• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2024

Benign biliary stricture (BBS) is a complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Despite endoscopic biliary stenting, some patients do not respond to treatment, and they experience recurrent cholangitis. We report two cases of CP with refractory BBS treated using endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) fistula creation. A 50-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man both presented with obstructive jaundice secondary to BBS due to alcoholic CP. They underwent repeated placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent for biliary strictures. However, the strictures persisted, causing repeated episodes of cholangitis. Therefore, an EUS-CDS was performed. The stents were eventually removed and the patients became stent-free. These fistulas have remained patent without cholangitis for more than 2.5 years. Fistula creation using EUS-CDS is an effective treatment option for BBS.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.647-655
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Endoscopic biliary drainage using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) for malignant biliary strictures occasionally induces acute cholecystitis (AC). This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic gallbladder stents (GBS) during SEMS placement. Methods: Among 158 patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures between January 2018 and March 2023, 30 patients who attempted to undergo prophylactic GBS placement before SEMS placement were included. Results: Technical success was achieved in 21 cases (70.0%). The mean diameter of the cystic duct was more significant in the successful cases (6.5 mm vs. 3.7 mm, p<0.05). Adverse events occurred for 7 patients (23.3%: acute pancreatitis in 7; non-obstructive cholangitis in 1; perforation of the cystic duct in 1 with an overlap), all of which improved with conservative treatment. No patients developed AC when the GBS placement was successful, whereas 25 of the 128 patients (19.5%) without a prophylactic GBS developed AC during the median follow-up period of 357 days (p=0.043). In the multivariable analysis, GBS placement was a significant factor in preventing AC (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.99; p=0.045). Conclusions: GBS may contribute to the prevention of AC after SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-57
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• 2017

A 64-year-old man was admitted due to jaundice for 2 weeks. Radiologic findings revealed biliary stricture at the hepatic hilum with intrahepatic duct dilation suggesting Bismuth type IV Klatskin tumor. Jaundice improved spontaneously several days after hospitalization. Surgical treatment was considered but he only wanted to observe without specific treatment. Ten months later, he was re-admitted due to the recurrence of jaundice. Computed tomography (CT) showed no significant difference compared to previous results. Serum cancer antigen 19-9 and Immunoglobulin G4 were normal. Endoscopic forcep biopsy during endoscopic retrograde cholagiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed chronic inflammation. After steroid use under possible diagnosis of IgG4 related cholangiopathy, biliary stricture improved slightly. Four years later, he was hospitalized with the occurrence of acute cholangitis. Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage was performed following endobiliary forcep biopsy. Pathology revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at this time. Combined chemotherapy based on gemcitabine and cisplatin was performed. Six months later, CT revealed partial response.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Data regarding outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in liver transplant (LT) recipients with biliary-enteric (BE) anastomosis are limited. We report outcomes of ERC and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) as first-line therapies in LT recipients with BE anastomosis. Methods: All LT recipients with Roux-BE anastomosis from 2001 to 2020 were divided into ERC and PTBD subgroups. Technical success was defined as the ability to cannulate the bile duct. Clinical success was defined as the ability to perform cholangiography and therapeutic interventions. Results: A total of 36 LT recipients (25 males, age 53.5 ± 13 years) with Roux-BE anastomosis who underwent biliary intervention were identified. The most common indications for a BE anastomosis were primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 14) and duct size mismatch (n = 10). Among the 29 patients who initially underwent ERC, technical success and clinical success were achieved in 24 (82.8%) and 22 (75.9%) patients, respectively. The initial endoscope used for the ERC was a single balloon enteroscope in 16 patients, a double balloon enteroscope in 7 patients, a pediatric colonoscope in 5 patients, and a conventional reusable duodenoscope in 1 patient. Among the 7 patients who underwent PTBD as the initial therapy, six (85.7%) achieved technical and clinical success (p = 0.57). Conclusions: In LT patients with Roux-BE anastomosis requiring biliary intervention, ERC with a balloon-assisted enteroscope is safe with a success rate comparable to PTBD. Both ERC and PTBD can be considered as first-line therapies for LT recipients with a BE anastomosis.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.521-526
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• 2023

