Alterations of the Bile Microbiome in Recurrent Common Bile Duct Stone.

OBJECTIVE: Common bile duct stone (CBDS) recurrence is associated with bile microbial structure. This study explored the structure of bile microbiome in patients with recurrent CBDS, and its relationship with the recurrence of CBDS. METHODS: Patients with recurrent CBDS (recurrence group) and controls without CBDS (control group) requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were prospectively included. The control group was noncholelithiasis patients, mainly including benign and malignant biliary stenosis. Bile samples were collected, and bile microbiome structure was analyzed by the 16S rRNA encoding gene (V3-V4). RESULTS: A total of 27 patients in the recurrence group and 19 patients in the control group were included. The diversity of bile microbiome in the recurrence group was significantly lower than that in the control group (Shannon index: 2.285 vs. 5.612, P = 0.001). In terms of bile microbial distribution, patients with recurrent CBDS had significantly higher Proteobacteria (86.72% vs. 64.92%, P = 0.037), while Bacteroidetes (3.16% vs. 8.53%, P = 0.001) and Actinobacteria (0.29% vs. 6.74%, P = 0.001) are significantly lower compared with the control group at the phylum level. At the genus level, the recurrence group was mainly the Escherichia, and there was a variety of more evenly distributed microbiome in the control group, with significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The diversity of bile microbiome in patients with recurrent CBDS is lower. Patients with recurrent CBDS may have bile microbial imbalance, which may be related to the repeated formation of CBDS.

Ectopic papilla of Vater in duodenum bulb: A hospital-based study.

The major papilla of Vater can be ectopically present in the stomach, pyloric canal, duodenal bulb, and third or fourth portion of the duodenum. In this study, we determined the clinical significance of ectopic papilla of Vater by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP).A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 6133 patients receiving ERCP from 1988 to 2011. The diagnosis was confirmed if both the common bile duct (CBD) and the main pancreatic duct (PD) drained into the same opening, either by ERCP or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.Eight patients with major papilla of Vater in the duodenal bulb were identified among 6133 patients receiving ERCP from 1988 to 2011, with an incidence rate of 0.13%. The mean age was 67 years and patients were predominantly male. Duodenal bulb deformity was noted in all patients and three of them had shallow gastric and/or duodenal ulcers. Hook-shaped CBD configuration was seen only in half of our cases. Three patients with CBD stones were treated successfully after endoscopic sphincterotomy or papillary balloon dilation.Ectopic orifice of papilla is a rare finding of ERCP. Opacification of both the CBD and main PD from the same opening is an essential criterion for diagnosing an ectopic papilla of Vater in the duodenal bulb.

Risk Factors and Nomogram for Common Bile Duct Stricture in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Cohort of 2153 Patients.

GOALS: To identify the risk factors and develop nomograms for common bile duct (CBD) stricture in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. BACKGROUND: CBD stricture is a common complication in CP and has a variable clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic to overt jaundice and cholangitis. STUDY: Patients with CP admitted to Changhai Hospital (Shanghai, China) from January 2000 to December 2013 were enrolled. Cumulative rates of CBD stricture after onset and diagnosis of CP were calculated. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to the training and validation cohort. On the basis of the training cohort, risk factors for CBD stricture and symptomatic CBD stricture were identified through Cox proportional hazards regression model, and nomograms was developed, respectively. Internal and external validations were performed based on the training and validation cohort, respectively. RESULTS: With a total of 2153 patients, the median duration of follow-up was 7.0 years. CBD strictures were detected in 340 (15.8%) patients, whereas 159 of them were symptomatic. Male gender, age at onset of CP, smoking, body mass index, and morphology of main pancreatic duct were identified risk factors for CBD stricture development. Age at onset of CP, body mass index, and type of pain were identified risk factors for symptomatic CBD stricture development. Both nomograms achieved good concordance indexes with well-fitted calibration curves. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram achieved an individualized prediction of symptomatic CBD stricture development in CP patients. It may help the early diagnosis and intervention of symptomatic CBD stricture and reduce the rates of severe adverse events.

