Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
A torque-driven drill dilator to enable Y-configuration biliary stent placement for high-grade hilar obstruction
Hussam Almasri1, Rahul Karna2, Abubaker Abdalla2
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
Background And Aims:
Endoscopic management of malignant hilar biliary obstruction is technically challenging, particularly with high-grade strictures. Dual-sector metal stent placement using a stent-in-stent (Y) configuration may be preferred to allow durable, suprapapillary, re-accessible drainage. However, traversing the mesh of the first stent into the second sector with dilating catheters can be challenging. A newly available spiral drill dilator (Tornus ES; Asahi Intecc Co, Aichi, Japan) can be used in such cases.
Methods:
A 74-year-old woman with Bismuth type IIIa cholangiocarcinoma presented with biliary obstruction and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for dual-sector, uncovered metal stent placement in a Y configuration. After a left-sector uncovered metal stent was placed, the right anterior hepatic duct was accessed but could not pass the balloon catheter. A drill dilator was then advanced with clockwise rotation.
Results:
The drill dilator enabled successful stricture passage and creation of a tract through the mesh of the first stent, permitting placement of a second uncovered metal stent in a Y configuration.
Conclusions:
This case demonstrates the utility of a newly available spiral drill dilator for enlarging the pathway through the mesh of a single metal stent to place a second metal stent for Y-configuration dual-sector biliary drainage.
