There are limited data on the outcome of emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). We sought to assess the frequency, indications, and clinical outcomes of ERCPs performed in ICU patients who were too unstable to be transported to the endoscopy unit. An electronic endoscopy database was used to identify the patients (n = 22) and to assess procedural success, complications, and mortality. The indications for ERCP included suspected biliary sepsis, suspected gallstone pancreatitis, and known choledocholithiasis with cholangitis. Biliary cannulation, which was attempted in all patients, was successful in 19 patients (86 %), and of these 18 (95 %) underwent a technically successful endoscopic therapy. There were no apparent endoscopic complications. Therefore, emergency bedside ERCP in ICU patients, which is primarily performed for the management of suspected biliary sepsis and gallstone pancreatitis, can achieve high technical success rates when performed by experienced endoscopists, although the 30-day mortality rate remains high due to multiorgan dysfunction.
Our goal was to assess the incidence of the endoscopically-identified small intestinal and colonic Dieulafoy-like lesions in our GI bleeding population and to characterize the clinical and endoscopic features and response to endoscopic therapy.Patients with GI bleeding from Dieulafoy lesions were identified from our Bleeding Team and GI laser data bases from August 1984 to September 1993. Clinical and endoscopic information contained within the data bases and from each patient's medical record were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnostic criteria that had been used to endoscopically diagnose a Dieulafoy lesion were arterial bleeding or nonbleeding visible vessel stigmata, all without ulceration or erosion.Nine patients (three male; six female; median age, 70 yr; range, 16-94) were identified from a population of 3059 patients. Symptoms included: melena (2); hematochezia (7); and unstable hemodynamics (3). The mean hemoglobin was 8.4 +/- 2.2 g/dl. There was no significant nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or alcohol use. Four patients had small bowel and five patients had colonic Dieulafoy's lesions. Specific sites were: distal duodenum (3); jejunum (1); cecum (1); hepatic flexure (3); and transverse colon (1). The diagnosis was made at initial endoscopy in seven patients, after two endoscopies in one patient, and after four in another patient. Active bleeding was encountered in seven patients (three small bowel; four colon). Endoscopic therapy was successful. Two patients rebled, one from the same site (small bowel) 1 yr later. Both were successfully retreated. There were no complications or deaths.The endoscopic Dieulafoy lesion of the small bowel and colon is infrequently encountered. The diagnosis is most often made during active bleeding. The endoscopic diagnosis requires an aggressive approach, including repeated endoscopy. Endoscopic therapy of proximal small intestinal and colonic Dieulafoy lesions is safe, effective, and should be performed.
Background and study aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an established modality for evaluation and treatment of pancreaticobiliary disorders. However, it is technically more challenging in patients with post-surgical anatomy. The success rate of ERCP in patients with prior pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple resection) is unknown. We assessed the technical success and safety of ERCP in this patient population. Patients and methods: Post pancreaticoduodenectomy patients who had undergone ERCP between January 2002 and May 2005 were identified through a computerized medical index system. ERCP was considered successful if the duct of clinical interest had been cannulated and endoscopic therapy had been performed when indicated. Results: ERCP was attempted 88 times in 51 patients with prior pancreaticoduodenectomy, including 37 procedures for pancreatic indications, 44 for biliary obstruction, and 7 for both biliary and pancreatic indications. The overall technical success rate of ERCP based on the intention behind the procedure was 51 % (45 of the 88 procedures). Success was significantly more likely for biliary indications (37/44, 84 %) than for pancreatic indications (3/37, 8 %) (P ≤ .001). Complications occurred in 2 % of the procedures and included one self- contained perforation treated medically and one Mallory-Weiss tear. Conclusions: When performed by experienced endoscopists, ERCP in patients with prior pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe, with a high success rate for biliary indications and a low success rate for pancreatic duct indications. Better methods of achieving pancreatic duct cannulation after pancreaticoduodenectomy are needed.