Influence of periampullary diverticulum on the occurrence of pancreaticobiliary diseases and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Periampullary diverticulum (PAD) is frequently encountered in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of PAD with pancreaticobiliary diseases as well as the impact of PAD on the technical success of ERCP and different methods of bile duct stone extraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1489 cases of patients with PAD were identified from 6390 patients who underwent ERCP. These patients were compared with 1500 controls without PAD in terms of biliary stone formation, technical success, and complications of ERCP. RESULTS: Patients with PAD had increased prevalence of bile duct stones, gallstones, and cholangitis (P<0.01). Successful cannulation rates were similar in the PAD and the control group (98.59 vs. 99.07%, P=0.225). The incidence of complications did not differ between the PAD and the control group. Successful stone removal rate of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was lower in the PAD group than in the control group (83.53 vs. 94.31%, P=0.005). In patients with PAD, the rate of successful stone removal was lower in the EST group than in the endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) and EPBD combined with limited EST (ESBD) group. The rates of complications were similar among different treatments (EST, EPBD, or ESBD) in patients with PAD. CONCLUSION: PAD is associated with bile duct stones, gallstones, and cholangitis. In addition, PAD should not be considered a barrier to a successful cannulation. Moreover, EST is less effective than EPBD and ESBD in patients with PAD, whereas EST, EPBD, and ESBD are equally safe in patients with PAD.

Impact of endoscopic papillary large-balloon dilation on sphincter of Oddi function: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (≤8 mm in diameter) preserves sphincter of Oddi (SO) function. However, it is still unknown whether papillary function is preserved after endoscopic papillary large-balloon dilation (EPLBD, ≥12 mm in diameter). We investigated SO function after EPLBD with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) by endoscopic manometry, up to 1 year after the procedure. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized study involving patients with bile duct stones ≥12 mm. Eighty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned randomly to either EPLBD alone or EST with EPLBD, and endoscopic manometric studies were performed. The primary outcome was comparison of the manometric data between the 2 groups and within each group both 1 week and 1 year after the procedure. RESULTS: One week after EPLBD alone and EST with EPLBD, the basal pressure of SO dropped from 30.4 (8.2) to 6.4 (8.4) mm Hg (P < .001) and 29.5 (18.9) to 2.9 (3.6) mm Hg (P < .001), respectively. SO function was not recovered at 1 year; the manometric measurements were similar to those taken at the 1-week time point in both groups. Similar outcomes were obtained in patients with EPLBD alone compared with those with EST and EPLBD, including the initial stone clearance rate (95.2% vs 97.7%, P = .612), the frequency of mechanical lithotripsy (21.4% vs 13.6%), and overall adverse events (11.9% vs 13.6%, P = 1.0) including the rate of pancreatitis after the procedure (7.1% vs 11.4%, P = .714). During an overall median follow-up of 17.8 months, the recurrence rate of bile duct stones was 16.7% in patients who underwent EPLBD alone and 15.9% in patients who underwent EST with EPLBD (P = .924). CONCLUSIONS: Both EPLBD alone and EST + EPLBD resulted in persistent and comparable loss of SO function after 1 year. EPLBD alone has similar efficacy and safety to those of EST with EPLBD with respect to removal of large stones.

Perforation of the Papilla of Vater in Wire-Guided Cannulation.

Background. WGC in ERCP is considered a safe technique, although rare complications can occur. One unique complication of WGC is the perforation of the papilla of Vater by the guidewire. Subjects and Methods. Of 2032 patients who underwent ERCP at our department between January 2010 and December 2014, we selected 208 patients who underwent WGC for naïve papilla as subjects. A detailed examination of patients in whom a perforation occurred was conducted, and risk factors for perforations were investigated. Results. The perforation was observed in 7 of 208 patients (3.4%). All patients recovered with conservative treatment without the need for surgery. The perforation rate was significantly higher in the patients with juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula than those without diverticula (12.5% versus 0.6%, p < 0.001). Cannulation of the bile duct was ultimately achieved in 5 of 7 patients; PSP was performed for 4 of these patients. Conclusion. Caution must be exercised when dealing with patients who have a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula because they are at higher risk of perforations. Because these are small perforations made by a wire, most of them heal with conservative treatment. However, perforations can make cannulation difficult, and PSP may be useful for deep cannulation.

