title: Clinical utility of an endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous technique via various approach routes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The endoscopic ultrasound-guided rendezvous techniques (EUS-rendezvous) provide reliable biliary access after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) cannulation. We evaluated the clinical utility of an EUS-rendezvous technique using various approach routes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing EUS-rendezvous for biliary access after failed bile duct cannulation in ERCP were included. EUS-rendezvous was performed via three approach routes depending on the patient's condition: transgastric, transduodenal in a short endoscopic position, or transduodenal in a long endoscopic position. The main outcomes were the technical success rates. Secondary outcomes were procedure time and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients (median age, 77 years) underwent EUS-rendezvous for biliary access resulting from failed biliary cannulation. The reasons for biliary drainage were malignant biliary obstruction in five patients and choledocholithiasis in nine. Transgastric, transduodenal in a short position, and transduodenal in a long position EUS-rendezvous was performed in five, five, and four patients, respectively. Bile duct puncture occurred in the left intrahepatic duct in four patients, right hepatic duct in one, middle common bile duct in four, and lower common bile duct in five. The technical success rate was 100 %. In four patients, the approach route was modified from transduodenal in a short position to transduodenal in a long position or transgastric route. The median procedure time was 81 min. One case each of biliary peritonitis and pancreatitis occurred and were managed conservatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS-rendezvous provided safe and reliable transpapillary bile duct access after failed ERCP cannulation. The selection of the appropriate approach routes, depending on patient condition, is critical.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. kkawakubo-gi@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazumichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakubo
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isayama
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasahira
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kogure
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyabayashi
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Natsuyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koike
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional