Management of pancreaticobiliary disease using a new intra-ductal endoscope: The Texas experience

AIM: To evaluate a new single-operator mini-endoscope, Spyglass (R), for its performance, feasibility and safety in the management of pancreaticobiliary disease. METHODS: In a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients undergoing intraductal endoscopy, we evaluated 128 patients (71 men, mean age 57.6 years). Indications were therapeutic (TX) in 72 (56%) and diagnostic (DX) in 56 (44%). RESULTS: Peroral endoscopy was performed in 121 and percutaneous in seven. TX indications included CBD stones in 41, PD stones in six, and biliary strictures in 25. DX indications included abnormal LFT's in 15, abnormal imaging in 38 and cholangiocarcinoma staging in three. Visualization of the stone(s) was considered good in 31, fair in six, and poor in four. Advancement of the electrohydraulic lithotripsy probe was not possible in three patients and proper targeting of the lesion was partial in four patients. A holmium laser was used successfully in three patients. Ductal clearance was achieved in 37 patients after one procedure and in four patients after two procedures. Diagnosis of biliary strictures was modified in 20/29 and confirmed to be malignant in 10/23. Of the modified patients, no diagnosis was available in 17. Spyglass (R) demonstrated malignancy in 8/17 and non-malignancy in nine. Suspected pathology by imaging studies and abnormal LFT's was modified in 43/63 (66%). Staging of cholangiocarcinoma demonstrated multicentric cholangiocarcinoma in 2/3. There was no morbidity associated with the use of Spyglass (R). CONCLUSION: Spyglass Spyscope (R) is a first generation, single operator miniature endoscope that can evaluate and treat various biliary and pancreatic tract diseases. (C) 2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.