Caliber of the common bile duct: effect of cholecystectomy and other factors in a ultrasonographic study of 8534 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of different factors impacting the caliber of the common bile duct (CBD) and a comparison of maximum extrahepatic bile duct caliber in patients with and without a history of cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was undertaken of 8534 patients (4480 females; 4054 males; average age: 59.2±18.0 years) with sonographic documentation of bile duct caliber. Maximum intra- and extrahepatic bile duct diameters were studied. The normal maximum diameter of the extrahepatic bile duct was defined as 7 mm. In patients who had undergone prior cholecystectomy, a maximum bile duct diameter<10 mm was considered normal. RESULTS: The average maximum diameter of the CBD amounted to 5.3±3.0 mm for the overall collective. In patients who had undergone prior cholecystectomy, maximum CBD diameters in the normal range (<7 mm) were documented in 55%, while larger diameters (>7 mm) were observed in 45%. In the collective of patients without prior cholecystectomy, CBD diameters in the normal range (<7 mm) were found in 81%, with larger diameters observed in only 18.4% of patients. In both subgroups, there was a significant association between age and bile duct diameter (for those with prior cholecystectomy, p=0.0003; without prior cholecystectomy, p<0.0001). No statistically significant influence on CBD diameter was observed for either prior cholecystectomy (p=0.2116) or time interval since cholecystectomy (p=0.3537). Females, both with and without a history of prior cholecystectomy, showed a 1.4-1.5-fold higher risk of exhibiting a CBD diameter>7 mm (for those with prior cholecystectomy, p=0.0485; without prior cholecystectomy, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a positive correlation between age and CBD diameter. There was no statistically significant relationship between CBD diameter and prior cholecystectomy, postoperative interval and BMI.

Management of ampullary neoplasms: A tailored approach between endoscopy and surgery.

Ampullary neoplasms, although rare, present distinctive clinical and pathological features from other neoplastic lesions of the periampullary region. No specific guidelines about their management are available, and they are often assimilated either to biliary tract or to pancreatic carcinomas. Due to their location, they tend to become symptomatic at an earlier stage compared to pancreatic malignancies. This behaviour results in a higher resectability rate at diagnosis. From a pathological point of view they arise in a zone of transition between two different epithelia, and, according to their origin, may be divided into pancreatobiliary or intestinal type. This classification has a substantial impact on prognosis. In most cases, pancreaticoduodenectomy represents the treatment of choice when there is an overt or highly suspicious malignant behaviour. The rate of potentially curative resection is as high as 90% and in high-volume centres an acceptable rate of complications is reported. In selected situations less invasive approaches, such as ampullectomy, have been advocated, although there are some concerns mainly because of a higher recurrence rate associated with limited resections for invasive carcinomas. Importantly, these methods have the drawback of not including an appropriate lymphadenectomy, while nodal involvement has been shown to be frequently present also in apparently low-risk carcinomas. Endoscopic ampullectomy is now the procedure of choice in case of low up to high-grade dysplasia providing a proper assessment of the T status by endoscopic ultrasound. In the present paper the evidence currently available is reviewed, with the aim of offering an updated framework for diagnosis and management of this specific type of disease.

Determinants of long-term complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy are infections and high risk factors of bile duct and not sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST), long-term complications of EST are receiving increasingly more attention, but the mechanisms have not been sufficiently elucidated. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between long-term complications of EST and sphincter of Oddi (SO) function and other associated risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 139 patients with choledocholithiasis who had undergone EST were consecutively enrolled, and divided into two groups: patients with long-term complications (LC group) and patients without complications (control group). Before and 2 years after EST, sphincter of Oddi manometry and bacterial culture were performed to evaluate the functional change in SO and infection of the biliary duct. RESULTS: With an average follow-up duration of 45.8 months, 25 (18.0%) patients developed long-term complications (LC group). Compared with before EST, contraction amplitude and frequency of SO in both groups were markedly reduced after EST, but the changes were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). The rates of bacterial infection in the biliary tract increased significantly in the LC group compared with the control group after EST: 57.1% (12/21) versus 32.7% (35/107), respectively (P=0.034), although these were similar before EST in both the groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that cholecystolithiasis, common bile duct diameter 15 mm or more, and maximum stone diameter 15 mm or more were major risk factors for long-term complications. CONCLUSION: Weakened SO function is not a decisive factor for long-term complications of EST, which were mainly influenced by biliary tract infection and high risk factors of the biliary tract.

Sphincter of Oddi disorder (SOD): Is it necessary to investigate and treat?

