Long- and short-type double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted therapeutic ERCP for intact papilla in patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: There have been a few previous reports on attempted double-balloon endoscopy (DBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with Roux-en-Y anastomosis and an intact papilla. This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of DBE-assisted ERCP in patients with Roux-en-Y anastomosis and an intact papilla of Vater.

METHODS: Thirteen DBE procedures were performed in nine patients who had undergone Roux-en-Y reconstruction combined with eight total gastrectomies and one partial gastrectomy. Both short-type and long-type DBE were used. Long-type DBE was replaced with a conventional forward-viewing upper endoscope after reaching the papilla. Technical success rate, measurement of procedure times, and adverse events were evaluated in the retrospective study.

RESULTS: In all cases, the scopes could reach the papilla. The mean time required to reach the papilla was 48 (range, 13-90) min. There was a statistically significant difference with the short and long scope (29.0 ± 19.2 min vs. 64.8 ± 24.7 min, respectively; P = 0.044). The success rate of bile duct cannulation, resulting in achieving therapeutic ERCP on the first session was 66.7% (6/9). The mean procedural time in the successful cases was 128 (range, 47-183) min. Finally, therapeutic ERCP was achieved in all nine cases. There was one adverse event in which retroperitoneal perforation during lithotripsy, but that was successfully treated by conservative therapy alone.

CONCLUSION: DBE-assisted ERCP seems to be a promising option to perform therapeutic ERCP for intact papilla in patients with a Roux-en-Y anastomosis.