Application value of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage for acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis in the elderly / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) for acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis (AOSC) in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of AOSC patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2018 to January 2020. Patients aged 75 years and over ( n=49) were assigned to the elderly group and patients under 75 years old were assigned to the control group ( n=63). General data, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading, procedure-related indicators, incidence of postoperative complications and mortality were compared. Results:There were significant differences in age (82.6±5.1 years VS 64.6±4.5 years, t=19.98, P<0.001), albumin levels (29.1±5.9 g/L VS 34.6±8.8 g/L, t=-3.94, P<0.001) and ASA grade ( χ2=8.37, P=0.015) in the elderly group and the control group . The elderly group were accompanied by more basic diseases, i.e. hypertension [57.14% (28/49) VS 34.9% (22/63), χ2=5.51, P=0.019], coronary heart disease [55.1% (27/49) VS 27.0% (17/63), χ2=9.14, P=0.003], chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases/asthma [24.5% (12/49) VS 6.3% (4/63), χ2=7.41, P=0.006]. There were no significant differences in the operation time (31.4±8.1 min VS 30.4±8.0 min, t=-0.61, P=0.543) or hospital stay (6.1±1.7 days VS 5.7±1.4 days, t=1.35, P=0.182). The incidences of postoperative complications were 14.3% (7/49) in the elderly group and 12.7% (8/63) in the control group, showing no significant difference ( χ2=0.06, P=0.807). No ERBD-related death was observed in either group during hospital stay. Conclusion:For elderly patients with AOSC over 75 years old, emergency ERBD, which can quickly relieve the disease, is safe and effective. Advanced age is not an absolute contraindication for emergency ERBD.

Effects of different preoperative biliary drainage methods on bile bacterial culture and drug resistence of malignant obstructive jaundice / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of different preoperative biliary drainage methods on bile bacterial culture and drug resistence of malignant obstructive jaundice.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 317 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who were admitted to the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were collected. There were 216 males and 101 females, aged (62±10)years. Of 317 patients, 158 cases had no preoperative biliary drainage, 115 received preoperative biliary drainage by percutaneous transhepatic choledochal drainage (PTCD), 44 received preoperative biliary drainage by endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD). Observation indicators: (1) bile bacteria in different preoperative biliary drainage methods; (2) clinicopathological characteristics of patients with positive bile bacteria; (3) drug resistance of bile bacteria in different methods of preoperative biliary drainage. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percen-tages, and comparison between groups was analyzed by the chi-square test. Bonferroni correction was used for pairwise comparison. The inspection level was 0.016 7 in the multiple comparison. Results:(1) Bile bacteria in different preoperative biliary drainage methods: of 317 patients, 116 cases were positive for bacterial culture, including 168 strains of 43 bacterial types. There were 46 strains from 36 patients without preoperative biliary drainage, 49 strains from 39 patients with preoperative PTCD and 73 strains from 41 patients with preoperative ERBD. ① The positive rate of bacteria for 317 patients was 36.59%(116/317). The positive rates of bacteria for patients without preoperative biliary drainage, patients with preoperative PTCD and patients with preoperative ERBD were 22.78%(36/158), 33.91%(39/115) and 93.18%(41/44). There was a significant difference in the positive rate of bacteria among the three groups ( χ2=74.066, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between patients with preoperative PTCD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage ( χ2=4.137, P>0.016 7), but there were significant differences between patients with pre-operative ERBD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage or patients with preoperative PTCD ( χ2=72.305, 44.718, P<0.016 7). ② The overall multiple bacterial rate was 36.21%(42/116). The multiple bacterial rates for patients without preoperative biliary drainage, patients with preoperative PTCD and patients with preoperative ERBD were 19.44%(7/36), 23.08%(9/39) and 63.41%(26/41). There was a significant difference in multiple bacterial rate among the three groups ( χ2=20.431, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between patients with PTCD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage ( χ2=0.147, P>0.016 7), but there were significant differences between patients with preoperative ERBD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage or patients with preoperative PTCD ( χ2=15.133, 13.215, P<0.016 7). ③ The overall prevalence rate of multi-drug resistant organism was 30.95%(52/168). The prevalence rates of multi-drug resistant organism for patients without preoperative biliary drainage, patients with preoperative PTCD and patients with preoperative ERBD group were 15.22%(7/46), 26.53%(13/49) and 43.84%(32/73). There was a significant difference in the prevalence rate of multi-drug resistant organism among the three groups ( χ2=11.447, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between patients with PTCD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage ( χ2=1.827, P>0.016 7). There was a significant difference between patients with preoperative ERBD and patients without preoperative biliary drainage ( χ2=10.497, P<0.016 7), but there was no significant difference between patients with preoperative ERBD and patients with preoperative PTCD ( χ2=3.772, P>0.016 7). (2) Clinicopatho-logical characteristics of patients with positive bile bacteria: age, the history of abdominal surgery, degree of jaundice and location of biliary obstruction of patients were not related to the positive rate of bacterial culture ( χ2=4.865, 1.423, 4.922, 0.030, P>0.05). (3) Drug resistance of bile bacteria in different methods of preoperative biliary drainage: for patients without preoperative biliary drainage, the drug resistance rate of Gram-positive bacteria to nitrofurantoin, linezolid and tigecycline was 0, and the drug resistance rate of Gram-negative bacteria to piperacillin/tazobactam, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin and imipenem was 0. For patients with PTCD, the drug resistance rate of Gram-positive bacteria to linezolid and tigecycline was 0. For patients with ERBD, the drug resistance rate of Gram-positive bacteria to linezolid and tigecycline was 0. In terms of Gram-positive bacteria, linezolid, tigecycline, vancomycin and nitrofurantoin were the top four antibiotics with the lowest resistance rate. In terms of Gram-negative bacteria, imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin and tobramycinn were the top four antibiotics with the lowest resistance rate. Seven strains of fungi showed no resistance to antifungal drugs. Conclusions:Patients with preoperative ERBD are more vulnerable to infectious complications, and more likely to form drug resistant organism and multi-drug resistant organism. For Gram-positive bacteria infection, linezolid, tigecycline and vancomycin can be used for treatment. For Gram-negative bacteria infection, imipenem, piperacillin/trzobactam, amikacin and tobramycin can be used for treatment.

