Endoscopic treatment of biliopancreatic pathology in patients with Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy surgical variants: Lessons learned from single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted ERCP.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic treatment of biliopancreatic pathology is challenging due to surgically altered anatomy after Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of single-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (SBE-ERCP) to treat biliopancreatic pathology in patients with Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy surgical variants.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 106 SBE-ERCP procedures in 46 patients with Whipple's variants. Technical and clinical success rates and adverse events were evaluated.

RESULTS

Biliary SBE-ERCP was performed in 34 patients and pancreatic SBE-ERCP in 17, including 5 with both indications. From a total of 106 SBE-ERCP procedures, 76 were biliary indication with technical success rate of 68/76 (90%) procedures and clinical success rate of 30/34 (88%) patients. Mild adverse event rate was 8/76 (11%), without serious adverse events. From a total of 106 SBE-ERCP procedures, 30 were pancreatic indication with technical success rate of 24/30 (80%) procedures (P = 0.194 vs. biliary SBE-ERCP) and clinical success rate of 11/17 (65%) patients (P = 0.016 vs. biliary SBE-ERCP). Mild adverse event rate was 6/30 (20%) (P = 0.194 vs. biliary SBE-ERCP), without serious adverse events. After SBE-ERCP failure, endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage, percutaneous drainage and redo surgery were alternative therapeutic options.

CONCLUSIONS

Biliopancreatic pathology after Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy variants can be treated using SBE-ERCP without serious adverse events. Technical and clinical success rates are high for biliary indications, whereas clinical success rate of pancreatic indications is significantly lower. SBE-ERCP can be considered as first-line treatment option in this patient group with surgically altered anatomy.