The Usefulness of the Alpha-Retroflex Position in Biliary Cannulation on Single-Balloon Enteroscopy-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients with Roux-en-Y Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (BE-ERCP) is a useful therapeutic procedure that provides promising results in patients with surgically altered anatomy. However, biliary cannulation in BE-ERCP remains challenging. Therefore, in patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy, this study aimed to evaluate a BE-ERCP cannulation strategy that includes the newly developed alpha-retroflex scope position. Methods: This was a retrospective review of 52 patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy who underwent BE-ERCP at two centers between April 2017 and December 2022. In these patients, three types of scope position had been used for biliary cannulation: straight (S-position), J-retroflex (J-position), and alpha-retroflex (A-position). First, the S-position was used for biliary cannulation. Then, if biliary cannulation was difficult with this position, the J-position was used, followed by the A-position, if necessary. Results: The biliary cannulation success rate was 96.6% (50/52). The S-, J-, and A-positions achieved successful biliary cannulation in 24 (48%), 14 (28%), and 12 patients (24%), respectively. No adverse events, including post-ERCP pancreatitis and perforation, occurred. Conclusion: This was the first study of a cannulation strategy that included the A-position in addition to the S- and J-positions. The study showed that the A-position is feasible and safe in BE-ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y gastrectomy.

Endoscopic resection of a duodenal duplication cyst: A case report.

A duodenal duplication cyst (DDC) is a rare congenital anomaly. Gastrointestinal duplication cysts are traditionally treated by complete surgical resection due to the potential precancerous conditions. Here, we describe an asymptomatic DDC that was successfully treated using endoscopic resection. A submucosal tumor in the descending portion of the duodenum was detected in a 71-year-old female during a regular checkup at our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a 10-mm pedunculated submucosal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 10-mm cystic tumor of low echogenicity that included nodules and debris. Endoscopic resection with hot snare polypectomy was performed for diagnosis and treatment. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histologic examination revealed that the cystic tumor was a DDC. Endoscopic resection is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive alternative to surgical resection for small DDCs with malignant potential.

Risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis at a tertiary referral center in Japan.

PURPOSE: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has played a major role in the diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic diseases. The prevalence and mortality rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) remains a serious issue that needs to be resolved. Here, we report the first ERCP study that was conducted at a high-volume center of an educational institution in Japan. METHODS: This study investigated patients with suspected biliary and pancreatic diseases who had undergone ERCP between April 2006 and June 2009. We created a database and analyzed preoperative and postoperative data. Patients who had undergone surgery and those with a history of undergoing duodenal papilla treatment were excluded. RESULTS: Mild (n=62) or moderate (n=3) pancreatitis was present in 65 cases (6.21%; 36 men and 29 women). A univariate analysis identified age under 50 years (P=0.01), pancreatography (P<0.001), and biliary stent placement (P<0.001). A Multivariate analysis was performed for evaluating the risk factors associated with PEP. This analysis identified age of the patients under 50 years [P=0.003; odds ratio (OR), 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.19-0.71], endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (P=0.012; OR, 4.69; 95% CI, 1.41-15.54), pancreatography (P<0.001; OR, 5.55; 95% CI, 2.98-10.33), and plastic stent placement (P<0.001; OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.17-6.54). Descriptive statistics showed that only pancreatography was associated with PEP. An additional sphincterotomy did not increase the risk of PEP (P=0.306; OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 0.52-7.84), and even adjusted for pancreatography. CONCLUSIONS: We changed the size of the stent to 7-Fr. In the future, we plan to repeat the same study with a higher number of cases.

Is it safe to perform endoscopic band ligation for the duodenum? A pilot study in ex vivo porcine models.

AIM: In the digestive tract, endoscopic band ligation (EBL) has been routinely used for the treatment of variceal bleeding and superficial malignancies. In recent years, endoscopic treatments for duodenal varices, adenoma, and cancer have also actively incorporated EBL. Although there have been a number of reports on the risks associated with the use of EBL in the esophagus, stomach, and colon, few studies have focused on EBL in the duodenum. We performed EBL procedures to evaluate the risks associated with the use of EBL in the duodenum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Overall, EBLs were performed at nine sites in duodenum sampled from a pig immediately after sacrifice. Submucosal saline injections were placed in three of the nine studied sites. RESULTS: Regardless of saline injection, the full thickness of the duodenal wall was ligated in all attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Routine EBL is not recommended in the duodenum because the risk of perforation is unacceptably high.