Sphincter of Oddi disorder (SOD) is a part of functional gastrointestinal disorder which is a non-calculous obstructive disorder. This disease is more common in middle-aged women with a prevalence of around 1.5% but in patients with post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) the prevalence rate is markedly higher (9-55%). This high variability maybe attributed to lack of uniformity in patient selection criteria, definition of SOD, and the diagnostic method used. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom occurring due to obstruction at the SO leading to ductal hypertension, ischemia from spastic contraction and hypersensitivity of papilla. Clinical diagnosis of SOD can be achieved by Rome III criteria. Various classifications are used (Milwaukee billiary and modified Milwaukee group classification) for billiary and pancreatic SOD. Not a single non-invasive method is diagnostic. Sphincter of Oddimanometry (SOM) is the gold standard method for evaluating and deciding the management of an SOD patient. The symptomatic relief rate varies from 55% to 95%, so risk-benefit ratio should be evaluated with each patient.

The common duct dilates after cholecystectomy and with advancing age: reality or myth?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in the common duct diameter on sonography over time in patients with and without cholecystectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the common duct diameter, central biliary dilatation, and interval change in 1079 patients who underwent sonography at least 2 years apart over a 6-year period. A board-certified radiologist, blinded to clinical and laboratory data, measured the duct diameter. A total of 893 patients (568 female and 325 male) were divided into 3 groups: group 1, remote cholecystectomy before sonography (mean, 9.7 years before sonography; n = 117); group 2, interval cholecystectomy between the first and second sonographic examinations (n = 56); and group 3, no cholecystectomy (n = 720). All groups were stratified by age, and group 3 was also stratified by the absence (n = 528) or presence (n=192) of gallstones. RESULTS: Duct diameters at baseline and follow-up averaged 4.5 and 5.2, 3.6 and 4.9, and 3.5 and 3.9 mm in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Group 1 ducts were larger at baseline than in the other groups (P < .001). At follow-up, group 2 ducts showed a greater interval diameter increase than the other groups (P < .001). In a subanalysis of each group based on age, there was a mild increase in duct size with increasing age, although not clinically significant and within normal limits. In group 3 patients who never had gallstones, there was a significant small increase in duct size over decades (P < .001). The baseline duct sizes for patients with gallstones were not significantly different from those who never had gallstones (P = .15). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with remote cholecystectomy have larger common duct diameters than those with no or interval cholecystectomy. Most asymptomatic patients with or without cholecystectomy have a normal common duct diameter.

Ectopic pancreas presenting as periampullary tumor with obstructive jaundice and pruritus is a rare diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. A case report.

CONTEXT: Ectopic pancreatic rest is an uncommon condition resulting in diverse clinical and pathological presentation. It results from altered development of two primitive pancreatic buds that fuse to form the uncinate-head and body-tail of normal gland. Ectopic pancreas is an anomaly where an ectopic rest develops at a place away from the normal site. CASE REPORT: We describe a 48-year-old male patient who presented with progressive jaundice and pruritus. He was established to have a periampullary mass highly suggestive of malignancy, for which he undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, histology showed ectopic pancreatic tissue in the periampullary region. CONCLUSION: This case highlights importance of preoperative histological diagnosis of periampullary tumors to avoid morbid surgical procedure in the form pancreaticoduodenectomy. Ectopic pancreas should include differential diagnosis of periampullary tumors.

Pancreas divisum in pancreaticobiliary maljunction in children.

PURPOSE: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is defined as a congenital anomaly in which the main pancreatic and common bile ducts are joined outside the duodenal wall and forms the long common channel. Although PBM and pancreas divisum are congenital anomalies causing pancreatitides, distinct data about the incidence of pancreas divisum in pediatric PBM has not been reported to date. The present study was designed to reveal the incidence and clinical features of pancreas divisum in cases of PBM. METHODS: The configurations of pancreatic ducts of 78 pediatric cases of PBM were assessed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and/or intraoperative cholangiopancreatography. Additional cannulation of the minor papilla was performed when the entire length of the main pancreatic duct was not detected with cannulation of the major papilla alone. RESULTS: Clear pancreatography was obtained in 71 cases out of 78 cases of PBM. Abnormal fusion of the pancreatic duct was detected in 1 case (1.4%) with complete pancreas divisum. This case was asymptomatic preoperatively and for 10 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Pancreas divisum exists in 1.4% of PBM. Although pancreas divisum is one of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis in PBM, is rarely associated with PBM and not always causes pancreatitis.

