Endoscopic ultrasound-guided extraluminal drainage: Novel concepts, challenges and future directions

Abstract

A B S T R A C TEndoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided management of abdominal fluid collections adjacent to the gastroduodenal lumen is a relatively new concept attracting a lot of interest in recent years. The ability of EUS to identify and drain these collections in the same session accounts for the surge of interest in these novel techniques. On the other hand, the complexity of these interventions and associated serious complications has moderated the enthusiasm of novice endoscopists to some extent and reiterated that focused research and technical innovations are needed to make EUS-guided drainage simpler and safer. Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) have emerged in the last decade in the endoscopic management of malignant luminal gastrointestinal strictures. The use of SEMS in the management of benign conditions (biliary, pancreatic, and colonic strictures) is also rapidly expanding. Recently, fully-covered (FC)-SEMS have been successfully used for drainage of peripancreatic and pericholecystic fluid collections. Here we will review the existing data and future directions in the use of FC-SEMS for such drainage procedures. We will also review the literature on novel "purpose-made" prostheses, such as the lumen-apposing metallic stents, which aim to address technical problems arising in EUS-guided drainage procedures when conventional SEMS are used. Further development of these and other similar devices may transform EUS-guided drainage procedures from an esoteric concept to "mainstream", first-line intervention.