Risk Factors for Pancreatitis and Cholecystitis after Endoscopic Biliary Stenting in Patients with Malignant Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: For the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) has been widely accepted as a standard procedure. However, post-ERBD complications can affect the lives of patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictive factors for these complications, including the patient’s status, cancer status, and stent type.METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis conducted in a single tertiary hospital from January 2007 to July 2017. The following variables were evaluated: sex, age, body mass index, cancer type, history of pancreatitis, gallbladder stone, previous biliary stenting, precut papillotomy, stent type, contrast injection into the pancreatic duct or gallbladder, cystic duct invasion by the tumor, and occlusion of the cystic duct orifice by a metal stent.RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that contrast injection into the pancreatic duct was a risk factor for pancreatitis. Patients with a history of bile drainage showed a lower risk of pancreatitis. For cholecystitis, the analysis revealed contrast injection into the gallbladder and cystic duct invasion by the tumor as important predictive factors. Metal stents showed a greater risk of post-procedure pancreatitis than plastic stents, but did not affect the incidence of cholecystitis.CONCLUSIONS: Considering that contrast injection is the most important factor for both complications, a careful approach by the physician is essential in preventing the occurrence of any complications. Further, choosing the type of stent is an important factor for patients at a risk of post-procedure pancreatitis.

A Case of Metabolic Encephalopathy Due to Bleeding after EPBD / 대한췌담도학회지

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is widely used for diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases and associated with a spectrum of complications such as pancreatitis, hemorrhage, and so on. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) has an advantage over endoscopic sphincterotomy in complication of bleeding. We report here on a 68-year-old woman who developed metabolic encephalopathy due to massive bleeding after EPBD. Massive bleeding was controlled after selective embolization and metabolic encephalopathy was improved after conservative management. Metabolic encephalopathy due to massive bleeding after EPBD has not been reported. We report on this unusual case along with a review of the related literatures.

