Rescue cannulation techniques in difficult biliary access-A comprehensive review.

Selective biliary cannulation is the prerequisite for successful biliary interventions. In the setting of cannulation failure, various rescue cannulation techniques are used for achieving selective biliary access. The various rescue cannulation techniques are (1) free-hand techniques (precut papillotomy and fistulotomy); (2) wire-guided techniques (transpancreatic sphincterotomy [TPS] and double guidewire [DGW]) and (3) endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided technique (EUS-guided rendezvous for biliary access).