Outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage for postoperative peripancreatic fluid collection with an external drainage-based approach.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage (EUS-TD) is widely performed to treat postoperative peripancreatic fluid collection (POPFC). Recent reports on EUS-TD lack a consensus on stent selection. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of EUS-TD for POPFC using an external drainage-based approach.

Transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy: Can nonexperts match the outcomes of experts?

Background: Nonexpert endoscopists cannot achieve high-quality performance during difficult biliary cannulation, representing a significant challenge; precutting is an effective approach for managing these cases. Transpancreatic biliary sphincterotomy (TPBS) is considered more effective than needle-knife precutting owing to its wire-guided technique, which may be suitable for nonexpert endoscopists; however, comparisons between nonexpert and expert endoscopists performing TPBS are not well documented.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent TPBS between January 2010 and April 2024 were evaluated.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for focal liver lesions can be safely performed in patients with ascites.

In patients with ascites, percutaneous liver biopsy is generally contraindicated. Because endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) allows tissue sample obtention from the digestive tract lumen, a biopsy without the intervention of ascites may prevent adverse events (AEs). This study aimed to evaluate the safety of EUS-TA for focal liver lesions in the presence of ascites.

The outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for small focal liver lesions measuring ≤2 cm.

Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) for focal liver lesions has gained attention as an alternative to percutaneous biopsy. Although the outcomes of EUS-TA for focal liver lesions have been reported to be favorable, no studies have focused on small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of EUS-TA for small focal liver lesions (≤2 cm).

Benefits of endoscopic gallbladder stenting following percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage.

Background: Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage is challenging because of the complexity of the procedure and high incidence of adverse events (AEs). To overcome these problems, endoscopic gallbladder stenting (EGBS) after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) can be effective, as it mitigates inflammation and adhesion.

Aim: To examine the benefits of EGBS after PTGBD to assess its efficacy and impact on AEs.

Efficacy and safety of uncovered self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction in unresectable non-pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: The efficacy of uncovered self-expandable metal stents (UCSEMS) versus fully covered self-expandable metal stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction remains controversial. Additionally, the heterogeneity of the disease conditions has been indicated in previous studies because pancreatic and non-pancreatic cancers have different characteristics in clinical course. Therefore, the etiology of biliary obstruction necessitates investigations stratified by primary disease.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for focal liver lesions in patients with a history of multiple primary malignant neoplasms.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) for diagnosing focal liver lesions in patients with a history of multiple primary malignant neoplasms.

Methods: Among patients who underwent EUS-TA for focal liver lesions between 2016 and 2022, those with a history of multiple malignant neoplasms were included. A histologically confirmed malignant tumor within the past 5 years before EUS-TA was defined as a history of malignant neoplasm.

Efficacy of a Novel Tapered Contrast Catheter for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy: A Multicenter Study.

: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is an alternative for failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with current success rates of 65-84% considered suboptimal. A novel ERCP catheter (SHOREN, Kaneka Corporation, Osaka, Japan) with a tapered 3.3-French tip may facilitate smoother insertion, potentially improving outcomes.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided infectious liver cyst drainage associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in which percutaneous approach is impossible.

A man in his 70s on maintenance dialysis for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease was admitted with epigastralgia and a fever lasting for 1 week. Computed tomography showed a thickened liver cyst measuring 121 mm in the caudate lobe, suggesting infection. Percutaneous drainage was impossible because multiple liver cysts and ascites entered the puncture route.

Splenic Abscess due to a Perforated Duodenal Ulcer Successfully Treated with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Transgastric Drainage.

Splenic abscesses are rare, with a reported prevalence of 0.14-0.7% in autopsy studies.

Clinical features and mechanism of liver injury in patients with mild or moderate coronavirus disease 2019.

Background And Aim: We aimed to identify clinical features that suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with a chief complaint of fever and abnormal liver function.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the presence or absence of abnormal liver function in 216 patients diagnosed with mild-moderate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection between February and September 2020.

Results: Abnormal liver function was observed in 51 patients with mild-moderate COVID-19.

Carcinomatous cirrhosis as radiographically occult liver metastases of breast cancer: A systematic literature review.

In the present study, we aimed to clarify features of carcinomatous cirrhosis from breast cancer presenting as refractory transudate ascites and acute liver failure. In our systematic literature review, we identified 26 studies and 31 cases including our case of this rare condition. Our patient was a 49-year-old woman with a history of ascites and liver failure for the past 4 years and currently being treated for invasive ductal breast cancer.

Safe and effective sedation in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer: a randomized comparison between propofol continuous infusion and intermittent midazolam injection.

Purpose: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) generally takes longer to perform than conventional endoscopy and usually requires moderate/deep sedation with close surveillance for patient safety. The aim of this study was to compare the safety profiles and recovery scores propofol continuous infusion and intermittent midazolam (MDZ) injection as sedation for ESD.

Methods: Sixty EGC patients scheduled for ESDs between August and November 2008 were included in this prospective study and randomly divided into a propofol (P-group, 28 patients) and an MDZ (M-group, 32 patients) group using an odd-even system.