Search

BACKGROUND: Wallstents (Schneider Stent, Inc., USA) used for the palliation of malignant biliary strictures, although associated with prolonged patency, can occlude. There is no consensus regarding the optimal management of Wallstent occlusion. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of different endoscopic methods for managing biliary Wallstent occlusion. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study of patients managed for a biliary Wallstent occlusion. RESULTS: Data were available for 38 patients with 44 Wallstent occlusions, all of which had initial endoscopic management. Twenty four patients had died and 14 were alive after a median follow up of 231 (30-1095) days following Wallstent occlusion. Occlusions were managed by insertion of another Wallstent in 19, insertion of a plastic stent in 20, and mechanical cleaning in five. Endoscopic management was successful in 43 (98%). Following management of the occlusion, bilirubin decreased from 6.0 (0.5-34.3) to 2.1 (0.2-27.7) mg/100 ml (p < 0.05). No complications occurred. The median duration of second stent patency was 75 days (95% confidence interval 43 to 107) after insertion of another Wallstent, 90 days (71 to 109) after insertion of a plastic stent, and 34 days (30 to 38) after mechanical cleaning (NS). The respective median survivals were 70 days (22-118), 98 days (54-142), and 34 days (30-380) (NS). Incremental cost effective analysis showed that plastic stent insertion is the most cost effective option. CONCLUSION: Although all three methods are equally effective in managing an occluded Wallstent, the most cost effective method appears to be plastic stent insertion.

BACKGROUND: Wireless pH studies can offer prolonged pH monitoring, which may potentially facilitate the diagnosis and management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the detection rate of abnormal esophageal acid exposure using prolonged pH monitoring in patients with suspected or refractory GERD symptoms.METHODS: Patients undergoing prolonged ambulatory pH studies for the evaluation of GERD-related symptoms were assessed. Patients with a known diagnosis of GERD were tested on medical therapy, while patients with suspected GERD were tested off therapy. The wireless pH capsules were placed during upper endoscopy 6 cm above the squamocolumnar junction.RESULTS: One hundred ninety-one patients underwent a total of 198 pH studies. Fifty ambulatory pH studies (25%) were excluded from the analysis: 27 patients (14%) had insufficient data capture (less than 18 h on at least one day of monitoring), 15 patients had premature capsule release (7%), seven were repeat studies (3.5%) and one had intolerable pain requiring capsule removal (0.5%). There were 115 patients undergoing pH studies who were off medication, and 33 patients were on therapy. For the two groups of patients, results were as follows: 32 (28%) and 22 (67%) patients with normal studies on both days; 58 (50%) and five (15%) patients with abnormal studies on both days; 18 (16%) and three (9%) patients with abnormal studies on day 1 only; and seven (6%) and three (9%) patients with abnormal studies on day 2 only, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged 48 h pH monitoring can detect more abnormal esophageal acid exposure but is associated with a significant rate of incomplete studies.

Several techniques have been developed to facilitate cannulation of the papilla during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The position of the endoscope should generally provide a 'straight' route to the papilla, and the efforts should be directed at shortening the intraduodenal portion of the bile duct. If a guidewire is used, one should be chosen that possesses suitable tip and shaft characteristics, including flexibility, strength, low friction and trackability, but no one device is likely to be suitable for all purposes. The development of guidewires composed of nitinol has revolutionized endoscopic practice. Access papillotomy ('pre-cut') can be employed as an alternative to (or in addition to) insertion of a guidewire when cannulation of the major papilla has been unsuccessful. The same techniques may be used to allow deep cannulation of the bile or pancreatic duct after ductography, when fluoroscopy can also be used. The 'needle-knife', which must be used carefully because it cuts with even slight tissue contact, is moved in the expected direction of the intramural bile (or pancreatic) duct to gain direct access into the duct. Access papillotomy is a valuable procedure in difficult cases, but is associated with greater risks than standard ERCP techniques (except perhaps for a reduced likelihood of pancreatitis), and is best employed by personnel who have extensive experience with therapeutic endoscopy. Technical details for a variety of clinical situations are described. Success requires application of 'the four Ps': position, practice, patience and perseverance.

Gallstone-induced acute pancreatitis is a prevalent condition that is associated with an unacceptably high mortality rate. Early endoscopic intervention, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic sphincterotomy within 24 to 72 h of hospital admission, can be used to remove stones in the common bile duct (CBD) and establish biliary drainage. Anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness led to formal testing in randomized clinical trials. Although the design and results of the four published studies have varied, the overall conclusion is that early endoscopic therapy reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. Benefits are especially apparent in patients who satisfy generally accepted criteria for severe pancreatitis. The author’s practice is to undertake endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with severe or worsening pancreatitis, or in patients with jaundice, cholangitis or dilation of the CBD. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is performed in patients with CBD stones or in patients with biliary pancreatitis and cholelithiasis who are not candidates for cholecystectomy. The roles of newer diagnostic modalities, including magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography, are not yet clear.

INTRODUCTION: We examined our colonoscopy preparation experience over a 4 year period to determine if all preparations lead to similar quality examinations. METHODS:The data were extracted from an automated endoscopy reporting tool, GIstation. 11,036 of the 29,535 cases perfomed between October 1995 and October 1999 were colonoscopies. The preparation used was cited in 95% of cases, the extent of insertion in 95% of cases and the quality of preparation in 75% of cases. Only if the preparation, quality of preparation and extent were all known was the case included for study. Cases with surgical alterations were also removed from the analysis. This resulted in a final group of 7632 cases (70% of the colonoscopy population) which was used for analysis. Quality was examined using a 7 point scale. If the case was judged to be in the upper 2 scales (excellent or very good) it was considered high quality. If judged to be in lower 2 scales (inadequate or poor) it was considered low quality. RESULTS:Physicians used thirteen different preparations during the four year period. Three of them, Oral Phosphosoda (66.1%), Golytely (19.9%) and Colyte (8.9%) accounted for 95% of the cases. The average age of patients receiving Oral Phosphosoda (56.6 yr) was less than the average age of those receiving Colyte (60.2 yr) or Golytely (62.4 yr). There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.01) in endoscopist's recorded impressions of quality of the preparation favoring Colyte (See table below). Colyte & Oral Phosphosoda had lowest frequency of poor quality preparations. Colyte and Oral Phosphosoda were statistically indistinguishable in terms of their ability to reach the cecum. However, Oral Phosphosoda was significantly better (p < 0.05) than Golytely in terms of ability to reach the cecum. CONCLUSIONS:Physicians do not perceive all colon preparations to result in the same quality of preparation. Although physicians at our institution use Oral Phosphosoda for most colon preparations, Colyte was perceived to result in a higher quality preparation.