Clinical Features and Outcomes of Endoscopic Treatment for Stones in Stemware-Shaped Common Bile Ducts: A Multicenter Data Analysis

Abstract

Background/Aims

Various anatomical features of the biliary tree affect ability to remove difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones. In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the endoscopic treatment of stones in stemware-shaped CBDs.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with a stone and a stemware-shaped CBD who were treated at different tertiary referral centers from January 2008 to December 2012 were studied retrospectively. When stone removal failed, percutaneous or direct peroral cholangioscopic lithotripsy, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, or surgery was performed as a second-line procedure.

Results

The overall success rate of the first-line procedure was 41.2%. Five of the 34 patients (14.7%) experienced procedure-related complications. No procedure-related mortality occurred. Mechanical lithotripsy was required to completely remove stones in 13 patients (38.2%). Conversion to a second-line procedure was required in 20 patients (58.8%). Mechanical lithotripsy was needed in 75% and 66.7% of those with a stone size of <1 cm or ≥1 cm, respectively. Stone recurrence occurred in two patients (9.1%) after 6 months and 27 months, respectively.

Conclusions

The endoscopic treatment of stones in a stemware-shaped CBD is challenging. The careful assessment of difficult CBD stones is required before endoscopic procedures.

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been substitute for surgery to treat most common bile duct (CBD) stones since it was introduced four decades ago.¹ About 85% to 95% of CBD stones can be successfully removed by conventional ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST).^2–4 However, difficult-to-remove stones need stone-fragmentation methods, such as, mechanical lithotripsy (ML), intraductal shock wave lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or biliary stenting with chemical dissolution.¹

Multiple factors, such as, stone number (>10), size (>15 mm), shape (barrel-shaped), and location (intrahepatic, cystic duct) can cause difficulties during stone removal.⁵ Recently, Kim et al.⁶ identified anatomical factors of the bile duct that contribute to technical difficulties during the endoscopic clearance of CBD stones in patients with acute distal CBD angulation (≤135°) and a short distal CBD arm (≤36 mm). However, no report has associated a stemware-shape and the difficulty of stone removal. In our clinical experience, even a stone diameter of <1 cm in a stemware-shaped CBD can cause post-ERCP complications, such as, basket impaction or bile duct perforation during ERCP.

Accordingly, in the current study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the endoscopic treatment of stones in stemware-shaped CBDs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2008 and December 2012, 34 CBD stone patients who visited eight tertiary referral centers in Korea were enrolled in this study. ERCP images were searched for stemware-shaped CBDs, which were defined as CBDs that met one or more of the following criteria: (1) an intrapancreatic extrahepatic duct (EHD) diameter of <1/2 of the maximum diameter of extrapancreatic portion of the EHD; (2) an intrapancreatic narrow segment of relatively constant diameter with a difference between the smallest and largest portion of <5 mm, and must meet the following criteria at the same time; (3) a proximal biliary tree dilation degree, including the intrahepatic duct (IHD), proportional to that of the extrapancreatic CBD (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

(A) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram showing multiple variably sized stones in a stemware-shaped common bile duct (CBD). (B) Multiple sessions of mechanical lithotripsy were performed in the dilated proximal CBD. (C) No residual stone was observed in the stemware-shaped CBD by cholangiography that was performed after stone removal using a basket and an extraction balloon catheter.

Medical records and imaging studies, including abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and ERCP, were retrospectively reviewed. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of all participating centers (IUH-IRB 14-058).

1. Interventions

Initially, conventional ERCP using an extraction basket and/or balloon with EST or endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) was performed as a first-line procedure in all 34 patients. Multiple procedural sessions were needed to achieve complete CBD clearance in some patients. ML was performed to extract stones in patients with difficult stones. When stone removal failed, a second-line procedure, such as, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (PTCS-L), endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) with or without oral dissolution treatment (ODT), direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC), or a surgical option was adopted.

