Multistenting during balloon-assisted ERCP using small diameter plastic stents in patients with surgically altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy

Balloon-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now commonly used to treat disorders of the pancreatobiliary tract in patients with surgically altered upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract anatomy [1] [2] [3]. However, when either the short or long ERCP scopes have arrived at a tortuous position during the procedure, the ability to deliver accessories such as plastic or metal stents into the biliary tract is limited. Furthermore, the relatively small diameter of the working channel of these scopes limits the possibility of using large stents. In this report, we describe the concept and technique of multistenting using small diameter stents to treat biliary tract strictures.

Five patients (two women, three men; mean age 53 years, range 21 – 69) had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and had subsequently developed hepaticojejunostomy stenosis ([Fig. 1], [Video 1]). Because of the long and tortuous position of the scope it was impossible to advance standard diameter plastic stents (10-Fr or 7-Fr) ([Fig. 2], [Video 1]). Therefore, we elected to use several 5-Fr plastic stents. After the stricture had been successfully dilated using a through-the-scope balloon, an extra-long wire (650 cm, Metro guidewire; Cook, Winston-Salem, USA) was advanced into the biliary tract. Next, five plastic pancreatic stents of small diameter (5-Fr) were inserted individually into the bile duct across the stricture ([Video 1]). These stents resulted in a cumulative diameter of 25 Fr (or 8 mm as each stent is 1.6 mm in diameter), which is the equivalent of two and a half 10-Fr biliary plastic stents. Stretching the hepaticojejunostomy to this diameter guarantees adequate bile flow and long-term resolution of the problem. The stents remained in situ for 3 and 4 months. In three patients, additional stenting was performed for a further 3 months.

Fig. 1 Use of multistenting in balloon-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). a The hepaticojejunostomy was highly stenotic (yellow arrow). b The stricture was dilated with a controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloon. c Endoscopic view of multiple 5-Fr pancreatic plastic stents inserted into the bile duct across the hepaticojejunostomy. d Fluoroscopic view of the multiple plastic stents.

Fig. 2 Because of the long and tortuous position of the scope, it was impossible to advance standard diameter stents through a stenosis in a patient with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

Multistenting during balloon-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using small (5-Fr) plastic stents in patients with surgically altered upper gastrointestinal (GI) anatomy.

In summary, this is the first report to detail the use of small caliber stents during balloon-assisted ERCP. Multistenting, using several plastic stents of smaller diameter, offers a promising treatment for complex hepaticojejunostomy strictures. In addition, failure to provide endoscopic therapy would invariably lead to a percutaneous approach to dilate these strictures.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AR_2AZ

Competing interests: None

• References

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