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Combined surgical and intraoperative endoscopic rescue of a biliary incarcerated balloon dilator: a successful rescue in a fortunate patient

Abstract

Background

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) is the second proposed maneuver for the endoscopic retrieval of common bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). Being less traumatic, EPBD is acknowledged for fewer procedure-related complications compared to (EST).

Case presentation

We present a 55-year-old lady, who was referred to the pancreato-biliary division, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, for endoscopic management of a high likelihood of choledocholithiasis. Unfortunately, during the procedure, the balloon dilator was incarcerated inside the common bile duct (CBD) with failure of all endoscopic extraction trials. Because of the resultant cholangio-pancreatitis, the incarcerated inflated balloon had to be removed immediately. Open surgical rescue of the case in conjunction with the intraoperative endoscopic biliary stent deployment had made it possible to save the patient.

Conclusion

This case is one of the few reports of incarcerated balloon dilator during EPBD and failure of endoscopic retrieval, with subsequent acute pancreatitis/hepato-cholangitis, and gall bladder mucocele. Despite being a critical surgical candidate and owing to the attentive timely surgical intervention collaborated with the intra-operative endoscopic management, the case was fortunate.

Background

The revolutionary progress in clinical imaging has introduced a lot of knowledge, recognition, and diagnostic accuracy of common bile duct stones (CBD) stones. Furthermore, the preference for laparoscopic cholecystectomy over open surgery has augmented endo-biliary endoscopic management of CBD stones. In accord, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) acquired a central position in the management of CBD stones [1]. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST)and Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) are the two principal approaches for the removal of CBD stones [2]. It has been reported that either EST or EPBD combined with stone extraction using a basket and/or balloon catheter is successful in managing 90% of CBD stones [3].

EST was first described in 1974, and since then, it has become the daily endoscopic practice for the removal of CBD stones [4]. EST starts by deep insertion of a cannula into the bile duct through the papillary orifice followed by electrocautery to incise the sphincter of Oddi [5]. This disruption of the sphincter of Oddi and the associated instrumentation have been implicated in immediate and late EST related complications [5]. The reported short-term complications include bleeding, pancreatitis, cholangitis, and perforation while dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi is a late adverse event [6].

EPBD was then introduced in 1983 and gained a lot of interest as a less traumatic substitute to EST [7]. EPBD starts by selective deep cannulation, then, introducing the balloon catheter across the papillary orifice, inflation of the balloon with diluted contrast till 8 to 12 atmospheric pressure when the waist of the balloon begins to disappear in the fluoroscopic image. The balloon is kept inflated in position for up to two minutes then deflated and the procedure can be repeated several times [7]. The process of EPBD does not involve an incision of the sphincter of Oddi; a great privilege in terms of avoiding bleeding complications especially in patients having coagulopathy, and additionally preserving the function of the sphincter of Oddi [8]. Animal studies showed that EPBD does not damage the smooth muscle layer, thus conserving the papillary architecture [9].

However, many reports had mentioned post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) as being the anxiety mostly associating with EPBD [10]. Papillary edema and possibly damage induced by the dilatation are the potential contributors of post-EPBD pancreatitis [11]. Based on this theory, the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guidelines recommended the use of pancreatic stent as a safeguard against PEP when EPBD is performed [12]. Some studies speculated that endoscopic naso-biliary drainage (ENBD) can attenuate the chances of PEP occurrence by preventing pancreatic juice blockage by papillary edema or the possible residual stones [13].

Case presentation

A 55-year-old lady presented to the pancreato-biliary unit, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, for endoscopic management of the strong likelihood of choledocholithiasis accompanying calcular gall bladder. The pre-ERCP assessment revealed an average body-built lady with prominent jaundice, epigastric pain, and tenderness. She was feverish but reported no vomiting or respiratory system related symptoms. Her immediate abdominal ultrasound showed dilated common bile duct (CBD = 8 mm) with dilated intrahepatic biliary channels and multiple gall bladder stones. The laboratory findings were marked by raised cholestatic and inflammatory parameters (Table 1).

Table 1 Serial laboratory data of the case

After proper sedation, selective cannulation of the CBD needed several trials due to the abnormal anatomic position of the papilla (left duodenal wall positioned papilla). Then, cholangiography confirmed the presence of multiple small CBD stones, markedly dilated CBD, and small distal CBD stricture (3 mm) (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Selective CBD cannulation with cholangiogram revealing dilated CBD and proximal biliary radicles with small distal stricture

Limited papillotomy was successfully undertaken, and an extractor balloon was inserted into the papillary orifice, but repeated clearance trials were unsuccessful, possibly due to the relatively small papillary orifice (Fig. 2a, b). Afterward, the decision was to perform EPBD. Before the procedure, and to ensure proper function, the dilatation balloon was inflated and deflated, then, the dilatation balloon catheter was slid over the guidewire till arrived at the biliary sphincter. While inflating, unexpectedly, the balloon escaped proximally and neither deflation nor backward traction was successful in deflating, and/or removing the balloon catheter (Fig. 3a, b). The endoscopy was removed and introduced again along with vainly trials using rescue extraction forceps to grasp the catheter and trying to remove the balloon. Then, a new trial to introduce a cannulotome to remove the balloon using an extraction basket was also unsuccessful. Desperately, the ERCP session was terminated and both radiological and surgical consultations were decided.

