Dao-jian Gao

Endotherapy versus surgery for early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Esophagectomy is the conventional treatment for Barretts esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal cancer. Endotherapy is an alternative treatment. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of these 2 treatments. DESIGN PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and momentous meeting abstracts were searched. Studies comparing endotherapy with esophagectomy were included in the meta-analysis. Pooling was conducted in a random-effects model. SETTING Tertiary-care facility. PATIENTS Seven studies involving 870 patients were included. INTERVENTION Endotherapy and esophagectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Neoplasia remission rate, neoplasia recurrence rate, overall survival rate, neoplasia-related death, and major adverse events. RESULTS Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between endotherapy and esophagectomy in the neoplasia remission rate (relative risk [RR] 0.96; 95% CI, 0.91-1.01); overall survival rate at 1 year (RR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.03), 3 years (RR 1.03; 95% CI, 0.96-1.10), and 5 years (RR 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93-1.06); and neoplasia-related mortality (risk difference [RD] 0; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.01). Endotherapy was associated with a higher neoplasia recurrence rate (RR 9.50; 95% CI, 3.26-27.75) and fewer major adverse events (RR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20-0.73). LIMITATIONS Relatively small number of retrospective studies available, different types of endoscopic treatments were used. CONCLUSION Endotherapy and esophagectomy show similar efficacy except in the neoplasia recurrence rate, which is higher after endotherapy. Prospective, randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.

Antireflux stents to reduce the risk of cholangitis in patients with malignant biliary strictures: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS There are limited data on the role of antireflux biliary stents. This single-center randomized trial compared the endoscopic use of partly covered antireflux metal stents (pcARMS) with that of standard uncovered self-expandable metal stents (ucSEMS) for the palliation of nonhilar malignant biliary obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between August 2007 and February 2012, patients with nonhilar malignant biliary obstruction were randomly assigned to treatment with either pcARMS or ucSEMS. Subsequent follow-up was conducted in clinic or by phone. The primary outcome was onset of cholangitis within 12 months of stenting. Secondary outcomes included other morbidities, stent dysfunctions, and survival. RESULTS Altogether 112 patients were included, 56 in each group. The stents were successfully deployed in all patients. Satisfactory jaundice control was achieved in 49 cases in the pcARMS group, compared with 47 in the ucSEMS group (P = 0.135). Fewer patients experienced cholangitis in the pcARMS group than in the ucSEMS group (10 vs. 21 patients; P = 0.035), and the frequency of episodes was less (P = 0.022). Respectively, 17 and 29 stent dysfunctions before death were observed in the pcARMS and ucSEMS groups (P = 0.051) and the median stent patency was 13.0 (standard deviation [SD] 3.4) and 10.0 (1.2) months, respectively (P = 0.044). At final follow-up, in January 2013, 50 /52 and 52 /55 patients had died and no difference in median survival was seen between the two groups (8.0 vs. 9.0 months, P = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS Stenting with pcARMS compared with standard ucSEMS reduces risk of ascending cholangitis and has longer stent patency, but does not increase patient survival. Chictr.org. number, ChiCTR-TRC-11001800.

Intraductal radiofrequency ablation for refractory benign biliary stricture: Pilot feasibility study

Endoscopic management of benign biliary stricture (BBS) remains challenging. There is no reported method for the amelioration of biliary fibroplasia endoscopically. We report our initial experience of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the management of BBS.

Feasibility of using wire-guided needle-knife electrocautery for refractory biliary and pancreatic strictures.

BACKGROUND Endoscopic management of biliary or pancreatic strictures by stent insertion is well established. However, some high-grade strictures are refractory to dilation and stent placement with conventional methods. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the wire-guided electrotomy technique in dilating stiff biliary and/or pancreatic stenoses when ordinary methods failed. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of a prospective database. SETTING Tertiary referral university hospital. PATIENTS This study involved 279 patients with biliary or pancreatic strictures who underwent ERCP for stenting. INTERVENTION After conventional dilation failed, wire-guided needle-knife electrocautery was attempted to facilitate insertion of the dilating devices and eventually endoprosthesis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS The successful treatment and drainage of biliary or pancreatic strictures. RESULTS With wire-guided needle-knife cauterization, the success rate of stricture dilatation increased from 95.7% (267 of 279 patients) to 98.9% (276 of 279 patients). Dilation of stenoses was successful in 9 of 10 patients (90%) by using electrocautery with the wire-guided needle-knife technique. Postprocedure adverse events included self-limited bleeding, mild acute pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia, cholangitis, and biliary perforation. No procedure-related death occurred. LIMITATIONS Retrospective, single-center study and small sample size. CONCLUSIONS Wire-guided needle-knife electroincision appears to be effective for traversing refractory biliary or pancreatic strictures and can be considered as an alternative approach to conventional methods. However, the safety of such a technique needs to be further evaluated.

Metal versus plastic stents for unresectable gallbladder cancer with hilar duct obstruction

Metal stents usually have a longer stent patency than plastic stents for malignant biliary obstruction. However, stent patency and patient survival may differ depending on the causative disease and stent type. There are no data regarding the selection of stents for unresectable gallbladder cancer (GC) with hilar duct obstruction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of metal versus plastic stents for unresectable GC with hilar duct obstruction.

Clinical outcome of endoscopic covered metal stenting for resolution of benign biliary stricture: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Management of benign biliary stricture is challenging. Endoscopic therapy has evolved as the first‐line treatment for various benign biliary strictures. However, covered self‐expandable metal stents (CSEMS) have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of benign biliary stricture. With this goal, we conducted the present systemic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stenting with CSEMS in the treatment of benign biliary stricture.