[A case report of complete response to low-dose S-1 monotherapy for pancreatic cancer in elderly patient].

A 87-year-old woman was diagnosed with pancreatic body cancer(Stage II ). Because of her age and history of open distal partial gastrectomy, it seemed that having her undergo an invasive surgery would be difficult. Therefore, S-1 was administered orally at a dose of 50mg/day for 28 consecutive days followed by a 14-day rest course(low-dose S-1 monotherapy). After 2 courses, the tumor marker(CA19-9)dramatically decreased to within the normal range. After 5 courses, the tumor could not be identified on the abdominal CT image, and it was judged to be a complete response. Low-dose S-1 monotherapy may be useful for improving the prognosis of pancreatic cancer without causing intolerable toxicity, especially for elderly patients.

How do we select an endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices on the basis of hemodynamic analysis using color Doppler endoscopic ultrasonography.

We investigated the hemodynamics of the left gastric vein (LGV) and its association with variceal recurrence using color Doppler endoscopic ultrasonography (CD-EUS). The long-term results of our technique known as combined ligation and sclerotherapy showed that the risk of variceal recurrence decreased after long-term follow-up with timely repeated therapies. On the basis of the hemodynamic background of these results, it was suggested that the posterior branch of the LGV could have developed as an extravariceal shunt, whereas the anterior branch, which directly feeds varices, seemed to disappear through long-term follow-up with repeated treatments. In the study comparing CD-EUS findings between patients with and without variceal recurrence, dominance between anterior and posterior branches and the hepatofugal flow velocity of the LGV were suggested to be important factors contributing to variceal recurrence. We consider that these patients may require more intense therapy, such as the mucofibrosing technique or a technique to obliterate both the varices and their donor vessels.

A pilot study of the novel offset-tip papillotome for selective biliary cannulation in ERCP.

INTRODUCTION: We developed a new offset-tip papillotome to facilitate biliary cannulation and reduce the incidence of unintended contrast injection into the pancreatic duct during ERCP. The aim of the present retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the utility of the novel offset-tip papillotome in achievement of biliary cannulation, and prevention of unintended contrast injection into the pancreatic duct during ERCP, compared with a standard straight-tip catheter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with native papilla who required biliary ERCP were retrospectively reviewed. Biliary ERCPs were performed by two experienced endoscopists using either the offset-tip papillotome or a standard catheter. Patients in whom ERCP involved fellows in training were excluded. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were included and divided into two cohorts: The offset-tip papillotome (OT; n = 40) and the standard straight-tip cohort (ST; n = 45). Biliary cannulation success rates in OT and ST cohort were 92.5% and 88.9%, respectively. The frequency of unintended contrast injection into the pancreatic duct and time to biliary cannulation of the OT cohort during biliary cannulation were significantly less than those of the ST cohort (0.56 vs. 1.65 times and 103.3 vs. 287.9 seconds). CONCLUSION: The novel offset-tip papillotome could reduce the incidence of unintended contrast injection into the pancreatic duct and the time to biliary cannulation.

Bacteremia and endotoxemia after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasia: pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Because the invasive procedure of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) entails a large mucosal defect which is left open, with extensive submucosal exposure to the indigenous bacterial flora, the procedure may have a substantial risk for bacteremia. Our aim was to examine gastric ESD-related bacteremia and endotoxemia in gastric neoplasia patients. METHODS: In patients who underwent ESD for superficial gastric neoplasia, blood cultures and plasma endotoxin measurements were done before, immediately after, and on day 2 after ESD. Clinically manifest infections and inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells, were monitored. RESULTS: Fifty patients (aged 69 ± 8 years; mean ± SD) were enrolled. The diameter of the resected specimens was 38 ± 18 mm and the procedure time of ESD was 66 ± 53 min. Two percent (2/100) of blood cultures after ESD were positive, with findings as follows: Propionibacterium species immediately after ESD, and Enterobacter aerogenes on day 2 after ESD, but no clinically manifest infection was observed. In 30% of the enrolled patients, CRP on day 2 after ESD had increased to levels higher than 1.0 mg/l. Plasma endotoxin levels, immediately after and on day 2 after ESD were correlated with CRP levels on day 2 after ESD. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the invasive procedure with massive submucosal exposure to the indigenous bacterial flora, gastric ESD has a low risk for bacteremia. Gastric ESD-related endotoxemia may be linked to inflammatory reactions such as those shown by the increase of CRP or fever observed after ESD.