Fig. 2
figure 2

a Limited papillotomy was done followed by Initial inflated balloon. b The inflated balloon within the CBD

Fig. 3
figure 3

a The migrated up inflated balloon in the CBD. b The migrated up balloon in the CBD after removal of endoscopy

Immediate interventional radiological consultation planning for percutaneously puncturing the balloon aiming to ease its endoscopic retrieval was the first rescue consultation. However, the radiologists reported a difficult situation due to the proximity with the portal vein and the significant risk of puncturing it (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4
figure 4

The extracted bursted balloon

In respect to the critical medical condition and the expected hepato-biliary and pancreatic tissue edema, open surgery was the preferred undertaken approach.

Intraoperatively, because of the markedly edematous CBD and gall bladder mucocele, the surgeon neglected to do CBD exploration. The surgeon made an incision in the first part of the duodenum and manually pulled the EBD catheter with its balloon out of the duodenal opening and without any damage to the papillary sphincter. The same endoscopist attended the operation, he re-cannulated the papilla through the duodenal opening and the following cholangiogram revealed multiple small stones which were easily removed by balloon extractor through the dilated distal CBD end under the effect of incarcerated inflated balloon. The cholangiogram confirmed the absence of any CBD injury. Then, a CBD plastic stent 10 cm × 10 French was deployed along the in-kept guidewire. The role of the deployed CBD stent is to keep the duct open in face of tissue edema and to safeguard against any possible leak.

The post-operative period was uneventful with regression of both cholangio-hepatitis and pancreatitis on oral feeding, parenteral fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and vasopressors. The patient was transferred to the ward on the 5th postoperative day and was managed to start oral intake along with the removal of the abdominal drains. On the 10th postoperative day, the patient was sent home to be followed up in pancreato-biliary clinic, planning for removal of the biliary stent 1 month later.

Discussion

Although EST had been considered for a long as the standard technical approach for endoscopic removal of CBD stones, the subsequently introduced EPBD had acquired its reputation as an equally effective alternative but with minimized complications [10]. However, EPBD has its shortcomings, basically, due to the small rather than widened papillary orifice as in EST [14].

Large and bizarre shaped CBD stones are difficult to be removed by EPBD [15], also, the large number of small stones would take a lengthy time [10]. In purpose to overcome such shortcomings, Ersoz et al. had introduced the concept of combining EST with EPBD [7].

A sequential EST followed by EPBD has been explored and demonstrated both safety and efficacy [16]. In addition to the prevention of post-procedural pancreatitis, prior sphincterotomy can help to control the choledochal direction with successful cannulation during EBD [16]. Hence, such a 2-step approach was the selected technique for the present case.

Limited EST has shown to reduce the chances of procedure-related hemorrhage compared to generous sphincterotomy [7]. Additionally, with marked papillary edema, follow up of the dilatation status can be carefully managed by the attending endoscopist; hence, perforation can be avoidable [7]. Therefore, limited papillotomy was done preferably for the present case. Also, the presence of only 2 small stones in the CBD had encouraged the endoscopist to be more conservative in the EST technique.

In this case, the incarceration of the balloon during ERCP can be owed to the distal narrow short CBD segment. Also, based on financial constraints, the repeated use of ERCP-related accessories can reduce their efficiency with inevitable difficulties during work.

Even though the experienced hands, the undertaken endoscopic rescue of the incarcerated balloon was not successful.

Open cholecystectomy as a rescue surgery was the single-shot intervention of choice in this case [17]; it has allowed punctual treatment of both the impacted balloon and the calcular GB and meanwhile the intraoperative re-ERCP for deploying a prophylactic CBD plastic stent.

Conclusion

Therapeutic ERCP has become the intervention of choice for the removal of CBD stones. Although rates of endoscopic CBD clearance are substantial, the potential for serious adverse events is also discernible. The present report identifies an unusual case of incarcerated biliary balloon dilator during EPBD-ERCP management of CBD stones. Prompt sequential open surgery to remove the incarcerated balloon along with cholecystectomy, then, intraoperative re-ERCP and prophylactic stenting of the CBD have shown ultimate results in the management of this case.

Availability of data and materials

All the data is available in the manuscript.

Abbreviations

CBD:

Common bile duct

ERCP:

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

EPBD:

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation

EST:

Endoscopic sphincterotomy

MRC:

Magnetic resonance cholangiography

PEP:

Post-ERCP pancreatitis

ESGE:

European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

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Acknowledgements

All authors are indebted to Professor Omkolsoum Alhaddad for her great efforts in fulfilling this work.

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Contributions

EO analyzed and interpreted the patient data and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. EM helped in revising the manuscript. HO analyzed and interpreted the patient data regarding the hematological disease KA performed the endoscopic intervention. EH helped in case analysis. MT revised the rationalities of the case, and data interpretation, along with manuscript final revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maha Elsabaawy.

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The case was written after the consent of the ethical committee of National Liver Institute Menoufia University

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Alhaddad, O., Elsabaawy, M., Kamal, A. et al. Combined surgical and intraoperative endoscopic rescue of a biliary incarcerated balloon dilator: a successful rescue in a fortunate patient. Egypt Liver Journal 12, 6 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43066-022-00172-5

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