• 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.55 no.3
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• pp.458-462
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• 2022

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided hepaticogastrostomy (HGS) is widely performed not only as an alternative to transpapillary biliary drainage, but also as primary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction. For anatomical reasons, this technique carries an unavoidable risk of mispuncturing intrahepatic vessels. We report a technique for troubleshooting EUS-guided portal vein coiling to prevent bleeding from the intrahepatic portal vein after mispuncture during interventional EUS. EUS-HGS was planned for a 59-year-old male patient with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The dilated bile duct (lumen diameter, 2.8 mm) was punctured with a 19-gauge needle, and a guidewire was inserted. After bougie dilation, the guidewire was found to be inside the intrahepatic portal vein. Embolizing coils were placed to prevent bleeding. Embolization coils were successfully inserted under stabilization of the catheter using a double-lumen cannula with a guidewire. Following these procedures, the patient was asymptomatic. Computed tomography performed the next day revealed no complications.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.542-546
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• 2024

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) through ducts B2 or B3 is effective in most patients with biliary obstruction, because B2 and B3 commonly join together. However, in some patients, B2 and B3 do not join each other due to invasive hilar tumors; therefore, single-route drainage is insufficient. Here, we investigated the feasibility and efficacy of EUS-HGS through both B2 and B3 simultaneously in seven patients. We decided to perform EUS-HGS through both B2 and B3 to achieve adequate biliary drainage because these two ducts were separate from each other. Here, we report a 100% technical and overall clinical success rate. Early adverse effects were closely monitored. Minimal bleeding was reported in one patient (1/7) and mild peritonitis in one patient (1/7). None of the patients experienced stent dysfunction, fever, or bile leakage after the procedure. EUS-HGS through both B2 and B3 simultaneously is safe, feasible, and effective for biliary drainage in patients with separated ducts.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2018

Chylomicron retention disease, also known as Anderson's disease, is a rare hereditary hypocholesterolemic disorder, recessive inherited, characterized by nonspecific symptoms as abdominal distension, steatorrhea, and vomiting associated with failure to thrive. We describe a patient with failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea and steatorrhea who the diagnosis of chylomicron retention disease was established after several months of disease progression. The genetic study confirmed a homozygosity mutation in SAR1B gene, identifying a mutation never previous described [c.83_84delTG(p.Leu28Argfs*7)]. With this case report the authors aim to highlight for this very rare cause of failure to thrive and for the importance of an attempting diagnosis, in order to start adequate management with low fat diet supplemented with fat-soluble vitamins, reverting the state of malnutrition and avoiding possible irreversible and desvantating complications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2018

Purpose: Classical criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are intended as research tool and are difficult to apply at patient's bedside. We aimed to study the accuracy of simplified criteria and the concordance with the expert diagnosis based on the original criteria. Methods: A cohort of children under study for liver disorder was selected through consecutive sampling to obtain the prevalence of AIH within the group of differential diagnoses. AIH was defined, based on classical criteria, through committee review of medical reports. Validity indicators of the simplified criteria were obtained in an intention to diagnose approach. Optimal cut-off and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated. Results: Out of 212 cases reviewed, 47.2% were AIH. For the optimal cut-off (6 points), the simplified criteria showed a sensitivity of 72.0% and a specificity of 96.4%, with a 94.7% positive and a 79.4% negative predictive value. The area under the ROC curve was 94.3%. There was a good agreement in the pre-treatment concordance between the classical and the simplified criteria (kappa index, 0.775). Conclusion: Simplified criteria provide a moderate sensitivity for the diagnosis of AIH, but may help in indicating treatment in cases under suspicion with 6 or more points.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.251-262
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• 2022