2. Measurement of outcomes

The primary study endpoint was the overall success rate of complete stone clearance during the first-line procedure. Secondary endpoints included initial procedural success rate for first-line procedures, numbers of first-line procedure sessions required to achieve complete stone clearance, the use of ML, and the overall complication rate (e.g., post-ERCP pancreatitis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, bleeding, perforation, and basket impaction), and rates of conversions to other treatment options such as PTCS-L, surgery, ERBD with ODT, and direct POC. We also evaluated stone recurrence in patients followed up for at least 6 months after stone removal.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients with stones in a stemware-shaped CBD were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline characteristics of the study subjects and the characteristics of stones are summarized in Table 1. Median patient age was 56.8 years (range, 26 to 91 years), median total bilirubin was 5.9 mg/dL (range, 0.4 to 22.3 mg/dL), and the median number of CBD stones per patient was 1 (range, 1 to 10). Median diameter of the extrapancreatic CBD portion was 15.4 mm (range, 8.5 to 32.1 mm), median diameter of the intrapancreatic CBD portion was 5.4 mm (range, 2.6 to 13.4 mm), and the median transverse diameter of stones was 12.3 mm (range, 1.8 to 30 mm).

Table 1.

Baseline Characteristics of the Patients

Characteristic	Value
No. of patients	34
Age, yr	56.8 (26–91)
Sex, male/female	22/12
No. of CBD stones	1 (1–10)
Total bilirubin, mg/dL	5.9 (0.4–22.3)
Diameter, mm
Extrapancreatic portion of CBD	15.4 (8.5–32.1)
Intrapancreatic portion of CBD	5.4 (2.6–13.4)
Transverse diameter of stone	12.3 (1.8–30)
Stone characteristics (brown/black/cholesterol)	17/12/5

Data are presented as number or median (range).

CBD, common bile duct.

A post-ERCP complication occurred in five patients (14.7%); perforation in two, and post-ERCP pancreatitis, basket impaction, and hyperamylasemia in one patient apiece. No mortality occurred (Table 2).

Table 2.

Safety of Conventional Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Stones in Stemware-Shaped Common Bile Ducts

Safety parameter	Value
No. of patients	34
Complication	5 (14.7)
Pancreatitis	1 (2.9)
Cholangitis	0
Cholecystitis	0
Perforation	2 (5.9)
Basket impaction	1 (2.9)
Hyperamylasemia	1 (2.9)
Mortality	0

Data are presented as number (%).

Initial procedural success and overall success rates were 5.9% and 41.2%, respectively, for first-line procedures, demonstrating the poor efficacy of conventional ERCP for the treatment of stones in a stemware-shaped CBD. Twenty of the 34 patients (58.8%) were converted to a second-line procedure (Table 3). One patient who failed the first-line procedure underwent choledocholithotomy as a second-line of procedure and succumbed to acute renal failure 8 days after surgery.

Table 3.

Efficacy of Conventional Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Stemware-Shaped Common Bile Duct Stones

Efficacy parameter	Value
No. of patients	34
Success rate
ISR* after first-line procedure	2 (5.9)
OSR after first-line procedure	14 (41.2)
Session no. of first-line procedure required for complete stone removal, 1/2/3	3/10/1
Total procedure time of successful first-line procedure, min	34.5 (16.6–72)
Second-line of procedure	20 (58.8)
PTCS-L	2 (5.9)
Surgery	7 (20.6)
ERBD with/without ODT	10 (29.4)
Direct peroral cholangioscopy	3 (8.8)
Stone recurrence rate†	2/22 (9.1)

Data are presented as number (%) or median (range).

ISR, initial success rate; OSR, overall success rate; PTCS-L, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy; ERBD, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage; ODT, oral dissolution treatment.

^*Complete stone removal during the first ERCP session;

^†In patients who were followed for at least 6 months after stone removal.

Eight patients had a maximum stone size of <1 cm and 26 had one of >1 cm. Overall success rates for first-line procedures in these two groups were 62.5% and 34.6%, respectively. ML was needed in 60% and 66.7% of patients, respectively, in each group in whom stone retrieval by conventional ERCP succeeded, and 37.5% and 65.4%, respectively, were converted to a second-line procedure (Table 4). Twenty-two patients were followed up for at least 6 months after stone removal, and only two (9.1%) developed stone recurrence. Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 1 to 64 months).

Table 4.

