 2 (4,5 por cento) e cálculos a montante da estenose cicatricial do colédoco em 1 (2,2 por cento). Após a colocaçäo da endoprótese, 34 pacientes retornaram ao Serviço, conseguindo-se a remoçäo completa dos cálculos em 31 e 3 foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico. Näo houve complicaçäo importante e tampouco mortalidade nesta casuística estudada. Conclui-se que o método é seguro e efetivo na prevençäo de impactaçäo do cálcul;o e colangite