[A case of huge omental-origin liposarcoma controlled by a combination of ifosfamide and adriamycin].

A 51-year-old woman came to our hospital after a medical check -up. She suffered from abdominal distension. Abdominal CT revealed the abdominal cavity filled with omental cake. The preoperative diagnosis was unassertive. Laparotomy through midline incision was performed. The bulk of the omental tumor occupied the abdominal cavity, but infiltrated the bowel or abdominal wall less. Fractional resection of the tumor, right hemicolectomy, sigmoidectomy, wedge resection of small intestine and left ovariectomy were performed in parallel. Resected specimens weighed 6. 6 kg in total. The operation was considered palliative because of the peritoneal dissemination. Postoperative intraabdominal administration of cisplatin(50mg) made the ascites disappear. She was discharged 3 weeks after the operation. The final diagnosis was liposarcoma(myxoid type), and 5 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with adriamycin and ifosfamide were performed. No relapse was found 11 months after the operation, but tumor regrowth occurred in the thoracic and abdominal cavity and the patient died 14 months after the operation.

[A case of diffuse peritoneal malignant mesothelioma--intraabdominal administration of cisplatin is useful for diminishing ascites].

A 59-year-old man with a history of exposure to asbestos suffered from abdominal distension and visited our hospital. Abdominal CT revealed vast ascites but there was no obvious primary lesion. Serum tumor markers and hyaluronate were within the normal range. Abdominal puncture was carried out, and cytology of ascites was negative. We suspected diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma because hyaluronate in ascites rose to 10×104 ng/mL. Ga-scintigraphy and FDG-PET were negative. We performed laparoscopic observation for definite diagnosis and found fine white particles at the peritoneum. The result of biopsy was malignant mesothelioma. The patient underwent intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin and his ascites was diminished. He lived for a year with no recurrence but died 23 months after diagnosis because of progression of pleural mesothelioma and liver metastases. Relapse of ascites was not found in the entire clinical course. Cisplatin administration in the peritoneal cavity is thus very effective in preventing progression of ascites.

Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging achieves superior accuracy in the differential diagnosis of superficial gastric lesions identified with white-light endoscopy: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Conventional, white-light imaging endoscopy (WLE) results in a significant number of misdiagnoses in early gastric cancer. Magnifying endoscopy combined with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) is more accurate in the diagnosis of gastric cancer when the diagnostic triad of the disappearance of fine mucosal structure, microvascular dilation, and heterogeneity is used. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the superiority of ME-NBI in the differential diagnosis of superficial gastric lesions identified with conventional WLE. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative study. SETTING: Single academic center. PATIENTS: This study involved patients who underwent WLE and ME-NBI for surveying synchronous or metachronous cancers because they had a high risk of gastric cancer. INTERVENTION: Patients with superficial gastric lesions that were diagnosed by WLE as cancer or non-cancer with a slight suspicion of cancer were prospectively enrolled in the study. ME-NBI was used to further characterize lesions picked up with WLE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, with pathology as the criterion standard. RESULTS: A total of 201 lesions (mean diameter [+/- SD] 7.0 +/- 4.0 mm) from 111 patients (98 men, 13 women; mean age 66.3 years) were evaluated. Fourteen of the 201 lesions were pathologically proven as gastric cancer; the others were noncancerous lesions. The sensitivity and specificity for ME-NBI diagnosis with the use of the triad (92.9% and 94.7%, respectively) were significantly better than for WLE (42.9% and 61.0%, respectively; P < .0001). LIMITATIONS: Single center and a highly selected population at high risk for gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: ME-NBI achieved superior accuracy in the differential diagnosis of superficial gastric lesions identified with WLE. Thus, ME-NBI may increase the diagnostic value of endoscopy in a population at high risk of gastric cancer.

