A newly modified access balloon catheter for direct peroral cholangioscopy by using an ultraslim upper endoscope...

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) by using an ultraslim upper endoscope has been increasingly applied for diagnosis and treatment of diverse biliary diseases. Recently, an intraductal balloon catheter has been used commonly to guide the flexible ultraslim endoscope. However, accessibility into the bile duct remains a limitation of the procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and success rate of an intraductal balloon-guided direct POC by using an ultraslim endoscope with a newly modified 5F balloon catheter.

In total, 36 patients with biliary obstruction were included prospectively for a direct POC by using an ultraslim endoscope with a newly modified intraductal 5F balloon catheter. The main outcome measure was technical success, defined as successful advancement of the ultraslim endoscope into the obstructed segment of the biliary tree or the bifurcation. Secondary outcomes were mean time for the total procedure, intubation into the common bile duct and advancement up to the target site after intubation of the ultraslim endoscope, technical success rates of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and adverse events.

The intraductal balloon-guided direct POC using a newly modified 5F balloon catheter was completed successfully in 35 of 36 patients (97.2%). The mean times for total procedure, intubation into the distal common bile duct, and advancement up to the obstructed bile duct segment were 27.3 ± 7.2, 2.2 ± 0.5, and 0.8 ± 0.4 minutes, respectively. In total, 49 interventions were performed in 35 patients, excluding 1 patient in whom we failed to perform direct POC. Technical success of the interventions was achieved with 44 of 49 procedures (89.8%). No adverse events, including cholangitis, were observed.

A newly modified 5F balloon catheter seemed to facilitate performing intraductal balloon-guided direct POC for direct visual examination of the bile duct in patients with biliary obstruction. Continued development of endoscopes and accessories are expected to further improve the performance of direct POC.