Purpose: Endoscopic drainage is an established treatment modality for adult patients with pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). Available data regarding the efficacy and safety of endoscopic drainage in pediatric patients are limited. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to analyze the outcomes of endoscopic drainage in children with PFCs. Methods: A literature search was performed in Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar for studies on the outcomes of endoscopic drainage with or without endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) guidance in pediatric patients with PFCs from inception to May 2021. The study's primary objective was clinical success, defined as resolution of PFCs. The secondary outcomes included technical success, adverse events, and recurrence rates. Results: Fourteen studies (187 children, 70.3% male) were included in this review. The subtypes of fluid collection included pseudocysts (60.3%) and walled-off necrosis (39.7%). The pooled technical success rates in studies where drainage of PFCs were performed with and without EUS guidance were 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.6-98%; I²=0) and 93.9% (95% CI, 82.6-98%; I²=0), respectively. The pooled clinical success after one and two endoscopic interventions were 88.7% (95% CI, 82.7-92.9%; I²=0) and 92.3% (95% CI, 87.4-95.4%; I²=0), respectively. The pooled rate of major adverse events was 6.3% (95% CI, 3.3-11.4%; I²=0). The pooled rate of recurrent PFCs after endoscopic drainage was 10.4% (95% CI, 6.1-17.1%; I²=0). Conclusion: Endoscopic drainage is safe and effective in children with PFCs. However, future studies are required to compare endoscopic and EUS-guided drainage of PFCs in children.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.367-374
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) using oblique-view EUS in patients with a surgically altered anatomy (SAA) of the upper gastrointestinal tract is limited because of difficult scope insertion due to the disturbed anatomy. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of forward-view (FV)-EUS in performing FNA in patients with a SAA. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 32 patients with a SAA of the upper gastrointestinal tract who visited Aichi Cancer Center Hospital in Nagoya, Japan, between January 2014 and December 2020. We performed upper gastrointestinal EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging to confirm tumor recurrence or to make a decision before chemotherapy or after a failure of diagnosis by radiology. Results: We successfully performed EUS-FNA in all studied patients (100% technical success), with the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of 100%, 87.5%, and 87.8%, respectively, with no complications. Conclusions: EUS-FNA using FV-EUS combined with fluoroscopic imaging is an effective and safe technique for tissue acquisition in patients with a SAA.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2023

Background/Aims: The etiology of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) remains unclear. Recent studies have reported conflicting associations between duodenal tumor development and Helicobacter pylori infection or endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy. As such, the present study aimed to clarify the relationship between SNADETs and H. pylori infection and/or endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy. Methods: This retrospective case-control study reviewed data from 177 consecutive patients with SNADETs who underwent endoscopic or surgical resection at seven institutions in Japan over a three-year period. The prevalence of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy and the status of H. pylori infection were compared in 531 sex- and age-matched controls selected from screening endoscopies at two of the seven participating institutions. Results: For H. pylori infection, 85 of 177 (48.0%) patients exhibited SNADETs and 112 of 531 (21.1%) control patients were non-infected (p<0.001). Non-atrophic mucosa (C0 to C1) was observed in 96 of 177 (54.2%) patients with SNADETs and 112 of 531 (21.1%) control patients (p<0.001). Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that non-atrophic gastric mucosa was an independent risk factor for SNADETs (odds ratio, 5.10; 95% confidence interval, 2.44-8.40; p<0.001). Conclusions: Non-atrophic gastric mucosa, regardless of H. pylori infection status, was a factor independently associated with SNADETs.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.490-498
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common and serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. To prevent this event, a unique precutting method, termed opening window fistulotomy, was performed in patients with a large infundibulum as the primary procedure for biliary cannulation, whereby a suprapapillary laid-down H-shaped incision was made without touching the orifice. This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of this novel technique. Methods: One hundred and ten patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients with a papillary roof size ≥10 mm underwent opening window fistulotomy for primary biliary access. In addition, the incidence of complications and success rate of biliary cannulation were evaluated. Results: The median size of the papillary roof was 6 mm (range, 3-20 mm). Opening window fistulotomy was performed in 30 patients (27.3%), none of whom displayed PEP. Duodenal perforation was recorded in one patient (3.3%), which was resolved by conservative treatment. The cannulation rate was high (96.7%, 29/30 patients). The median duration of biliary access was 8 minutes (range, 3-15 minutes). Conclusions: Opening window fistulotomy demonstrated its feasibility for primary biliary access by achieving great safety with no PEP complications and a high success rate for biliary cannulation.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) using Franseen needles is reportedly useful for its high diagnostic yield. This study compared the diagnostic yield and puncturing ability of EUS-TA using 22-gauge cobalt-chromium (CO-Cr) needles with those of stainless-steel Franseen needles in patients with solid pancreatic lesions. Methods: Outcomes were compared between the 22-gauge Co-Cr Franseen needle (December 2019 to November 2020; group C) and stainless-steel needle (November 2020 to May 2022; group S). Results: A total of 155 patients (group C, 75; group S, 80) were eligible. The diagnostic accuracy was 92.0% in group C and 96.3% in group S with no significant intergroup differences (p=0.32). The rate of change in the operator (from training fellows to experts) was 20.0% (15/75) in group C and 7.5% (6/80) in group S. Stainless-steel Franseen needles showed less inter-operator difference than Co-Cr needles (p=0.03). Conclusions: Both Co-Cr and stainless-steel Franseen needles showed high diagnostic ability. Stainless-steel Franseen needles are soft and flexible; therefore, the range of puncture angles can be widely adjusted, making them suitable for training fellows to complete the procedure.