Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy using a single-operator cholangioscope (pSOC), a retrospective, observational, multicenter study

Background and aims Percutaneous cholangioscopy (PC) is more complex and invasive than a transpapillary approach, with the need for a large percutaneous tract of 16 French (Fr) on average in order to advance standard percutaneous cholangioscopes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether percutaneous single-operator cholangioscopy (pSOC) using the SpyGlass((TM)) DS system is feasible, safe, and effective in PC for diagnostic and therapeutic indications. Materials and methods The data of 28 patients who underwent pSOC in 4 tertiary referral centers were retrospectively analyzed. Technical and clinical success for therapeutic procedures was assessed as well as diagnostic accuracy of pSOC-guided biopsies and visualization. Adverse events and the required number and size of dilatations were reviewed. Results 25/28 (89%) patients had a post-surgical altered anatomy. The average number of percutaneous dilatations prior to pSOC was 1.25 with a mean dilatation size of 11 French. Histopathology showed a 100% accuracy. Visual impression showed an overall accuracy of 96.4%. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 27/28 (96%) of cases. Adverse events occurred in 3/28 (10.7%) cases. Conclusion pSOC is a feasible, safe, and effective technique for diagnostic and therapeutic indications. It may be considered an alternative approach in clinical cases where gastrointestinal anatomy is altered. It has the potential to reduce peri-procedural adverse events and costs. Prospective randomized-controlled trials are necessary to confirm the previously collected data.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that percutaneous single-operator cholangioscopy (pSOC) is a feasible, safe, and effective technique for diagnostic and therapeutic indications in cholangioscopy. The success rate of technical procedures is high, with high accuracy reported in histopathology and visual impressions, while the rate of adverse events is low.