Prevalence of type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction in a tertiary care hospital of North India.

CONTEXT: Anomalous junction of pancreaticobiliary ducts is a condition in which the pancreatic duct and the bile duct join outside the duodenal wall with a long common channel. The most accepted classification of various types of anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction is the new Komi classification. The majority of cases of type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction are reported from Japan and very seldom from outside Japan. This study evaluates the prevalence of type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction in the Indian population. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the prevalence of type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction revealed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) examinations carried out between 1985 and 2005. DESIGN: ERCP records of 3,827 patients satisfying inclusion criteria between 1985 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Patients demonstrating anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction were identified and classified according to the new Komi classification. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients had anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (2.6% of all ERCP). Only 2 patients (2.0% of all anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction cases and 0.05% of all ERCP examinations) had type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction. Both cases were associated with choledochal cysts and chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Type III anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction is a rare occurrence in Indian patients as compared to Japanese patients in whom the majority of cases are reported. This demographic variation is still unexplained.

Operative strategy can reduce the incidence of major bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Major bile duct injury (BDI) rates remain in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 per cent for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The dominant surgical technique worldwide continues to be the "infundibular" technique of dissection that was popularized in the early 1990s. Proponents of the "critical view of safety" (CV) technique have suggested that most of these injuries are avoidable. The objective of our study was to determine whether routine use of the CV technique reduced the observed/expected single-institution rate of major BDI over a 5-year period in a teaching hospital. All patients (n = 3042) who underwent LC for any indication at one institution over a 60-month period were identified by database search. Major BDI was identified by Common Procedural Terminology codes indicating operative repair and confirmed by review of medical records. One patient sustained a transection-excision of the common duct requiring hepaticoduodenostomy. Based on published data, the observed BDI rate was one in nine to one in 15 of the expected rate. This represents an order-of-magnitude improvement in the safety of LC at a single institution where the majority of cases were performed by residents. We suggest that the "critical view" technique should be widely adopted.

Randomized trial comparing needle-knife and pull-sphincterotome techniques for pancreatic sphincterotomy in high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Accepted techniques for pancreatic sphincterotomy include use of a needle knife or a pull sphincterotome to ablate the sphincter. There are no prospective studies comparing outcomes between both techniques. AIM: Compare post-ERCP pancreatitis rates among high-risk patients undergoing pancreatic sphincterotomy with the pull-sphincterotome versus needle-knife technique. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with pancreatic sphincter hypertension at sphincter of Oddi manometry were randomized to undergo pancreatic sphincterotomy with a pull sphincterotome (followed by pancreatic stenting) or a needle knife over a pancreatic stent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: To compare post-ERCP pancreatitis rates between the pull-sphincterotome and needle-knife groups. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were randomized. Patient demographics and the incidence of patient and procedure risk factors for pancreatitis were similar in both treatment groups. The trial was stopped early after an interim analysis showed that post-ERCP pancreatitis was significantly higher among patients undergoing sphincterotomy with a pull sphincterotome than a needle knife (7/24 = 29% [95% CI 13-51] vs 0/24 = 0% [95% CI 0-12]; P = .01). No other complications were encountered. At a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 6-18 months), 60% of patients had complete symptom relief, 15% partial symptom relief, and 25% recurrent symptoms. Reintervention rates and clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the 2 groups. LIMITATIONS: Short duration of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic sphincterotomy is safer in high-risk patients when performed with a needle knife over a pancreatic stent.

Mirizzi syndrome and gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication of gallstone disease (GSD). The association of Mirizzi syndrome and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is not well understood. We report our experience of gallbladder carcinoma in patients with Mirizzi syndrome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the records of patients with Mirizzi syndrome who underwent cholecystectomy at a tertiary care hospital with special emphasis on patients who were found to harbor GBC. Patients with Mirizzi syndrome with associated GBC were compared with those who had Mirizzi syndrome alone and those with uncomplicated GSD. RESULTS: Out of 4,800 cholecystectomies, Mirizzi syndrome was found in 133 (2.8%). Seven (5.3%) patients with Mirizzi syndrome had associated GBC, as compared to only 1% in patients with GSD. GBC was detected on final histology after cholecystectomy in 5 patients, and was detected preoperatively and intraoperatively in 1 patient each. Patients with Mirizzi syndrome with associated GBC were older (60 vs 50 years; P