Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography In Patients With Surgically Altered Gastrointestinal Anatomy: A Retrospective Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difficulty of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures when performed in patients with different types of surgically altered gastrointestinal (GI) anatomies.Summary of background data: Clinical data of 102 consecutive patients with surgically altered GI anatomy who underwent ERCP using a double-balloon enteroscope or a regular gastroendoscope between January 2008 and March 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.Methods: The success rate of reaching the destination, the time until reaching the destination, the success rate of the procedures, and complications were assessed for each type of altered GI anatomy using a double-balloon enteroscope and a regular gastroendoscope.Results: A total of 180 ERCP procedures were performed. The total success rate of reaching the destination was 91% (164 of 180), and that of treatment was 88% (144 of 164). The success rate of reaching the destination in patients with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ thornR-Y) was significantly lower than that of the other types of reconstruction. The time until reaching the destination was significantly longer in patients after R-Y reconstruction (gastrectomy or HJ) than that after Billroth-II gastrectomy or pancreatoduodenectomy. GI perforation occurred in 2 patients after R-Y reconstruction (1 patient after gastrectomy, and 1 patient after HJ). However, no other complications, such as severe pancreatitis, bleeding, or air embolism, were observed.Conclusions: ERCP for patients with surgically altered GI anatomy is feasible. Improvement of the success rate of reaching the destination in patients after HJ thorn R-Y and prevention of perforation in those with R-Y reconstruction are necessary.