Background and study aims  Endoscopic removal of biliary stones has high success rates, ranging between 85 % to 95 %. Nevertheless, some stones may be challenging and different endoscopic methods have evolved. Papillary large balloon dilation after sphincterotomy is a widely used technique with success rates ranging from 68 to 90 % for stones larger than 15 mm. Cholangioscopy allows performing lithotripsy under direct biliary visualization, either by laser or electrohydraulic waves, which have similar success rate (80 % – 90 %). However, there is no study comparing these 2 techniques. Patients and methods  From April 2014 to June 2016, 100 patients were enrolled and randomized in 2 groups, using a non-inferiority hypothesis: cholangioscopy + electrohydraulic lithotripsy (group 1) and endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (group 2). The main outcome was complete stone removal. Adverse events were documented. Mechanical lithotripsy was not performed. Failure cases had a second session with crossover of the methods. Results  The mean age was 56 years. 74 (75.5 %) patients were female. The initial overall complete stone removal rate was 74.5 % (77.1 % in group 1 and 72 % in group 2, P  > 0.05). After second session the overall success rate achieved 90.1 %. Procedure time was significantly lower in group 2, – 25.2 min (CI95 % – 12.48 to – 37.91). There were no significant differences regarding technical success rate, radiologic exposure and adverse events. Conclusion  Single-operator cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy and papillary large balloon dilation are effective and safe approaches for removing complex biliary stones.

Background and study aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the primary therapeutic procedure for treatment of diseases that affect the biliary tree and pancreatic duct. While the therapeutic success rate of ERCP is high, the procedure can cause complications, such as acute pancreatitis (PEP), bleeding, and perforation. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in preventing PEP following (ERCP). Materials and methods We searched databases, such as MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Library. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy of NSAIDs and placebo for the prevention of PEP were included. Outcomes assessed included incidence of PEP, severity of pancreatitis, route of administration, and type of NSAIDs. Results Twenty-one RCTs were considered eligible with a total of 6854 patients analyzed. Overall, 3427 patients used NSAIDs before ERCP and 3427 did not use the drugs (control group). In the end, 250 cases of acute pancreatitis post-ERCP were diagnosed in the NSAIDs group and 407 cases in the placebo group. Risk for PEP was lower in the NSAID group (risk difference (RD): −0.05; 95 % confidence interval (CI): −0.07 to – 0.03; number need to treat (NNT), 20; P < 0.05). Use of NSAIDs effectively prevented mild pancreatitis compared with use of placebo (2.5 % vs. 4.1 %; 95 % CI, −0.05 to – 0.01; NNT, 33; P < 0.05), but the information on moderate and severe PEP could not be completely elucidated. Only rectal administration reduced incidence of PEP (6.8 % vs. 13 %; 95 % CI, −0.10 to – 0.04; NNT, 20; P < 0.05). Furthermore, only diclofenac or indomethacin use was effective in preventing PEP. Conclusions Rectal administration of diclofenac and indomethacin significantly reduced risk of developing mild PEP. Further RCTs are needed to compare efficacy between NSAID administration pathways in prevention of PEP after ERCP.

Background and study aims  The first-line approach to anastomotic biliary stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) involves endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The most widely used technique is placement of multiple plastic stents, but discussions are ongoing on the benefits of fully-covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCEMS) in this situation. This study aimed to compare results from use of plastic and metal stents to treat biliary stricture after transplantation. Patients and methods  Searches were performed in the Medline, EMBASE, SciELO/LILACS, and Cochrane databases, and only randomized studies comparing the two techniques were included in the meta-analysis. Results  Our study included four randomized clinical trials totaling 205 patients. No difference was observed between the stricture resolution rate (RD: 0.01; 95 %CI [−0.08 – 0.10]), stricture recurrence (RD: 0.13; 95 %CI [−0.03 – 0.28]), and adverse events (RD: −0.10; 95 %CI [−0.65 – 0.44]) between the plastic and metallic stent groups. The metallic stent group demonstrated benefits in relation to the number of ERCPs performed (MD: −1.86; 95 %CI [−3.12 to −0.6]), duration of treatment (MD: −105.07; 95 %CI [−202.38 to −7.76 days]), number of stents used (MD: −10.633; 95 %CI [−20.82 to −0.44]), and cost (average $ 8,288.50 versus $ 18,580.00, P  < 0.001). Conclusions  Rates of resolution and recurrence of stricture are similar, whereas the number of ERCPs performed, number of stents used, duration of treatment, and costs were lower in patients treated with FCEMS, which shows that this device is a valid option for initial treatment of post-OLTX biliary stricture.

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Early ERCP decreases local adverse events, shortening the time to pain relief, to a reduction in axillary temperature, hospital stays, and cost in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis.

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SpyGlass cholangioscopy-guided steroid injection at a benign biliary stricture. Franzini Tomazo et al. Balloon dilation plus cholangioscopy-guided steroid injection for benign biliary stricture … Endoscopy 2015; 47: E571-E572 Cases and Techniques Library (CTL) E572

Nowadays, cholangioscopy is an established modality in diagnostic and treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases. The more widespread use and the recent development of new technologies and accessories had renewed the interest of endoscopic visualization of the biliary tract, increasing the range of indications and therapeutic procedures, such as diagnostic of indeterminate biliary strictures, lithotripsy of difficult bile duct stones, ablative techniques for intraductal malignancies, removal of foreign bodies and gallbladder drainage. These endoscopic interventions will probably be the last frontier in the near future. This paper presents the new advances in therapeutic cholangioscopy, focusing on the current clinical applications and on research areas.