Comparison of Outcomes according to the Maximum Stone Size

Clinical outcome	Stone size <1 cm	Stone size ≥1 cm	Overall
Overall success after first-line procedure	5/8 (62.5)	9/26 (34.6)	14/34 (41.2)
Need of mechanical lithotripsy*	3/5 (60.0)	6/9 (66.7)	9/14 (64.3)
Conversion to second-line procedure	3/8 (37.5)	17/26 (65.4)	20/34 (58.8)
Overall complications	0/8	4/26 (15.4)	4/34 (11.8)

Data are presented as number (%).

^*Use of mechanical lithotripsy in cases of success after the first-line procedure.

DISCUSSION

ERCP is one of the most widespread endoscopic methods, and is used to remove CBD stones in most cholelithiasis patients. CBD stones can usually be retrieved endoscopically by conventional ERCP. However, multiple factors can affect the success or failure of endoscopic removal. The reasons why treatment fail are as follows; difficulties accessing the bile duct (periampullary diverticulum, sigmoid-shaped CBD, and altered anatomy due to gastric surgery), a large stone (diameter >15 mm), a large number of stones (≥10), an unusual stone shape (barrel-shaped), or stone location (intrahepatic, cystic duct, proximal to a stricture).⁷

Some studies have been conducted on relations between anatomical CBD condition and CBD stone recurrence or the difficulty of endoscopic stone retrieval. Keizman et al.⁸ demonstrated that more acute angulation of the CBD (≤145°) influences symptomatic stone recurrence after successful endoscopic treatment. Recently, Kim et al.⁶ first described anatomical bile duct features that increase the technical difficulty of endoscopic stone removal in patients with acute distal CBD angulation and a short distal CBD arm. However, no previous study has addressed the effect of a stemware-shaped CBD on difficult CBD stone removal. In this study, we devised a definition for stemware-shaped CBD and excluded other anatomical anomalies, such as, choledochal cyst and biliary stricture.

In practice, we have experienced many technical difficulties removing stones from a stemware-shaped CBD by ERCP. Even when stones are small, ERCP is laborious, often requires mechanical lithotripsy, and sometimes fails. Furthermore, in such cases, adverse events, such as, basket impaction or perforation, occur frequently. Initially, we considered that failures are caused by a narrow, long, and rigid intrapancreatic portion. Post-ERCP perforation occurred in two of our patients (5.9%); one during biliary insertion of guidewire and the other after balloon dilation of the papilla. We chose a large diameter balloon catheter for EPBD because extrapancreatic CBD portions were relatively wide and because we failed to recognize stemware-shaped anatomies before and during procedures. Accordingly, this study demonstrates the importance of assessing distal CBD shape by imaging study before the endoscopic procedure, including balloon dilatation, to prevent those avoidable complications.

In the present study, overall success rates of complete bile duct clearance at initial and after first-line procedures were only 5.9% and 41.2%, respectively. In addition, more than 70% of patients that underwent successful complete stone removal at first-line procedure needed more than two sessions of ERCP, and for stones of <1 cm, the overall success rate of first-line procedures was only 62.5% and ML was needed in 60% of patients.

The recurrence rate of CBD stones has been reported to range from 4% to 24%.⁹ Recurrence is defined as the development of a stone at least 6 months after complete stone clearance.⁹ The risk factors for recurrence are a bile duct diameter of >13 mm, peri-ampullary diverticulum (type I or II), CBD angulation, previous history of cholecystectomy, and an age exceeding 80 years.^8–11 Stemware-shaped CBDs exhibit proximal dilatation and distal stenosis, which could cause bile stasis, and thus, increase the risk of stone recurrence. However, in the current study, the recurrence rate was not too high. Furthermore, comparing our findings with those of previous studies, it would appear stone recurrence is not higher in patients with a stemware-shaped CBD, but the number of patients recruited was too small to determine the real recurrence rate accurately.

Although the present study is limited by its small sample size and retrospective nature, it was conducted on a multicenter basis and describes for the first time the clinical features and outcomes of stones located in stemware-shaped CBDs.

The endoscopic treatment of stones in stemware-shaped CBDs is challenging and requires careful assessment before endoscopic procedure. Endoscopists may need to prepare for mechanical lithotripsy or other treatment options before commencing ERCP even for small stones in stemware-shaped CBDs.