Double-guidewire technique for difficult bile duct cannulation: a multicenter randomized, controlled trial
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Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
Alberto Herreros de Tejada1, Jose Luis Calleja, Gonzalo Díaz
1Department of Gastroenterology, Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Autónoma University, Joaquín Rodrigo 2, 28222 Majadahonda Madrid, Spain. albertoherreros@yahoo.com
Background:
ERCP can be associated with serious complications. Difficulty in common bile duct (CBD) cannulation is one of the main risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis. The double-guidewire technique (DGT) has been considered a promising alternative approach in difficult cannulation situations.
Objective:
To compare the performance of DGT with the standard cannulation technique (SCT) in patients in whom CBD cannulation is difficult to perform.
Design:
Multicenter randomized, controlled trial.
Setting:
Six tertiary referral centers.
Patients:
A total of 188 patients with difficult CBD cannulation defined by completion of 5 unsuccessful cannulation attempts were enrolled.
Interventions:
Ninety-seven patients were assigned to the DGT group and 91 to the SCT group. Both techniques were compared for an extra 10 cannulation attempts.
Main Outcome Measurements:
CBD cannulation rate, number of attempts required to cannulate, and ERCP-related complications.
Results:
Successful CBD cannulation was achieved in 46 of 97 (47%) patients in the DGT group compared with 51 of 91 (56%) in the SCT group (OR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.64-1.12). The median number of attempts required for each group was 9 and 7, respectively (P = .128). The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis was 17% in the DGT group and 8% in the SCT group (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 0.89-5.05).
Limitations:
Reduced number of enrolled subjects and a lack of detailed information regarding the number and extent of pancreatic duct contrast injections.
Conclusions:
In patients with difficult CBD cannulation, DGT was not superior to SCT in achieving CBD cannulation. DGT might be associated with a higher risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis.