Percutaneous Treatment of Biliary Strictures After Pediatric Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Biliary strictures (BS) are frequent after pediatric liver transplantation (LTx) and in spite of ongoing progress, they remain a significant cause of morbidity. In children, the majority of reconstruction is hepatico-jejunal anastomosis (HJA). The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in percutaneous transhepatic treatment of BS. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 1998 and 2014, 589 (269 living donor) pediatric LTx were performed in our institution. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of patients with HJA who developed BS and who underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). RESULTS Out of 400 patients with HJA, 35 patients developed BS. There were 27 cases (77%) of anastomotic BS (ABS) and 8 cases (23%) of multilevel BS (MBS). Ninety-two PTBD sessions (2.5 per patient) were performed, with successful outcomes in 20 cases (57%). Fifteen patients, after failed PTBD, underwent surgery which was successful in 11 cases. Overall good outcomes were achieved in 31 cases (88.5%). The most common complication of PTBD was cholangitis which occurred in 5.4% of the cases. We did not find any risk factors for PTBD failure, except for treatment occurring before 2007. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous treatment is effective and safe in BS and is recommended as a first-line approach. The majority of patients in our study required multiple interventions, however, the overall risk of complications was low. Surgery is essential in selected cases and always should be considered if PTBD fails.

Endoscopic treatment in biliary strictures after pediatric liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of the study was to assess efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment in BS after pediatric LTx. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of patients with DDA who developed BS and underwent ERCP. RESULTS: Of 189 transplanted patients with DDA, strictures developed in 30 (16%). In this subgroup, the median age at LTx was 14.7 (1.5-17.6) and follow-up period was 3.9 (1.3-11.3). ABS were in 76% and NABS in combination with ABS in 24% of patients. Overall, 95 ERCP sessions (3.0 per patient) were performed with successful outcome in 22 (73%) cases. Duration of treatment was 9.1 (1.8-24.1) months. Five patients underwent surgical revision and three patients retransplantation (10%). Risk factors of endoscopy failure were HCV or HBV infection, prolonged CIT and treatment before 2007. The most common complications after ERCP were cholangitis (8.2%) and pancreatitis (4.2%). There were worse overall prognosis and higher risk of post-ERCP complications in NABS. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is safe and effective in the majority of patients with post-transplant duct-to-duct BS, and it is currently recommended as the first-line treatment.

Outcomes and complications of self-expanding metal stent placement for malignant colonic obstruction in a single-center study.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 20% of cases of colorectal cancer are accompanied by acute colonic obstruction. While emergency colonic surgery is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, placement of a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) has been suggested as an alternative method. The SEMS placement can serve as either a definitive treatment in palliative cases or a bridge to surgery. AIM: To summarize the experience of our center in the treatment of malignant colonic obstruction using SEMS placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent a SEMS placement for colorectal stricture in the study period. The procedures were performed under fluoroscopic guidance with colonoscopic assistance, and uncovered stents were used in all patients. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 28 patients treated with SEMS placement due to malignant colonic obstruction. The majority of procedures were performed with palliative intent. The overall technical success rate was 96.5%, and clinical success was achieved in all of the successfully placed SEMSs. One fatal complication due to colonic perforation occurred. In the bridge-to-surgery group, all patients experienced tumor resection with no stoma creation. CONCLUSIONS: The SEMS placement is an optimal treatment in the vast majority of acute colonic obstruction cases. Due to the possibility of potentially fatal complications, SEMS procedures should be performed by proficient endoscopists.

MRCP Versus ERCP in the Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis in Children: Which Is the Better Choice?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the detection of chronic pancreatitis (CP)-specific changes in the pediatric population. METHODS: The study included 48 children with pancreatic disorders subjected to both endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and MRCP within a 1- to 4-month interval. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRCP in the detection of CP-specific changes were determined using ERCP as a diagnostic standard. RESULTS: Diagnostic ERCP pancreatograms were obtained in 41 (85.4%) of 48 patients and diagnostic MRCP images in all 48 children. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of MRCP were 77.1% and 90%, respectively, and its specificity and negative predictive value amounted to 50% and 27.3%, respectively. The patients with consistent results of MRCP and ERCP (ie, true-positive and true-negative cases) and individuals with incompatible results of the tests (ie, false-positive and false-negative cases) differed in terms of their median age at MRCP (14.17 vs 10.33 years) and median CP stage according to the Cambridge Scale (4 vs 2). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography provides diagnostic information equivalent to ERCP in a large percentage of pediatric patients with CP and should be used as the imaging method of choice, especially if the likelihood of therapeutic intervention is low.

