Transpancreatic precut papillotomy versus double-guidewire technique in difficult biliary cannulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and study aims Approximately 11 % of biliary cannulations are considered difficult. The double guidewire (DGW-T) and transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) are two useful techniques when difficult cannulation exists and the main pancreatic duct is unintentionally accessed. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and security of both DGW-T and TPS techniques in difficult biliary cannulation. Methods We conducted a systematic review in different databases, such as PubMed, OVID, Medline, and Cochrane Databases. Were included all RCT which showed a comparison between TPS and DGW in difficult biliary cannulation. Endpoints computed were successful cannulation rate, median cannulation time, and adverse events rate. Results Four studies were selected (4 RCTs). These studies included 260 patients. The mean age was 64.79 ± 12.99 years. Of the patients, 53.6 % were men and 46.4 % were women. The rate of successful cannulation was 93.3 % in the TPS group and 79.4 % in the DGW-T group (P = 0.420). The rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) was lower in patients who had undergone TPS than DGW-T (TPS: 8.9 % vs DGW-T: 22.2 %, P = 0.02). The mean cannulation time was 14.7 ± 9.4 min in the TPS group and 15.1 ± 7.4 min with DGW-T (P = 0.349). Conclusions TPS and DGW are two useful techniques in patients with difficult cannulation. They both have a high rate of successful cannulation; however, the PEP was higher with DGW-T than with TPS.

Propensity score-matched analysis for comparing transpancreatic sphincterotomy and needle-knife precut in difficult biliary cannulation

Transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) can be an alternative approach of difficult biliary access in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TPS compared to needle-knife precut (NKP), considering the early and late outcomes of both techniques. The prospectively collected clinical data, ERCP procedure findings, and outcomes of patients who underwent ERCP with difficult biliary access in our hospital from July 2016 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the applied secondary cannulation techniques. The propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to reduce the potential selection bias and unify the preventive measures of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in both groups. A total of 125 patients were enrolled in this study, with 54.4% male and a mean age of 63.29 ± 16.33 years. NKP group included 82 patients, and 43 patients received TPS. Prophylactic pancreatic stents were placed in all patients with TPS and 58.5% of patients with NKP. After applying PSM, the cohort was comprised to 86 patients with 43 patients in each TPS and NKP groups. Successful selective cannulation was achieved by 95.3% using TPS and by 93% using NKP. The mean procedure time was shorter in the TPS group without significant difference. Compared to NKP, using TPS did not affect the rate of PEP. Moreover, TPS was associated with less frequent post-ERCP bleeding and perforation, but without significant differences (all p > 0.05). Patients who received TPS or NKP had no symptoms related to papillary stenosis or chronic pancreatitis during the follow-up period. In conclusion, using TPS in difficult cannulation cases was useful to achieve success cannulation with an acceptable PEP rate and less frequent post-ERCP bleeding and perforation compared to NKP. There were no symptoms related to papillary stenosis or chronic pancreatitis during the follow-up period.

Biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiography: How to tackle the difficult papilla

Background: In the setting of a naïve papilla, biliary cannulation is a key step in successfully performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Difficult biliary cannulation (DBC) is associated with an increased risk of post-ERCP-pancreatitis and failure of the whole procedure. Summary: Recommendations for biliary cannulation can be divided in (a) measures to reduce the likelihood of a difficult papilla-situation a priori and (b) rescue techniques in case the endoscopist is actually facing DBC. (a): careful inspection of the papillary anatomy and optimizing its accessibility by scope-positioning is fundamental. A sphincterotome in combination with a soft-tip hydrophilic guide-wire rather than a standard catheter with a standard guide-wire should be used. (b): The most important rescue techniques are needle-knife precut, double-guidewire technique and transpancreatic sphincterotomy. In few cases, anterograde techniques are needed. To this regard, the EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) followed by rendezvous is increasingly used as an alternative to percutaneous-transhepatic biliary drainage. Key Messages: Biliary cannulation can be accomplished with alternative retrograde or less frequently by salvage-anterograde techniques, once conventional direct cannulation attempts have failed. Considering recent favorable data for the early use of transpancreatic sphincterotomy, an adopted version of the 2016 European-Society-for-Gastrointestinal-Endoscopy (ESGE)-algorithm on biliary cannulation is proposed.

