Second follow up ERCP for post liver transplant anastomotic biliary stricture (Case L)

This 45 year old gentleman was undergoing ERCP for the second time. Earlier  a 7 French 12 cm had been placed in May of this year. He then developed pruritus and a rising alkaline phosphatase. His bilirubin levels remained normal. We removed the previously placed stent which was blocked. Contrast injection showed the strictured segment involving the posterior ductal branch of the graft and native bile duct (A: White arrow). This segment was dilated with a 6mm diameter balloon of 40 mm length. A thicker, 10 French stent of 12 cm length was placed (C: Black arrows).

Second follow up ERCP for post liver transplant anastomotic biliary stricture (Case K)

This 22 year old lady had undergone living donor liver transplant at our centre for hepatitis B related liver disease. She developed an anastomotic stricture shortly after her surgery and underwent an ERCP in April of this year (A 7 French stent of 15 cm length was initially placed after dilatation of stricture with graduated dilatation catheters but she developed GI bleeding the same day. On endoscopy done the next day, the distal end of the stent was seen to erode the opposite duodenal wall and cause ulceration. This was removed and a shorter stent of the same diameter but shorter 12 cm length was placed). Now, she had developed pruritus and fever. Her stent was removed (A). The next image shows her MRCP which was done prior to her first ERCP (B: White arrow shows the anastomotic stricture site and red arrow shows a collection next to the biliary tree). Contrast injection after stent removal showed the narrowed stricture area (C: Black arrow) and what appears to be a sludge ball above the stricture (C: White arrow). A stricture dilatation balloon of 40 mm length and 6 mm diameter was used to dilate the stricture ( D: Black arrow). A stent assembly was placed across the affected area (E: Black arrow) and a 7 French plastic stent of 12 cm length was deployed (F: Black arrows).

Chronic pancreatitis post abdominal trauma leading to pancreatic duct strictures

This patient was a 20 year old gentleman who had suffered blunt abdominal trauma during motorcycle accident. He developed a pancreatic abscess which was managed conservatively. Over the past one year he had repeated episodes of pancreatitis. His MRCP showed two pancreatic duct strictures at the junction of head and body and in the body (A: White arrows). The same were seen during contrast injection during ERCP (B: Black arrows). We did a pancreatic papillotomy (C: Black arrow), following which the pancreatic duct was dilated along its length using an 8mm x 30 mm biliary stricture dilatation balloon (D1 -D3: Black arrows). A stent assembly was then placed into the pancreatic duct (E: Black arrows). A 7 French plastic stent of 10 cm length was then placed (F: Black arrows).

Second ERCP for post liver transplant anastomotic biliary structure (Case G)

This 65 year old gentleman last underwent ERCP for his biliary stricture three months earlier http://ercp365.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/post-liver-transplant-anastomotic_76.html. We had placed a 10 French plastic stent of 12 cm length at that time. He now presented with pruritis, mildly raised bilirubin and markedly raised ALP levels. An ultrasound showed no pneumobilia and prominence of intrahepatic biliary channels. We pulled the old stent (A: White arrow & B) with a snare (A: Black arrow). Contrast injection outlined the stricture site (C: Black arrow). We dilated the track with a graduated dilatation catheter, size 7.5F  to 10 French (D: Black arrow shows the dilation catheter crossing the stricture site) and placed a 12 cm long stent of 10 French size (E:Black arrows), same as last time .

Retrieving a retained stone post cholecystectomy

This 35 year old lady had undergone cholecystectomy at a private facility last month which was complicated by a biliary leak. She was reopened and a T-tube was  placed. A post procedure T-tube cholangiogram showed a calculus in the CBD (A: Red arrow). The T-tube was then removed and she was referred to our centre. An MRCP was done which confirmed the cholangiogram findings of a CBD stone (B: White arrow). Contrast injection on ERCP showed a vague negative shadow in the upper CBD (C: Blue arrow indicates the concerned area while white arrow shows an inflated biliary balloon at the distal CBD). Sphinchteroplasty was planned there wasn't margin for a full blooded sphincterotomy and a 12-15mm TTS balloon rated at 3-8 ATM (D) was used to dilate the ampulla (E: Black arrow shows the inflated balloon). The patient experienced pain despite high dose IV analgesics so we restricted ourselves to 12mm dilatation for 10 seconds (F: Black arrow shows the post sphincteroplasty ampulla). At this point we were skeptical as to whether the stone would be retrieved. Nevertheless a sweep was made and successful stone extraction was done (G1 & G2: Black arrows show the stone being retrieved). An occlusion cholangiogram with an inflated ballon at the ampulla (H: White arrow) showed a clear CBD. 

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Second ERCP for post transplant anastomotic biliary stricture (CASE J)

This 56 year old gentleman underwent a living related transplant for liver cirrhosis secondary to Hepatitis C around March 2014. He had his first ERCP in December 2014 (an earlier attempt in October 2014 had been unsuccessful). Contrast injection identified a sharp L-shaped angulation of the left hepatic duct, crossing in front of the right duct (A: white arrows). The right duct was seen behind it (A: black arrow). A 7 French stent of 12cm length was deployed in the left duct after dilating the track with a nominal 7 French graduated dilatation catheter. He again developed burning of the soles of his feet and pruritis along with rising ALP. We decided to remove his stent. On ERCP, it was seen to have migrated inside the CBD (B: Black arrows). We retrieved it using a biliary balloon inflated next to it (C: black arrows show the stent and white arrow marks the balloon adjacent to the stent. D: a single balloon sweep had resulted in some pullout and straightening of the proximal sharply bent portion of the stent-compare with C. E: white arrow shows the retrieved stent). Contrast injection post stent retrieval resulted in clear outlining of the right duct (F: black arrow) however the left L-shaped duct was only marginally outlined (F: white arrow). A balloon assembly was positioned in the right ductal system (G: black arrow) which was then inflated with full obliteration of the waist (H: black arrow). Next we manoeuvred our guidewire into the L-shaped left duct (I: black arrow). Pushing the papillotome over the wire and injection of contrast now outlined the left duct in its sharply bent form (J: black arrows. Compare with A). A 7 French double pigtail stent of 12 cm length was deployed (K: black arrows. Note the marked coil in the proximal portion of the stent. Not quite the desired result but we'll keep an eye on him nevertheless to see how it drains). A collection of contrast was also noted (K: red arrows). This was possibly a result of balloon dilatation of the right system. Admission with antibiotics and an eye on the temperature charts is on the menu.

First (actually second) ERCP for post liver transplant anastomotic biliary stricture (Case I)

This 25 year old gentleman had undergone a living donor liver transplant at out centre in July 2014 for Budd Chiari syndrome. He presented with jaundice and pruritus six months later in January this year. His MRCP films showed the level of stricture at the anastomotic site (A: red arrow). An attempt at ERCP a month ago was unsuccessful. However as our guidewire went multiple times into the pancreatic duct we placed a plastic stent in the pancreatic duct. A repeat attempt was now made (B: black arrow marks the papillotome and white arrow indicates the previously placed pancreatic stent). Initially we kept going into the pancreatic duct again (C: White arrows mark the guidewire and black arrow shows the stent in the pancreatic duct). We did a papillotomy to get more manoeuvring space for engaging the CBD (D: black arrow) and were rewarded with successful cannulation (E: White arrow shows our wire in the CBD). Contrast injection confirmed the MRCP findings with dilated intrahepatic ducts (F: black arrows) and a tight anastomotic stricture (F: white arrow). A 7 French plastic stent of 15 cm length was placed (G: black arrows).