Cholangioscopy With Spyglass DS Using Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography Access: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Biliary strictures are caused by various disorders ranging from inflammatory strictures induced by primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) to strictures caused by cholangiocarcinoma. Identifying the etiology of these strictures is often difficult, but important, as treatment is dependent on the underlying cause1-3. To properly treat and diagnose biliary strictures, visualization of the target area is needed, and biopsies must be taken3,4. Conventional methods have poor accuracy in distinguishing between benign and malignant etiologies, and diagnosing these patients presents a challenge1,4,5.

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP) is the standard procedure for the treatment of biliary strictures1 and can be further supplemented with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to increase diagnostic accuracy. However, ERCP is limited by its low diagnostic sensitivity6. Furthermore, some difficult strictures require direct visualization of the lesions with targeted biopsies. In such cases, peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) provides an alternative when traditional ERCP is not feasible. POCS can directly visualize target lesions, obtain targeted biopsies, and is shown to be safe and useful when diagnosing indeterminate biliary strictures1. However, some patients have previously undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery, which can alter both duodenal and biliary anatomy. Moreover, strictures caused by PSC may be multifocal and/or positioned over the biliary confluence, which can make visualization difficult2. Conventional ERCP and POCS are not feasible in these patients, and another approach is required7,8.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) is an alternative, attractive procedure owing to a shorter and more straightforward route to all parts of the biliary tree. Studies have shown that PTCS is safe, effective, and feasible for the visualization of indeterminate biliary strictures and in cases with altered biliary anatomy7,9-12. In addition, the studies demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy of PTCS and reported a satisfactory rate of technical success7,9-12.

Despite these preliminary studies, literature concerning the feasibility of PTCS using SpyGlass DS technology (S-PTCS) remains sparse. This study aimed to evaluate the use, specifically the visual and histological success, and the specificity, sensitivity, and complication rate of S-PTCS during a 5-year period at a Danish tertiary referral center for upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and transplantation.