Single-use duodenoscopes are an efficient tool for emergency ERCP in real life

Background  Biliary tract emergencies are managed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using duodenoscopes, which are reusable devices that require high-level disinfection to minimize risk of cross-contamination. Recent reports about newly developed single-use duodenoscopes (SUDs) suggest equivalent performance with reusable duodenoscopes, but the effectiveness of SUDs in emergency ERCP has not yet been studied. Patients and methods  We conducted a prospective case series of emergency ERCP procedures using SUDs (EXALT model D-Boston Scientific, United States) in a real-life, tertiary care setting without any possibility of using a back-up reusable duodenoscope. Results  Twenty-one emergent ERCPs (acute cholangitis 48%, severe jaundice 38 %, others 14 %) were performed in 19 patients (mean age 49.5±15 years). Almost all procedures (20 of 21; 95 %) were technically and clinically successful, whereas selective cannulation failed in one case. Among the successful ERCPs, five (24 %) were achieved by a novice operator. The image was often considered skewed toward yellow tones (48 %), whereas stiffness and pushability for stent insertion were found suboptimal in 5 % of the procedures, without any impact on procedure success. Conclusions  SUDs are effective and appropriate devices for emergent situations in real life even in non-expert hands and even if a regular duodenoscope is unavailable as a backup.