Digital cholangioscopy-assisted, direct visualization-guided, radiation-free, endoscopic retrograde intervention for cholelithiasis: technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety.

BACKGROUND: Nonradiation, digital cholangioscope (DCS)-assisted endoscopic intervention for cholelithiasis has not been widely performed. For this study, we aimed to report the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of an established DCS-guided lithotomy procedure. METHODS: Data relating to biliary exploration, stone clearance, adverse events, and follow-up were obtained from 289 patients. The choledocholithiasis-related outcomes via the DCS-guided procedure were subsequently compared to those via conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). RESULTS: Biliary access was achieved in 285 patients. The technical success rate for the exploration of the common bile duct, the cystic stump, the hilar ducts, and secondary radicals was 100%. Moreover, the success rates were 98.4%, 61.7%, and 20.7%, for the exploration of the cystic duct, complete cystic duct, and gallbladder, respectively. Suspicious or confirmed suppurative cholecystitis, cholesterol polyps, and hyperplastic polyps were detected in 42, 23, and 5 patients, respectively. Stone clearance was achieved in one session in 285 (100%), 11 (100%), 13 (100%), 7 (100%), 6 (100%), and 3 (14.3%) patients with choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis, cystic duct stump stones, nondiffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, a single cystic duct stone, a single gallbladder stone, and diffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, respectively. Complete stone clearance for diffuse intrahepatic lithiasis was achieved in 19 (90.5%) patients, and fractioned re-lithotomy was performed in 16 (76.2%) patients. One patient developed mild acute cholangitis, and 12 developed mild pancreatitis. Stones recurred in one patient. Compared with conventional ERCP, DCS-guided lithotomy has the advantages of clearing difficult-to-treat choledocholithiasis and revealing concomitant biliary lesions, and this technique has fewer complications and a decreased risk of stone recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The technical profile, efficacy, and safety of nonradiation-guided and DCS-guided lithotomy are shown in this study. We provide a feasible modality for the endoscopic removal of cholelithiasis.

Evaluation of a newly designed basket in non-radiation endoscopic lithotomy for common bile duct stones (with video) / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective:To evaluate a newly designed basket fit for digital cholangioscope in non-radiation endoscopic lithotomy for common bile duct stones.Methods:Seventy-eight patients who underwent non-radiation endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University between February and October 2021 were enrolled in the randomized controlled trial, and were randomly assigned into the new basket group ( n=35) and the conventional basket group ( n=43) by drawing lots. Procedures of cholangioscope-based biliary exploration and stone removal by baskets, volume of water irrigation, time lengths of biliary exploration, stone removal and whole endoscopic procedure, and adverse events were compared. Results:Compared with the conventional basket group, the new basket group needed less biliary explorations (1.08±0.28 VS 2.30±0.51, t=-12.535, P<0.001), smaller volume of water irrigation (46.14±11.89 mL VS 78.62±10.09 mL, t=-13.052, P<0.001), and shorter time of biliary exploration and stone removal (9.69±2.97 min VS 12.67±2.51 min, t=-4.815, P<0.001) and whole endoscopic procedure (30.17±7.19 min VS 33.44±6.69 min, t=-2.076, P=0.041). The incidence of adverse events was not significantly different between the two groups [5.7% (2/35) VS 11.6% (5/43), χ2=0.826, P=0.363]. Conclusion:This newly designed basket can facilitate digital cholangioscope-guided non-radiation endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones with the advantages of shorter operation time, less exploration time of choledochoscopy and smaller volume of water irrigation.