Portobiliary fistulas are rare but may lead to life-threatening complications. Biliary plastic stent-induced portobiliary fistulas during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography have been described. Herein, we present a case of portal cavernography and recurrent hemobilia after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in which a portobiliary fistula was detected in a patient with portal biliopathy. This likely indicates a change in clinical presentation (from bilhemia to hemobilia) after biliary drainage that was successfully treated by placement of a fully covered, self-expandable metallic stent.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.650-657
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is gaining attention as a treatment method for cholecystitis. However, only a few studies have assessed the outcomes of permanent stenting with EUS-GBD. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of permanent stenting using EUS-GBD. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study. The criteria for EUS-GBD at our institution are a high risk for surgery, inability to perform surgery owing to poor performance status, and inability to obtain consent for emergency surgery. EUS-GBD was performed using a 7-Fr double-pigtail plastic stent with a dilating device. The primary outcomes were the recurrence-free rate of cholecystitis and the late-stage complication-avoidance rate. Secondary outcomes were technical success, clinical success, and procedural adverse events. Results: A total of 41 patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up period was 168 (range, 10-1,238) days. The recurrence-free and late-stage complication-avoidance rates during the follow-up period were 95% (38 cases) and 90% (36 cases), respectively. There were only two cases of cholecystitis recurrence during the study period. Conclusions: EUS-GBD using double-pigtail plastic stent was safe and effective with few complications, even in the long term, in patients with acute cholecystitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.224-229
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• 2022

Biliary cast syndrome is an unusual complication in patients who have previously undergone liver transplantation. It occurs in approximately 5%-18% of such patients. Rare cases of biliary cast syndrome in patients without liver transplants have also been reported. The pathogenesis of biliary cast has not been clearly identified, although etiologic factors including post-transplant bile duct damage, ischemia, biliary infection, and presence of a post-operative biliary drainage tube have been proposed. Here we present a case of biliary cast that developed in a 49-year-old male who underwent a non-liver surgery after endoscopic and percutaneous management of common bile duct stone.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1997

Purpose of this paper is to extend help for clinical application in balloon cholangiography on patients who have undergone endoscopic sphincterotomy, impacted stones of intrahepatic duct, and missed bile duct because of other diseases in operating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. This study was done for the patients who had clinical signs of biliary diseases from January to December In 1996. We studied 45 patients who had endoscopic sphincterotomy, re-examination after interventional treatment of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and uncertain diagnosis due to common bile duct and intrahepatic duct those are not filled with contrast media. Balloon cholangiography was performed in case of uncertain diagnosis while operating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. First of all, we insert balloon catheter Into the working channel of treatment jejunofiberscope and remove treatment Jejunofiberscope after ballooning, and lastly take biliary tract X-ray after Injection and changing position of patient. The results of this study were as follows. (1) In classification of diseases, stones of gall bladder, those of common bile duct, and those of intrahepatic duct were 30 cases, fistula was 1 case. (2) In total cases of 45, only diagnosis were 25 cases, interventional treatment were 20 cases. (3) In case of interventional treatment, endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, and stone removal were about the same, 7, 7, 6 respectively. Balloon cholangiography will be useful to prevent patients from having repeated and unnecessary studies for the cases above explained. It is considered that this study will be useful for clinical application in terms of reducing medical expenses, pain while examination, and consultation hours.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool. EUS was introduced in 2013 in Indonesia and is considered relatively new. This study aimed to describe the current role of interventional EUS at our hospital as a part of the Indonesian tertiary health center experience. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients who underwent interventional EUS (n=94) at our center between January 2015 and December 2020. Patient characteristics, technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with each type of interventional EUS procedure were evaluated. Results: Altogether, 94 interventional EUS procedures were performed at our center between 2015 and 2020 including 75 cases of EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), 14 cases of EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, and 5 cases of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The technical and clinical success rates of EUS-BD were 98.6% and 52%, respectively. The technical success rate was 100% for both EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage and EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The adverse event rates were 10.6% and 7.1% for EUS-BD and EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, respectively. Conclusions: EUS is an effective and safe tool for the treatment of gastrointestinal and biliary diseases. It has a low rate of adverse events, even in developing countries.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.246-252
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is useful for patients with biliary cannulation failure or inaccessible papillae. However, it can lead to serious complications such as bile peritonitis in patients with ascites; therefore, development of a safe method to perform EUS-HGS is important. Herein, we evaluated the safety of EUS-HGS with continuous ascitic fluid drainage in patients with ascites. Methods: Patients with moderate or severe ascites who underwent continuous ascites drainage, which was initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after the procedure at our institution between April 2015 and December 2022, were included in the study. We evaluated the technical and clinical success rates, EUS-HGS-related complications, and feasibility of re-intervention. Results: Ten patients underwent continuous ascites drainage, which was initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after completion of the procedure. Median duration of ascites drainage before and after EUS-HGS was 2 and 4 days, respectively. Technical success with EUS-HGS was achieved in all 10 patients (100%). Clinical success with EUS-HGS was achieved in 9 of the 10 patients (90%). No endoscopic complications such as bile peritonitis were observed. Conclusions: In patients with ascites, continuous ascites drainage, which is initiated before EUS-HGS and terminated after completion of the procedure, may prevent complications and allow safe performance of EUS-HGS.