Since it was first described in 2001 [1], endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) has been increasingly used as an alternative for biliary decompression after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). EUS-CDS has an overall technical success rate of more than 90% [2, 3], but puncturing the common bile duct (CBD) can be challenging in patients with hemob...

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary drainage has become the gold standard procedure for decompression of obstructed biliary ducts. Skilled endoscopists are expected to achieve successful drainage in 90% to 95% of cases. However, anatomic variation, such asperiampullary diverticulum, tumor invasion and surgical diversions are all situations that may result in failu...

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the United States. Due to its aggressive behavior and lack of effective therapies, palliation plays a critical role in the management of the disease. Most patients with pancreatic cancer suffer from severe pain, which adversely predicts prognosis and si...

Purpose. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been increasingly reported worldwide. However, studies concerning EUS-BD from Mainland China are sporadic. This study aims to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-BD using SEMS in a single center from Mainland China. Methods. Between November 2011 and August 2015, 24 patients underwent EUS-BD using a standar...

Endoscopic therapy in chronic pancreatitis (CP) aims to provide pain relief and to treat local complications, by using the decompression of the pancreatic duct and the drainage of pseudocysts and biliary strictures, respectively. This is the reason for using it as first-line therapy for painful uncomplicated CP. The clinical response has to be evaluated at 6-8 weeks, when surgery may be chosen....

Since it was first described in 2001 [1], endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) has been increasingly used as an alternative for biliary decompression after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). EUS-CDS has an overall technical success rate of more than 90% [2, 3], but puncturing the common bile duct (CBD) can be challenging in patients with hemob...

CONTEXT Carcinoid tumors arising from the bile ducts account for only a small fraction of biliary tract cancers. CASE REPORT We report herein a 42-year-old man with a carcinoid tumor of the common bile duct. He presented with abdominal pain, bloating and dyspepsia. Clinicolaboratory and imaging studies suggested a probable obstructive common bile duct lesion. The patient underwent an endoscop...

A 57-year-old man with postischemic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent a heart transplant at our center in February 2013. His early postoperative course was complicated by primary graft non-function requiring intensive care treatment. Six days after transplantation, he developed severe hypoperfusion that required maximal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), placement of an intraaortic ball...

Smith, A. C., Dowsett, J.F., Russell, R. C. G., Hatfield, A.R. W. and Cotton, P.B. (1994) Randomised trial of endoscopic stenting versus surgical bypass in malignant low bileduct obstruction. The Lancet; 344." 1655-1660. The development of non-surgical techniques for the relief of malignant low bileduct obstruction has cast doubt on the best way of relieving jaundice, particularly in patients f...