Non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension by multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging of the spleen: A proof of concept study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension is an area of unmet need. This proof of concept study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-parametric magnetic resonance technique in the assessment of portal hypertension. Comparison to other non-invasive technologies was a secondary aim. METHODS: T1 and T2* maps through the liver and spleen were acquired prior to trans-jugular liver biopsy and hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement. T1 measurements reflect changes in tissue water content, but this relationship is confounded by the presence of iron, which in turn can be quantified accurately from T2* maps. Data were analysed using LiverMultiScan (Perspectum Diagnostics, Oxford, UK) which applies an algorithm to remove the confounding effect of iron, yielding the "iron corrected T1" (cT1). Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic values and area under the curve were derived for spleen cT1, liver cT1, transient elastography, and serum fibrosis scores. HVPG was the reference standard. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (15 men) with median age 57 years were included. Liver disease aetiologies included non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 9; 47%) and viral hepatitis (n = 4; 21%). There was strong correlation between spleen cT1 and HVPG (r = 0.69; p = 0.001). Other non-invasive biomarkers did not correlate with HVPG. Spleen cT1 had excellent diagnostic accuracy for portal hypertension (HVPG >5 mmHg) and clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG ≥10 mmHg) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.92 for both. CONCLUSION: Spleen cT1 is a promising biomarker of portal pressure that outperforms other non-invasive scores and should be explored further.

Repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography after failed initial precut sphincterotomy for biliary cannulation.

AIM: To investigate the outcome of repeating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) after initially failed precut sphincterotomy to achieve biliary cannulation. METHODS: In this retrospective study, consecutive ERCPs performed between January 2009 and September 2012 were included. Data from our endoscopy and radiology reporting databases were analysed for use of precut sphincterotomy, biliary access rate, repeat ERCP rate and complications. Patients with initially failed precut sphincterotomy were identified. RESULTS: From 1839 consecutive ERCPs, 187 (10%) patients underwent a precut sphincterotomy during the initial ERCP in attempts to cannulate a native papilla. The initial precut was successful in 79/187 (42%). ERCP was repeated in 89/108 (82%) of patients with failed initial precut sphincterotomy after a median interval of 4 d, leading to successful biliary cannulation in 69/89 (78%). In 5 patients a third ERCP was attempted (successful in 4 cases). Overall, repeat ERCP after failed precut at the index ERCP was successful in 73/89 patients (82%). Complications after precut-sphincterotomy were observed in 32/187 (17%) patients including pancreatitis (13%), retroperitoneal perforations (1%), biliary sepsis (0.5%) and haemorrhage (3%). CONCLUSION: The high success rate of biliary cannulation in a second attempt ERCP justifies repeating ERCP within 2-7 d after unsuccessful precut sphincterotomy before more invasive approaches should be considered.

Retrograde transileal conduit stent placement for obstructed uropathy--success of primary and exchange stent placement.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety, success, and complications associated with retrograde ureteric stent insertion via the ileal conduit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 35 consecutive patients (17 men and 18 women; mean age, 55 y; age range, 40-75 y) requiring primary (20 stents) and exchange (70 stents) retrograde ureteric stent insertion via the ileal conduit over a 3-year period. Patient demographic data, procedural and technical data, and clinical follow-up data were collected. RESULTS: Technical success was 90% (18 of 20) for primary stent placement and 100% (70 of 70) for stent exchange. There were two immediate complications (< 24 h) of sepsis and ureteric injury and one early complication (> 25 h but < 30 d) of sepsis requiring observation and medical management. Difficult procedures (defined as a fluoroscopy screening time > 31 min) and technical failures were found to be associated with encrusted stents visualized on prior computed tomography (P = .012), increased length of ileal conduit (> 20 cm) (P = .023), and ileal conduit kink (< 90 degrees) (P = .032). Only the occurrence of encrusted stents visualized on prior computed tomography (P = .022) was associated with complications. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde placement of ureteric stents via the ileal conduit is safe and effective. Retrograde stent placement should be considered the treatment option of choice for a first-time occurrence of obstructive uropathy at the ureteroileal anastomosis.

