Mikkel Jessen*, Bulut M, Knuhtsen S and Bremholm Hansen L
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
*Corresponding author: Mikkel Jessen, University of Copenhagen, Ingerslevsgade 172,2. 1705 Copenhagen V, Denmark
Submission: January 22, 2018; Published: February 12, 2018
ISSN 2637-7632
Volume1 Issue2
Two patients with gastric bypass Roux-en-Y (GBY) presented symptoms of post-prandial upper abdominal pain. Both patients had elevated liver enzyme levels and hyperbilirubinemia. MRCP was performed on both patients demonstrating cholecystolithiasis and gallstones in the common bile duct (CBD). A combined procedure was planned for both patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and perioperative Transgastric Rendezvous ERCP
During laparoscopic cholecystectomy a guidewire was introduced into the cystic duct using Kumar's grasper and placed in the duodenum. Upon transgastric introduction of the duodenoscope [1] a RX-44-autotome was loaded into the wire and brought to the papilla. The papillotome was introduced over the wire through the papilla and the guide wire removed and replaced by a Jag wire in the choledochal duct. A complete papillotomy and stone extraction was performed. Cholangiography demonstrated complete clearance of stones. Both patients were discharged within days after the procedure.
Risk factors such as age, female gender, obesity, diabetes melitus and rapid weight loss increase the risk of gallstone formation [2,3]. Bariatric patients have a post-operative cumulative risk of 30-50 % for formation of gallstones [2,4]. 5-10% percent are expected to develop symptomatic gallstones, thus, requiring cholecystectomy after GBY [2,4] (Figure 1 & 2).
Figure 1: Peroperative cholangiografi using Kumar's grasper.
Figure 2: Picture of the trans-gastric access to the gastric ventricle.
Transgastric ERCP is an established procedure for GBY patients with gallstones in the CBD [1]. The risk for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is considered the same with the transgastric procedure as with conventional ERCP with an incidence ranging from 3-10% for PEP [5]. Comparing conventional ERCP with the Rendezvous technique indicates that the rendezvous technique reduces the risk of PEP [5].
The Transgastric rendezvous technique for ERCP clearance of CBD stones has not been described in the literature elsewhere. With a growing part of the western population undergoing GBY the number of patients with gallstones in CBD will increase. The Transgastric Rendezvous approach should be considered in these patients in order to reduce the rate of PEP.
© 2018 Mikkel Jessen, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.