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Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is technically challenging. We describe our multicenter experience using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) to create an endoscopic ultrasound-guided transgastric fistula (EUS-TG) to facilitate peroral ERCP in these patients. Thirteen patients with RYGB who underwent EUS-TG at three tertiary centers were included. EUS was used to guide puncture of the excluded stomach from the gastric pouch or jejunum; a LAMS was placed across the transgastric fistula. ERCP was performed via a duodenoscope passed through the LAMS. The technical success of EUS-TG was 100 % (13/13). ERCP through the LAMS was successful and clinical success was achieved in all patients. LAMS dislodgement during ERCP occurred in two patients and the stent was successfully repositioned without sequelae. After removal of the LAMS, the fistula was closed in 92 % of patients, either by endoscopic closure devices or argon plasma coagulation. None of the patients experienced procedure-related adverse events. EUS-TG is an effective and safe method of accessing the excluded stomach and performing ERCP in patients with RYGB.

Background and study aims: How enteroscopy-assisted ERCP (e-ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) compare in patients with surgically altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy is currently unknown. The aims of this study were to compare efficacy and safety of both techniques and study predictors of these outcomes. Patients and methods: This was an international, multicenter comparative cohort study at 10 tertiary centers. Outcomes data included technical success (biliary access with cholangiography and stent placement [when indicated]), clinical success (resolution of biliary obstruction) and adverse events (AEs) (graded according to the ASGE lexicon). Results: A total of 98 patients underwent EUS-BD (n = 49) or e-ERCP (n = 49). Technical success was achieved in 48 (98 %) patients in the EUS-BD group as compared to 32 (65.3 %) patients in the e-ERCP group (OR 12.48, P = 0.001). Clinical success was attained in 88 % of patients in EUS-BD group as compared to 59.1 % in the e-ERCP group (OR 2.83, P = 0.03). Procedural time was significantly shorter in the EUS-BD group (55 min vs 95 min, P < 0.0001). AEs occurred more commonly in the EUS-BD group (20 % vs. 4 %, P = 0.01). However, the majority (90 %) of AEs were mild/moderate. Length of stay was significantly longer in the EUS-BD group (6.6 d vs. 2.4 d, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: EUS-BD can be performed with a higher degree of clinical efficacy and shorter procedure time than e-ERCP in patients with surgically-altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy. Whether or not this approach should be first-line therapy in this patient population is highly dependent on the indication for the procedure, the patient’s anatomy, and local practice and expertise.

Background and aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has emerged as an alternative to traditional radiologic and surgical drainage procedures after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, prospective multicenter data are lacking. The aims of this study were to prospectively assess the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of EUS-BD in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction. Patients and methods: Consecutive patients at 12 tertiary centers (5 US, 5 European, 1 Asian, 1 South American) with malignant distal biliary obstruction and failed ERCP underwent EUS-BD. Technical success was defined as successful stent placement in the desired position. Clinical success was defined as a reduction in bilirubin by 50 % at 2 weeks or to below 3 mg/dL at 4 weeks. Adverse events were prospectively tracked and graded according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) lexicon’s severity grading system. Overall survival and duration of stent patency were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: A total of 96 patients (mean age 66 years, female 45 %, pancreatic cancer 55 %) underwent EUS-BD. Stent placement (technical success) was achieved in 92 (95.8 %) patients (metallic stent 84, plastic stent 8). Mean procedure time was 40 minutes. Clinical success was achieved in 86 (89.5 %) patients. A total of 10 (10.5 %) adverse events occurred: pneumoperitoneum (n = 2), sheared wire (n = 1), bleeding (n = 1), bile leak (n = 3), cholangitis (n = 2), and unintentional perforation (n = 1); 4 graded as mild, 4 moderate, 1 severe, and 1 fatal (due to perforation). A total of 38 (44 %) patients died of disease progression during the study period. The median patient survival was 167 days (95 %CI 112 – 221) days. The 6-month stent patency rate was 95 % (95 %CI 94.94 – 95.06 %) and the 1-year stent patency was 86 % (95 %CI 85.74 – 86.26 %). Conclusion: This study on EUS-BD demonstrates excellent efficacy and safety of EUS-BD when performed by experts.Study registration: NCT01889953

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Background and study aims EUS-FNA has suboptimal accuracy in diagnosing gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors (SETs). EUS-guided 22-gauge fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) and single-incision with needle knife (SINK) were proposed to increase accuracy of diagnosis. This study aimed to prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy and safety of EUS-FNB with SINK in patients with upper gastrointestinal SETs. Patients and methods All adult patients referred for EUS evaluation of upper gastrointestinal SETs ≥ 15 mm in size were eligible for inclusion. Patients were randomized to undergo EUS-FNB or SINK. Lesions were sampled with a 22-gauge reverse beveled core needle in the EUS-FNB group and by a conventional needle-knife sphincterotome and biopsy forceps in the SINK group. Patients were blinded to the technique used. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, histological yield and procedure duration. Study enrollment was terminated early due to poor recruitment. Results A total of 56 patients (31 male (55.37 %); mean age, 67.41 ± 12.70 years) were randomized to either EUS-FNB (n = 26) or SINK (n = 30). Technical success was 96.15 % and 96.66 %, respectively. The majority of lesions were gastrointestinal stromal tumors (51.78 %). No significant difference was found between EUS-FNB and SINK in terms of diagnostic accuracy for a malignant or benign disease (76 % vs. 89.28 %, respectively; P = 0.278). The rate of adverse events (none severe) was also comparable (7.69 % vs. 10 %, respectively; P = 1.0) including two abdominal pain episodes in the EUS-FNB group compared to two delayed bleeding (one requiring hospitalization and radiologic embolization) and 1 abdominal pain in the SINK group. Conclusion EUS-FNB and SINK are equally effective techniques for upper gastrointestinal SETs sampling. SINK can be associated with mild to moderate delayed bleeding.

Background and Aims: Although Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) is highly effective for the management of achalasia, clinical failures may occur. The optimal management of patients who fail POEM is not well known. This study aims to compare the outcomes of different management strategies in patients who had failed POEM. Patients and Methods: This is an international, multicenter, retrospective study at 16 tertiary centers between 1/2012 and 11/2019. All patients who underwent POEM and experienced persistent or recurrent symptoms (Eckardt score (ES) > 3) were included. The primary outcome was to compare the rate of clinical success (ES ≤ 3) between different management strategies. Results: A total of 99 patients (50 (50.5%) males, mean age 51.4 (16.2) yrs.) experienced clinical failure during the study period with a mean ES of 5.5 (0.2). A total of 29 (32.2%) patients were managed conservatively and 70 (71%) underwent re-treatment [repeat POEM 33 (33%), pneumatic dilation (PD) 30 (30%), and laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) 7 (7.1%)]. During a median follow-up of 10 (IQR: 3-20) months, clinical success was highest in patients who underwent repeat POEM (25/33 (76%), mean ES 2.1 (2.1)), followed by PD (18/30 (60%), mean ES 2.8 (2.3)), and LHM (2/7 (29%), 4 (1.8)) (p=0.12). A total of 11 (37.9%, mean ES 4 (1.8)) patients in the conservative achieved clinical success. Conclusion: This study comprehensively assessed an international cohort of patients who underwent management of failed POEM. Repeat POEM and PD achieved acceptable clinical success with excellent safety profile.

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