Same versus separate sessions of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for distal malignant biliary obstruction: a propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND

Same-session endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an attractive policy for patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) requiring fine-needle biopsy (FNB) and biliary drainage. However, scanty and conflicting data exists regarding safety and efficacy when comparing these two procedures performed in same versus separate sessions.

METHODS

Single-center, retrospective, propensity score-matched study including patients with DMBO who underwent EUS-FNB followed by ERCP during the same or separate sessions. The primary outcome was the safety of the procedure [number of patients experiencing adverse events (AEs), overall AEs, its severity, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP)]. Secondary outcomes were successful ERCP, use of advanced cannulation techniques, EUS-FNB adequacy, length of hospital stay, overall procedure time, and time to recurrent biliary obstruction.

RESULTS

After propensity matching, 87 patients were allocated to each group. AEs developed in 23 (26.4%) vs. 17 (19.5%) patients in the same and separate sessions group, respectively ( = 0.280). The overall number, the severity of AEs, and the rate of PEP were similar in the two groups. Secondary outcome parameters were also comparable in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Same-session EUS-FNB followed by ERCP with biliary drainage is safe and does not impair technical outcomes of tissue adequacy and biliary cannulation.