Management of patients with biliary sphincter of Oddi disorder without sphincter of Oddi manometry.

BACKGROUND: The paucity of controlled data for the treatment of most biliary sphincter of Oddi disorder (SOD) types and the incomplete response to therapy seen in clinical practice and several trials has generated controversy as to the best course of management of these patients. In this observational study we aimed to assess the outcome of patients with biliary SOD managed without sphincter of Oddi manometry. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with biliary SOD (14% type I, 51% type II, 35% type III) were prospectively enrolled. All patients with a dilated common bile duct were offered endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincterotomy whereas all others were offered medical treatment alone. Patients were followed up for a median of 15 months and were assessed clinically for response to treatment. RESULTS: At follow-up 15.3% of patients reported complete symptom resolution, 59.3% improvement, 22% unchanged symptoms, and 3.4% deterioration. Fifty-one percent experienced symptom resolution/improvement on medical treatment only, 12% after sphincterotomy, and 10% after both medical treatment/sphincterotomy. Twenty percent experienced at least one recurrence of symptoms after initial response to medical and/or endoscopic treatment. Fifty ERCP procedures were performed in 24 patients with an 18% complication rate (16% post-ERCP pancreatitis). The majority of complications occurred in the first ERCP these patients had. Most complications were mild and treated conservatively. Age, gender, comorbidity, SOD type, dilated common bile duct, presence of intact gallbladder, or opiate use were not related to the effect of treatment at the end of follow-up (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with biliary SOD may be managed with a combination of endoscopic sphincterotomy (performed in those with dilated common bile duct) and medical therapy without manometry. The results of this approach with regards to symptomatic relief and ERCP complication rate are comparable to those previously published in the literature in cohorts of patients assessed by manometry.

Biloma: an unusual complication in a patient with pancreatic cancer.

The term biloma describes an encapsulated collection of bile within the abdomen, usually secondary to bile duct disruption. The commonest causes reported in the literature are iatrogenic (secondary to hepatobiliary surgery), trauma or complications due to choledocholithiasis. A few cases have been reported as complications of cholangiocarcinoma or acute cholecystitis. We report the case of a 64-year-old man initially diagnosed with a non-obstructive malignancy of the pancreas, who developed a spontaneous intrahepatic biloma 8 mo later. This was identified following a 1-wk history of fever, rigors and icterus. The biloma was identified on computed tomography and subsequently drained under ultrasound guidance. Forty-eight hours later, a stent was inserted endoscopically into his common bile duct and he made an uneventful in-hospital recovery. We believe this is the first documented case of spontaneous intrahepatic biloma to occur secondary to pancreatic malignancy.

StarClose vascular closure device: prospective study on 222 deployments in an interventional radiology practice.

The StarClose device (Abbott Vascular Devices; Abbott Laboratories, Redwood City, CA) utilizes an externally placed Nitinol clip to achieve arterial closure following femoral artery puncture. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy and complications of the StarClose device in patients undergoing interventional radiological procedures. Preprocedural clotting status, pulse and blood pressure, severity of vessel calcification, sheath size, and time to deployment were recorded. Postdeployment complications immediately postprocedure, at 1 h, at 2 h, and at 1 week were recorded. A duplex scan was performed in the first 10 patients to assess any immediate vascular complications. Deployments were successful in 96% achieving immediate hemostasis. Mean deployment time was 48 s. There were no major complications. The StarClose device was found to have a high technical and clinical efficacy.

Sigmoid colonic perforation and pelvic abscess complicating biliary stent migration.

Endoscopically placed biliary stents are a well-established procedure for the treatment of benign and malignant causes of obstructive jaundice in patients unfit for definitive surgical intervention. Stent migration has been described, though in most instances the stent will pass or remain in the bowel lumen for extended periods of time. Only a few cases of clinically significant complications of stent migration have been reported. This is the first case report of a pelvic abscess complicating stenting for choledocholithiasis. As the numbers of stenting procedures continue to increase it may be anticipated that the numbers of complications will similarly increase.