Recent advances of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in surgically altered anatomy

Abstract

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy (SAA) of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a more technically challenging and arduous procedure accompanied by a low success rate of reaching the target orifice and a relatively high rate of complications, compared to those with normal anatomy. Since the introduction of device-assisted enteroscopies such as balloon enteroscopy (BE) and manual spiral enteroscopy (SE) for small bowel disorders, they have also been used for ERCP in patients with SAA. The recent development of short-type BE makes ERCP in patients with SAA technically easier with high success rates and short procedural duration, and then short-type BE is considered the gold standard endoscopic procedure in these patients. Laparoscopy-assisted ERCP is another therapeutic option, especially for patients with a long excluded afferent limb of SAA. The choice of procedure for high success rates should be individualized according to patient characteristics and available physician competence. Moreover, novel motorized SE is a promising alternative procedure for the successful performance of ERCP.