Comparison between transpancreatic sphincterotomy and needle-knife fistulotomy in difficulty biliary access, a retrospective study in Taiwan

Background Selective deep biliary cannulation is the first and the most important step before further biliary therapy. Transpancreatic sphincterotomy(TPS), and needle knife fistulotomy(NKF) were commonly used in patients with difficult cannulation, but few studies compare the outcome between TPS and NKF.Methods A total of 78 patients who met the criteria of difficult cannulation in the National Taiwan University hospital from October 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline demographics, success rate of biliary cannulation, and the rate of adverse events were assessed.Results 31 patients and 47 patients underwent TPS and NKF for difficult biliary access, respectively. The characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, but patients in TPS group had more frequent pancreatic duct cannulation. Bile duct cannulation was successful in 23 patients (74.2 %) in the TPS group and 39 (83.0%) in the NKF group (P=0.34). There was no difference between the TPS and NKF in the rate of adverse events, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (16.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.17), and hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.35). No perforation occurred.Conclusions Both TPS and NKF have good biliary access rate in patient with difficult cannulation. TPS has acceptable successful rate and similar complication rate, compared with NKF.

Prospective Evaluation of Transpancreatic Sphincterotomy Comparing to Needle-knife Precut in Difficult Biliary Cannulation: Short-and Long-term Outcomes

Background/AimsTranspancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) can be an alternative approach of biliary access in difficult cannulation cases. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of TPS compared to needle-knife precut (NKP), considering the late consequences of both techniques.MethodsA total of 122 enrolled patients have been divided into three groups based on the applied secondary cannulation techniques. Selective cannulation success, ERCP procedure findings, and immediate adverse events were compared between groups. We investigated the long-term outcomes during six-month after the procedure.ResultsSuccessful selective cannulation was achieved in 92.9% with TPS similarly to other groups. The mean procedure time was shorter in the TPS group without significant difference. Using TPS did not affect the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) with less frequent post-ERCP bleeding and perforation after TPS compared to NKP, without significant difference. Patients who received TPS, NKP, or both had no symptoms related to papillary stenosis or chronic pancreatitis during the follow-up period.ConclusionsUsing TPS was useful to achieve success cannulation in difficult cases with an acceptable PEP rate. Furthermore, it was associated with reducing bleeding and perforation rates comparing with NKP and no differences related to the long term consequences within the follow-up period.

Comparison between transpancreatic sphincterotomy and needle-knife fistulotomy in difficulty biliary access, a retrospective study in Taiwan

Background Selective deep biliary cannulation is the first and the most important step before further biliary therapy. Transpancreatic sphincterotomy(TPS), and needle knife fistulotomy(NKF) were commonly used in patients with difficult cannulation, but few studies compare the outcome between TPS and NKF. Aims To investigate the success rate and complications of NKF and TPS in patients with difficult biliary access. Methods A total of 78 patients who met the criteria of difficult cannulation in the National Taiwan University hospital from October 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline demographics, success rate of biliary cannulation, and the rate of adverse events were assessed. Results 31 patients and 47 patients underwent TPS and NKF for difficult biliary access, respectively. The characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, but patients in TPS group had more frequent pancreatic duct cannulation. Bile duct cannulation was successful in 23 patients (74.2 %) in the TPS group and 39 (83.0%) in the NKF group (P=0.34). There was no difference between the TPS and NKF in the rate of adverse events, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (16.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.17), and hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.35). No perforation occurred. Conclusions Both TPS and NKF have good biliary access rate in patient with difficult cannulation. TPS has acceptable successful rate and similar complication rate, compared with NKF.

Comparison between transpancreatic sphincterotomy and needle-knife fistulotomy in difficulty biliary access, a retrospective study in Taiwan

Background Selective deep biliary cannulation is the first and the most important step before further biliary therapy. Transpancreatic sphincterotomy(TPS), and needle knife fistulotomy(NKF) were commonly used in patients with difficult cannulation, but few studies compare the outcome between TPS and NKF. Aims To investigate the success rate and complications of NKF and TPS in patients with difficult biliary access. Methods A total of 78 patients who met the criteria of difficult cannulation in the National Taiwan University hospital from October 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline demographics, succesfs rate of biliary cannulation, and the rate of adverse events were assessed. Results 31 patients and 47 patients underwent TPS and NKF for difficult biliary access, respectively. The characteristics of the 2 groups were similar, but patients in TPS group had more frequent pancreatic duct cannulation. Bile duct cannulation was successful in 23 patients (74.2 %) in the TPS group and 39 (83.0%) in the NKF group (P=0.34). There was no difference between the TPS and NKF in the rate of adverse events, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (16.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.17), and hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.35). No perforation occurred. Conclusions Both TPS and NKF have good biliary access rate in patient with difficult cannulation. TPS has acceptable successful rate and similar complication rate, compared with NKF.