Reliability of endoscopic ultrasound in predicting the number and size of common bile duct stones before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is accurate for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis; however, data are lacking regarding the prediction of stone number and size.

Aims: To evaluate the concordance between EUS and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in stone number and size assessment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing ERCP due to detection of choledocholithiasis by EUS.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for difficult common bile duct stones: a comparison between 2 different lithotripters in a large cohort of patients.

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones is a safe and effective treatment strategy allowing for bile duct clearance in approximately 90% of patients with a low incidence of mild adverse events.

Objective: To compare the CBD clearance rates achieved after ESWL performed with 2 different lithotripters (Siemens Lithostar Plus and Storz Modulith SLX-F2) in a large cohort of patients with difficult CBD stones.

Design: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database.

Therapeutic management and clinical outcome of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Background: Autoimmune pancreatitis, in comparison to other benign chronic pancreatic diseases, is characterized by the possibility of curing the illness with immunosuppressant drugs. The open question is whether to differentiate autoimmune pancreatitis as a primary or secondary disease based on the presence or absence of other autoimmune diseases or whether to consider autoimmune pancreatitis a clinical and pathological systemic entity, called IgG4-related sclerosing disease, since this aspect is also very important from a therapeutic point of view.

Methods: In this paper, we reviewed the conventional therapeutic approach used to treat autoimmune pancreatitis patients and the clinical outcome related to each treatment modality.

Results of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the treatment of biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: our experience.

Background/aims: Biliary tract complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation. We report our experience in the use of ERCP in the treatment of post liver transplantation biliary complications.

Methodology: Retrospectively we evaluated 34 patients who had undergone ERCP out of 460 who received a liver transplantation between January 1999 and December 2004.