Mutsumi Ogawa

Usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration for the treatment of acute cholecystitis

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of single and repetitive percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder aspiration (PTGBA) for the treatment of acute cholecystitis.MethodsPTGBA was performed in patients with acute cholecystitis who showed no improvement after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. PTGBA was carried out at bedside. When the bile was too thick to be aspirated through a 21-gauge needle, an 18-gauge needle was used. Aspiration of the gallbladder contents and injection of antibiotics into the gallbladder were performed without the placement of a drainage catheter. When improvement was not observed after the first attempt, PTGBA was repeated.ResultsSingle PTGBA achieved improvement in 32 of 45 patients. In 11 of the remaining 13 patients, the second PTGBA was effective. In the remaining two patients, repetitive PTGBA was not carried out because of advanced cancer. In two of 45 patients, 18-gauge needles were necessary for PTGBA because of the high viscosity of the bile. PTGBA was carried out in three patients with blockage of the cystic duct by a stent, and it was effective in all three. Two patients whose conditions improved with a single PTGBA experienced a recurrence at 4 and 31 months, respectively, after PTGBA. No other severe complications related to PTGBA were observed in any patients.ConclusionsFor the treatment of acute cholecystitis that does not react to conservative therapies, PTGBA is a safe, simple, and effective treatment modality that can be performed at bedside without any severe complications.

Estimation of the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi against malignant bile duct obstruction

BackgroundIn endoscopic biliary stenting against malignant biliary obstruction, stent blockage remains as an important problem. Stent blockage occurs as a result of bacterial adherence to the inner wall of the stent. We evaluated the stent placement above the intact sphincter of Oddi to retain the function of the sphincter of Oddi as a bacteriological barrier.MethodsSixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi. Sixteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction were assessed as the patients with the conventional stent placement across the sphincter of Oddi. Tannenbaum 10-Fr. stents were used in both the groups.ResultsThe median patency periods of the stent were 255 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 212–454 days; range, 39–454 days) for the group of the stents placed above the sphincter of Oddi and 82 days (25th to 75th percentiles, 48–131 days; range, 22–196 days) for the group of the stents placed across the sphincter of Oddi, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0001). The occlusion rates of stents placed above and across the sphincter of Oddi were 37.5% and 93.8%, respectively, with significant difference (P = 0.0008). The dislocation rates of the stent were 0% and 6.3%, respectively (not significant).ConclusionsPlacement of the stent above the intact sphincter of Oddi was associated with longer stent patency and lower occlusion rate.

Pre-cutting using a noseless papillotome with independent lumens for contrast material and guidewire

Background:  The technical success of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) depends on selective cannulation into the bile duct. We have developed a new type of precut papillotome for selective cannulation.

ENDOSCOPIC TRANSPAPILLARY CATHETERIZATION INTO THE GALLBLADDER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF GALLBLADDER CARCINOMA

It is often difficult to determine the precise nature of lesions in the gallbladder by radiographic, endoscopic and ultrasonographic methods. The approach to the gallbladder by a percutaneous transhepatic route has been reported. However, there is a possibility of seeding tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity and liver in a percutaneous procedure. On the contrary, transpapillary route can be performed without a possibility of seeding. The double‐contrast cholecystography, intragallbladder sonography, direct biopsy of gallbladder lesions and cytology using gallbladder bile have been performed by the procedure of the transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder. Confirming malignancy by histopathological diagnosis is desirous for determining therapeutic strategy in gallbladder carcinoma. Gathering gallbladder bile is comparatively easier than biopsy of the lesion using the transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder. Examination of telomerase‐related molecules is useful for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Usefulness of combination assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT mRNA) and cytology using gallbladder bile obtained by transpapillary catheterization is reported here. However, it would appear that hTERT mRNA is less important in the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma than in that of pancreatic carcinoma. When the molecular biological substances with higher sensitivity are found, the reliance of the combination assay of the molecular biological substances and cytology will be established.