Risk Factors of Post Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Bacteremia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bacteremia following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a severe complication, but the risk factors for this condition have not yet been clearly determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia. METHODS: Among patients who underwent ERCP from June 2006 to May 2009, we selected patients without any signs of infection prior to the ERCP procedures. Of these patients, we further selected those who experienced bacteremia after ERCP as well as two-fold age and sex-matched controls who did not experience bacteremia after ERCP procedures. We compared clinical, laboratory and technical aspects between these two groups. RESULTS: There were 70 patients (3.1%) who developed bacteremia after ERCP. In the multivariate analysis, a history of previous liver transplantation, an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level and an endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage procedure were independent risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia (p=0.006, p=0.001, and p=0.004, respectively). The microbiologic analysis revealed the presence of gram-negative organisms in 80% of the cases, and 11 patients had infections with bacteria expressing extended spectrum beta-lactamases. Pseudomonas infection was significantly more common in patients who received liver transplantation as compared to patients without transplantation (p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: A history of liver transplantation, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage procedure were independent risk factors of post-ERCP bacteremia and require additional attention in future studies.

Endoscopic Bilateral Metal Stent Placement with a Y-Configured Dual Stent for Advanced Hilar Carcinoma / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Palliative endoscopic or percutaneous internal drainage is widely used for treating hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Yet unilateral biliary drainage does not completely improve jaundice and it can induce acute cholangitis by the undrained contrast media. To investigate this technique's technical and clinical effectiveness, a newly devised Y-configured dual stent was used for treating advanced hilar malignancies. METHODS: From May, 2005 to May, 2007, 20 hilar malignancies (men: women=9:11, age=70.5 yr) that were not suitable for surgical resection were included in this study. For bilateral metal stent placement, a biliary stent with a wide open central mesh was first inserted. After this, another stent without a hole was inserted into the contralateral hepatic duct through the open central mesh of the first stent. RESULTS: Bilateral metal stent insertion was done in 14 of 20 patients. Among the 14 patients in whom bilateral stents were successfully placed, the rate of functional success was 100%. There were no early complications. As a late complication, stent occlusion occurred in 4 of 14 patients (28.5%), and one of these patients had a plastic stent inserted. The other 3 patients were treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The median stent patency period was 231 days. CONCLUSION: The bilateral metal stent method using the Y stent is safe and effective for bilateral biliary drainage in patients with unresectable hilar malignancies.

The Clinical Efficacy of Percutaneous Bilateral Internal Drainage in Advanced Hilar Malignancy by T-Configured Dual Stent Placement: Comparison with Unilateral Endoscopic Stent Placement / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic or percutaneous internal drainage is a well-established palliative treatment for unresectable biliary tumors. Previous studies dealing with the unilateral versus bilateral liver lobe drainage have reported inconsistent results. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of bilateral drainage with a newly designed T configured dual stent (T-stent) placement. METHODS: From 2001 to 2004, 46 hilar malignancies, which were not suitable for endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) on MR cholangiography were treated with the percutaneous placement of two self-expandable metallic endoprostheses in a T configuration through a single transhepatic access. The outcomes were examined retrospectively. The hilar malignancies, which were drain ed by unilateral ERBD were also reviewed. RESULTS: The 46 hilar malignancies drained by a T stent included a cholangiocarcinoma (n=36), gallbladder cancer (n=6), and metastatic cancer (n=4). Procedure related cholangitis occurred in 3 out of 46 patients (6.5%). The mean survival and stent patency times were 256 and 194 days, respectively. The 34 hilar malignancies drained by unilateral ERBD included cholangiocarcinoma (n=29), gallbladder cancer (n=3), and pancreatic cancer (n=2). Procedure related cholangitis occurred in 7 out of 34 patients (20.6%). The mean survival and stent patency times were 292 and 186 days, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the cholangitis frequency, survival and stent patency between the two groups. The frequency of cholangitis, mean survival and patency time in Klatskin tumors, which were drained by the T-stent (n=36) and ERBD (n=29), were compared. There were no significant differences in survival and stent patency time. CONCLUSIONS: T-configured dual stent placement can be used effectively in advanced biliary hilar malignancies. It can be used as a safe palliative drainage method in advanced hilar tumors, which are not suitable for ERBD.

A Case of Plummer - Vinson Syndrome Treated with Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by dysphagia associated with anemia, glossitis and esophageal web. The cause of this syndrome is still not clear, but the most important one is thought to be the iron deficiency. The patient with small sized ageal web is treated by administration of iron but large sized web with dyspha gia requires breakage of web. In the following case report, we describe a patient with Plummer-Vinson syndrome who showed clinical improvement after treatmeat with endoscopic balloon dilatation of upper esophageal web with a review of literatures.