Initial report of a variable stiffness duodenoscope for use during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

To evaluate a new variable stiffness duodenoscope.

Variable stiffness colonoscopies have been in use for nearly a decade. We report the initial experience with a new, variable stiffness duodenoscope for use during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Retrospective, single tertiary referral academic center. Among the first 50 patients to undergo ERCP with the variable stiffness cope, 3 patients in whom the variable stiffness duodenoscope was instrumental in procedural success are discussed in detail.

In the first 50 patients in whom the variable stiffness duodenoscope was used, the variable stiffness function was critical to procedural success in 3 patients (6%). One patient had a gastric bypass with Roux-en-Y anatomy, 1 patient had a large J-shaped stomach that could not be traversed by a routine duodenoscope, and 1 patient had a duodenal stenosis that could not be traversed by a routine duodenoscope. In these 3 patients, the variable stiffness function allowed for procedure success.

Although most ERCPs can be accomplished with standard duodenoscopes, in cases in which extra endoscope stiffness was felt to be required, the variable stiffness function was extremely helpful.