Frey operation for chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum: case report and review of the literature.

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the pancreas, which increases susceptibility to recurrent pancreatitis. Usually, after failure of initial endoscopic therapies, surgical treatment combining pancreatic resection or drainage is used. The Frey procedure is used for chronic pancreatitis, but it has not been reported to be applied in an adult patient with PD-associated pancreatitis. The purpose of the paper was to describe effective treatment of this rare condition by the Frey procedure after failure of interventional endoscopic treatment. A 39-year-old female patient was initially treated for recurrent acute pancreatitis. After endoscopic diagnosis of PD, the minor duodenal papilla was incised and a plastic stent was inserted into the dorsal pancreatic duct. During the following 36 months, the patient was hospitalised several times because of recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. Thereafter, local resection of the pancreatic head combined with lateral pancreaticojejunostomy was performed with no complications. After 54 months of follow-up, the patient demonstrates abnormal glucose metabolism, with a need for enzyme supplementation, and she is free of pain. Local resection of the pancreatic head combined with lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (Frey procedure) offers a favourable outcome after failure of endoscopic papillotomy and duct stenting for pancreatitis associated with PD.

Efficiency of pancreatic duct stenting therapy in children with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a rare disease in childhood. Although ERCP is commonly performed in children, the effect of pancreatic duct stenting therapy in children with CP is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of pancreatic duct stenting in children with CP. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: National referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 208 children with CP hospitalized between 1988 and 2012. INTERVENTIONS: ERCP with pancreatic duct stenting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Results of endoscopic therapy and number of pancreatitis episodes per year before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 223 pancreatic duct stenting procedures were performed in 72 children. The median number of stent replacements was 3 (range 1-21). A statistically significant decrease in the number of pancreatitis episodes per year was observed: from 1.75 to 0.23 after endoscopic treatment (P < .05). Pancreatic duct stenting was performed more frequently in patients with hereditary pancreatitis (61.5%) and in children with CP and anatomic anomalies of the pancreatic duct (65%; P < .05). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective analysis with the assessment of adverse events based on medical history. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic duct stenting therapy is a safe and effective procedure in children with CP. This therapy should be recommended especially for children with hereditary pancreatitis and patients with anatomic anomalies of the pancreatic duct.

Treatment of large colorectal neoplasms by endoscopic submucosal dissection: a European single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has a high curative resection rate for gastrointestinal mucosal lesions, but is not used widely in Europe because of a high complication rate and a long learning curve. This study analyzed the ESD learning curve at a single European treatment center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ESD and hybrid-ESD (hESD) procedures were used to treat large colonic lesions that could not be resected in one piece by other endoscopic methods. Procedure duration and speed, and en-bloc, complete (R0) resection, and complication rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients underwent ESD (37 pure ESD, 16 hESD), most with rectal lesions (n=34, 64.2%). The mean lesion diameter was 3.7 ± 1.1 cm2 (range 2.0-7.0 cm), the median procedure duration was 70.0 min [interquartile range (IQR) 31.0-113.0 min], and the median treatment speed was 0.086 cm2/min (IQR 0.055-0.152). En-bloc and R0 resection rates were 86.5% (32/37) and 81.1% (30/37), respectively. Procedure speed increased significantly after about 25 cases (P=0.0313). The median hESD procedure treatment speed was 0.159 cm/min (n=16, IQR 0.094-0.193), which was better than with classical ESD (P=0.04). The hESD en-bloc and R0 resection rates were comparable to those of classical ESD (P>0.05). The only complication was bleeding, 5.7% (3/53); no perforation occurred. Recurrence was detected during follow-up (median 30.0 months, IQR 12-48) in one patient (1.7%). CONCLUSION: ESD is useful and safe for resection of large colorectal polyps, and procedure speed increased considerably after 25 procedures. hESD was faster than ESD, with a high therapeutic resection rate.

Narrow­band imaging and white­light endoscopy for detection of colorectal polyps: a randomized study.

INTRODUCTION: Narrow­band imaging (NBI) is a new, promising technique that might be helpful in the detection of colorectal polyps during colonoscopy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the usefulness of NBI with white­light endoscopy (WLE) for the detection of polyps as well as to determine the distribution of missed polyps. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 253 patients were included, in whom colonoscopy was performed twice: 126 patients underwent 2 procedures using white light, while in 127 patients NBI was used for the second procedure. The number and location of colorectal polyps identified during the second colonoscopy were recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the rates of detected polyps, adenomas, and hyperplastic polyps between the WLE and NBI groups (38 vs. 48, P <0.2051; 11 vs. 19, P < 0.12; 27 vs. 29, P <0.4647, respectively). A half of all missed adenomas (n = 15) were found in the cecum and the ascending colon. CONCLUSIONS: WLE and NBI seem to be equally effective in identifying missed adenomas and hyperplastic polyps during colonoscopy. Repeated endoscopy of the cecum and ascending colon may significantly increase the number of detected adenomas.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of neoplastic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

AIM: To investigate the indications, resection rate, and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for neoplastic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract at a European referral center. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the ESD procedures performed in our center for mucosal neoplastic and submucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. The duration of the procedure, en bloc and complete (R0) resection rates, and complication rates were evaluated. Variables were reported as mean ± SD or simple proportions. Univariate analysis and comparisons of procedure times and resection rates were performed using Mann-Whitney U tests, or χ(2) tests for dichotomous variables. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2011, ESD was performed in a total of 103 patients (46.7% male, mean age 64.0 ± 12.7 years). The indications for the procedure were epithelial tumor (n = 54), submucosal tumor (n = 42), or other (n = 7). The total en bloc resection rate was 90.3% (93/103) and R0 resection rate 80.6% (83/103). The median speed of the procedure was 15.0 min/cm(2). The complete resection rate was lower for submucosal tumors arising from the muscle layer (68%, 15/22, P < 0.05). Resection speed was quicker for submucosal tumors localized in the submucosal layer than for lesions arising from the muscularis propria layer (8.1 min/cm(2) vs 17.9 min/cm(2), P < 0.05). The R0 resection rate and speed were better in the last 24 mo (90.1%, 49/54 and 15.3 min/cm(2)) compared to the first 3 years of treatment (73.5%, 36/49, P < 0.05 and 22.0 min/cm(2), P < 0.05). Complications occurred in 14.6% (n = 15) of patients, including perforation in 5.8% (n = 6), pneumoperitoneum in 3.9% (n = 4), delayed bleeding in 1.9% (n = 2), and other in 2.9% (n = 3). Only one patient with delayed perforation required surgical treatment. During the mean follow-up of 26 ± 15.3 mo, among patients with R0 resection, recurrence occurred in one patient (1.2%). CONCLUSION: ESD is an effective and safe method for resection of neoplastic lesions with low recurrence. Speed and the R0 resection rate increased after 50 procedures.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for treatment of gastric subepithelial tumors (with video).

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a well-accepted method for removing superficial mucosal tumors; however, there is limited data on the use of this method for removing subepithelial tumors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and outcome of ESD for gastric subepithelial tumors and determine factors related to treatment success. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. SETTING: Single tertiary academic center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: From April 2007 to November 2010, 37 patients with gastric subepithelial tumors were treated with ESD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Macroscopically and microscopically complete en block resection rate (R0), complication rate, and endosonographic features predictive of R0 resection. RESULTS: The median tumor diameter was 25.0 mm, (range 10-60 mm, IQR 17-37). The overall rate of R0 resections was 81.1% (30/37, 95%CI: 61.8-90.2%), including 100% (15/15, 95%CI: 78.2-100.0%) of tumors from the submucosa and 68.2% (15/22, 95%CI: 45.1-86.1%) of tumors from the muscularis propria. Seventeen patients had a final diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The severe complication (perforation) rate was 5.4% (2/37, 95%CI: 0.0-9.5%). One patient required surgery; the other was treated conservatively. No recurrence was observed in patients with R0 resections at a median follow up of 21.0 months (IQR 11-35). Successful R0 resections were predicted by the observation of no, or only narrow, tumor connections with the underlying muscle layer during EUS (OR=35.0, 95%CI: 3.7-334.4, p=0.001). LIMITATIONS: Single-center, retrospective analysis, short follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is an effective and relatively safe method for removing gastric subepithelial tumors. Endoscopic ultrasonography findings can predict complete tumor resections.