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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2014; 20(26): 8424-8448
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8424
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8424
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided treatments: Are we getting evidence based - a systematic review
Carlo Fabbri, Vincenzo Cennamo, Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, AUSL Bologna Bellaria-Maggiore Hospital, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Carmelo Luigiano, Clara Virgilio, Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, ARNAS Garibaldi, 95122 Catania, Italy
Andrea Lisotti, Giancarlo Caletti, Pietro Fusaroli, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Hospital S Maria della Scaletta, 40026 Imola, Italy
Author contributions: Fabbri C and Fusaroli P designed research, edited and finalized the text; Lisotti A and Luigiano C performed literature search, analyzed the data and wrote the text; Virgilio C, Cennamo V and Caletti G reviewed the paper for important intellectual content.
Correspondence to: Pietro Fusaroli, MD, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Hospital S Maria della Scaletta, Via Montericco 4, 40026 Imola, Italy. pietro.fusaroli@unibo.it
Telephone: +39-542-662407 Fax: +39-542-662409
Received: November 1, 2013
Revised: January 30, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Revised: January 30, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided interventions have become increasingly popular. The advantages of EUS guidance over percutaneous and surgical routes are well established for pseudocyst drainage and celiac plexus neurolysis as they have been assessed in high level of evidence literature. However, for other very fashionable procedures such as bile duct and pancreatic duct drainage, the role of EUS guidance has only been reported as preliminary studies in limited number of patients. The level of evidence of each EUS-guided intervention is accurately reported in this review in order to provide the readers with the current status of knowledge and allow insights into potential future direction of research.