4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The current standard of care for benign bile duct strictures involves placement of multiple plastic stents under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance to progressively dilate or stretch it open. This approach necessitates multiple procedures which may extend over one year before the stricture is adequately dilated. The investigators propose a study comparing the standard approach of plastic stenting with the use of newer, fully coated metallic stents which are self-expandable, thereby permitting successful dilation of benign bile duct strictures with fewer procedures.
When a doctor performs Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography "ERCP" (Endoscopy to examine the bile duct) a flexible tube is inserted into the mouth and into the stomach. The tube passes beyond the stomach and into an opening in the liver called the bile duct. Another small flexible endoscope is inserted inside the ERCP scope to directly visualize the bile duct to ensure that there are no cancers or stones in the bile duct and occasionally to take a sample from the bile duct. The purpose of our study is to examine wither performing this procedure can transmit bacteria from the bile duct to the main blood stream.
Cholangioscopy, or direct visualization of the bile ducts was first documented in the late 1970s and has made many advances over the last few decades. The advent of mother-baby scopes allowed for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, though the early scopes were often fragile, and cumbersome due to the need for two endoscopists. Ultraslim endoscopes later became popular as a method to digitally view the bile ducts, however, often needed guide-wire or balloon-assistance to allow for cannulation. Other disadvantages of these systems included limited steerability, and poor irrigation capabilities. The advent of Spyglass, a single-operator peroral cholangioscopy method allowed for a fiberoptic, catheter-based system that could be easily used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the biliary system. However, image quality was often lacking due to the fiberoptic technology. The new digital Spyglass system rectifies this inadequacy by introducing a digital sensor for better image quality, which will allow for better visualization and diagnosis of indeterminate strictures. Furthermore, modification of the scope platform allows for efficient use, reliable directionality of the scope tip, and improved ease of passage of accessories during therapeutic procedures such clearing stones or stent placement.
Performing an EUS prior to ERCP in the setting of a positive intraoperative cholangiogram will identify and risk stratify patients for the presence of CBD stones and strictures.