Trimodal imaging endoscopy may improve diagnostic accuracy of early gastric neoplasia: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: A considerable number of superficial gastric neoplasias are overlooked with conventional white light imaging (WLI) endoscopy. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the diagnostic potential of trimodal imaging endoscopy (TME), which combines WLI, autofluorescence imaging (AFI), and narrow-band imaging (NBI), for superficial gastric neoplasia. DESIGN: Feasibility study. SETTING: Single academic center. PATIENTS: Sixty-two patients with or without gastric neoplasia. INTERVENTION: Each patient serially assessed with WLI, AFI, and magnifying endoscopy with NBI (ME-NBI) by an endoscopist blinded for clinical information. ME-NBI over WLI and AFI was designated as TME. Histopathology of biopsy and ESD specimens was evaluated and used as the gold standard. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic diagnosis of pathology-proven neoplasia by per-patient and per-lesion analyses. RESULTS: The study included 47 pathology-proven neoplasias and 44 pathology-proven nonneoplasias that were detected as neoplasias with any of the modalities. By a per-lesion analysis, the sensitivity of TME (89.4%) was higher than that of WLI (76.6%) and AFI (68.1%). The specificity of TME (98.0%) was higher than that of WLI (84.3%) and AFI (23.5%). By a per-patient analysis, the sensitivity of TME (90.9%) was higher than that of WLI (75%) and AFI (68.2%). The specificity of TME (100%) was higher than that of WLI (72.2%) and AFI (44.4%). LIMITATIONS: Case-enriched population at a single center. CONCLUSIONS: Higher diagnostic accuracy of TME over conventional WLI indicates the feasibility of TME for the efficacious diagnosis of early gastric neoplasia.

Prediction of recurrence of esophageal varices-special reference to a role for endoscopic ultrasonography.

The fate of esophageal varices (EV) depends largely on variables of hemodynamics in portal venous system, which has long been studied using various diagnostic modalities. Recent studies have mainly focused on relationship of portal hemodynamics and recurrence of esophageal varices after endoscopic treatment. In particular, there is increasing number of studies using endosonography because it is less invasive and provides high-resolution images of collaterals surrounding the lower esophagus and the upper stomach, which includes left gastric veins and its branches, submucosal vessels in the cardia, paraesophageal collaterals and perforating veins. On basis of those studies, the range of changes to those vessels seems to depend on treatment techniques and the role of each vessel in preventing the elevation of portal pressure following treatment and in recanalization of variceal channels greatly varies. Thus, the underlying pathophysiology of variceal recurrence has been gradually understood. Further studies could enable us to identify the patients, in whom varices would rapidly recur and to choose optimal treatment for each treatment.

Combined use of a magnifying endoscope with a narrow band imaging system and a multibending endoscope for en bloc EMR of early stage gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: En bloc EMR is performed in Japan as a curative treatment for early stage gastric cancer. However, current methods of EMR are technically difficult and require proficiency in determining the extent of the cancer. This study assessed the feasibility of a new method to obviate these problems and to facilitate en bloc EMR. METHODS: The new method uses two types of endoscopes: a magnifying endoscope with a narrow band imaging system to enhance the definition of mucosal and microcirculatory structure, and an endoscope with multibending tip deflection to maintain orientation during EMR. Forty-two consecutive cases of mucosal gastric cancer treated by EMR were reviewed retrospectively. In 12 of these patients, 12 lesions that fulfilled guideline criteria for EMR were treated by the modified, en bloc EMR method of circumferential incision and snare resection by using the two endoscopes. RESULTS: The rate of complete en bloc resection with the new method of EMR was 91.7%, (11/12). There was no major complication. CONCLUSIONS: The new en bloc resection method for EMR with two endoscopes described here is feasible and may be a safe and a reliable technique for curative treatment of mucosal gastric cancer.

Hemodynamic assessment of the left gastric vein in patients with esophageal varices with color Doppler EUS: factors affecting development of esophageal varices.

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the development of esophageal varices is important in the evaluation of risk of variceal hemorrhage. To clarify factors affecting the development of esophageal varices, the morphology and hemodynamics of the left gastric vein were analyzed with color Doppler EUS. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with esophageal varices underwent color Doppler EUS. Seventeen had small varices (F1), 32 had medium varices (F2), and 18 had large varices (F3). RESULTS: Hepatofugal blood flow velocity in the left gastric vein trunk increased as the size of the varices increased (p < 0.0001), whereas the diameter did not increase. The left gastric vein bifurcates into anterior and posterior branches. As the size of the varices enlarged, the branch pattern was more likely to be anterior branch dominant (p = 0.041). There was no significant difference between the 3 size groups of esophageal varices with respect to the size of the paraesophageal collaterals. The detection rate and diameter of the perforating vein increased as the size of the varices increased (p = 0.032 and 0.012, respectively). CONCLUSION: Blood flow velocity in the left gastric vein trunk, branches, and perforating veins may regulate blood flow supplying the esophageal varices and contribute to their development. These findings are important to understanding the pathogenesis of esophageal varices.