Effectiveness of a new approach to minimally invasive surgery in palliative treatment of patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Palliative endoscopic biliary drainage is the primary treatment option for the management of patients with jaundice which results from distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO). In this group of patients, decompression of the bile duct (BD) allows for pain reduction, symptom relief, chemotherapy administration, improved quality of life, and increased survival rate. To reduce the unfavorable effects of BD decompression, minimally invasive surgical techniques require continuous improvement.

AIM

To develop a technique for internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage (IEBJD) and assess its effectiveness in comparison to other minimally invasive procedures in the palliative treatment of patients with DMBO.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed, which included 134 patients with DMBO who underwent palliative BD decompression. Biliary-jejunal drainage was developed to divert bile from the BD directly into the initial loops of the small intestine to prevent duodeno-biliary reflux. IEBJD was carried out using percutaneous transhepatic access. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting (ERBS), and internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage (IETBD) were used for the treatment of study patients. Endpoints of the study were the clinical success of the procedure, the frequency and nature of complications, and the cumulative survival rate.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the frequency of minor complications between the study groups. Significant complications occurred in 5 (17.2%) patients in the IEBJD group, in 16 (64.0%) in the ERBS group, in 9 (47.4%) in the IETBD group, and in 12 (17.4%) in the PTBD group. Cholangitis was the most common severe complication. In the IEBJD group, the course of cholangitis was characterized by a delayed onset and shorter duration as compared to other study groups. The cumulative survival rate of patients who underwent IEBJD was 2.6 times higher in comparison to those of the PTBD and IETBD groups and 20% higher in comparison to that of the ERBS group.

CONCLUSION

IEBJD has advantages over other minimally invasive BD decompression techniques and can be recommended for the palliative treatment of patients with DMBO.

Key Words: Distal malignant biliary obstruction; Obstructive jaundice; Bile duct decompression; Palliative endoscopic biliary drainage; Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage

Core Tip: This study compared the new technique of internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage (IEBJD) for bile duct (BD) decompression in patients with obstructive jaundice with commonly used procedures through a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. IEBJD was used to divert bile from the BD directly into the initial loops of the small intestine to prevent duodeno-biliary reflux. The application of IEBJD was associated with a decreased incidence of significant complications, a delayed onset of cholangitis and its shorter duration, as well as an increased cumulative survival rate in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction as compared to commonly used endoscopic ultrasound-guided retrograde and antegrade techniques and internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage.

INTRODUCTION

Patients with jaundice would be ineligible for radical treatment in 70%-85% of cases upon initial examination due to distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO)[1,2]. Palliative decompression of the bile ducts (BD) is currently the primary treatment option for the management of patients with obstructive jaundice. This approach allows for pain reduction, symptom relief, and, in some cases, chemotherapy administration[3]. BD decompression not only improves patients’ quality of life but also increases their survival rate[4].

In general, there are two main techniques for performing endoscopic ultrasound-guided minimally invasive BD (EUS-BD) decompression: The EUS-rendezvous approach (retrograde) and the EUS-antegrade technique[5,6], and their combination is also possible[7]. Each method has both advantages and disadvantages.

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is likely to result in: (1) A significant loss of bile, necessitating the oral administration of bile salts and leaving an implantable port under the skin[6]; and (2) the implantation of metastases along the trajectory of stent placement[8], as well as cholangitis development caused by stent malfunction. Nevertheless, compared to other methods, this one is relatively simple and most affordable. Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting (ERBS) is considered a method of choice for palliative treatment of patients with DMBO[8,9]. However, it is associated with trauma to the major duodenal papilla (papilla of Vater) and pancreas, which increases the risk of bleeding and pancreatitis development[10] and causes the reflux of duodenal content to the BD[11,12]. It leads to cholangitis development and stent obstruction[13]. The proposed antireflux stents[12,14-16] have not yet found widespread use[17]. In addition, tumor ingrowth and overgrowth, as well as stent occlusion, are potential outcomes[18]. Stents are relatively expensive and difficult to repair and replace[19]. Nevertheless, they provide internal drainage of bile.

Combining the advantages of percutaneous drainage and stenting, internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage (IETBD) involves draining the duodenum while maintaining normal bile outflow. However, there is a high probability of reflux cholangitis. Researchers have polarized opinions about the effectiveness of this approach[9,20-22].

Thus, one of the main reasons for cholangitis being one of the most serious complications of minimally invasive BD decompression techniques, is stent occlusion, which is strongly associated with duodenobiliary reflux. Therefore, avoidance of duodenobiliary reflux is important in preventing stent dysfunction and cholangitis onset[23].

In order to reduce the unfavorable effects of BD decompression in patients with DMBO including cholangitis, the approaches and tools used in minimally invasive procedures, as well as the choice of method, require continuous improvement.

We aimed to develop a technique for internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage (IEBJD) and assess its effectiveness in comparison to other minimally invasive procedures in the palliative treatment of patients with DMBO.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study participants

A prospective, randomized, multicenter study was conducted in three hospitals affiliated with the Department of Surgery with a course of emergency and vascular surgery at O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University (Kyiv): Kyiv City Oleksandrivska Clinical Hospital, Kyiv City Clinical Emergency Hospital, and National Military Medical Clinical Center “Main Military Clinical Hospital”, Kyiv. A total of 134 patients who underwent palliative decompression of the BD due to DMBO between 2017 and 2021 were included in the study. Approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University (Protocol No. 25-15-65, as of November 28, 2017), and informed consent was given by all participants before the study. The inclusion criteria were: The presence of mechanical jaundice; age over 18 years; the impossibility of radical surgery; and the technical success of the minimally invasive procedure. The exclusion criteria were: Mechanical BD obstruction without jaundice; age less than 18 years; high operative risk [American Society of Anesthetists (ASA) score of 4]; multiple metastatic liver disease; ascites; hemorrhagic diathesis; coagulopathy (international normalized ratio ≥ 1.5); past history of gastrectomy and reconstruction using the Billroth II or Roux-en-Y technique.

Using MS Excel, patients were randomly assigned to four treatment groups in accordance with the BD decompression procedure (Figure 1). The PTBD group included 33 patients; the IETBD group included 30 patients; the ERBS group included 34 patients; and the IEBJD group included 37 patients. However, due to technical difficulties in implementing the planned method, which was subsequently replaced with another one, the number of patients in the groups changed throughout the course of the study. In particular, two patients were not eligible for ERBS (they underwent PTBD); IETBD turned out to be impossible for two patients (they underwent PTBD); during IEBJD, we did not manage to provide drainage distally to the ligament of Treitz in two cases (they underwent IETBD); and it was impossible to insert the drain tube distally to the tumor of the pancreatic head in one patient (he underwent PTBD). All patients who were randomized to the PTBD group were treated using this BD decompression technique.

Figure 1 Patient randomization based on the bile duct decompression techniques used in the study. AC: Ampullary cancer; CC: Cholangiocarcinoma; ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; IJBED: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; MN: Metastatic nodes; PC: Pancreatic cancer; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

Thus, the PTBD group included 38 patients, the IETBD group included 30 patients, the ERBS group included 32 patients, and the IEBJD group included 34 patients.

The PTBD and IETBD procedures were carried out using plastic drain tubes of the Pigtail type 9Fr. For ERBS, Partially Covered Nitinol Self-Expandable Metal Stents with a diameter of 8-10 mm were used.

Methodology of external-internal biliary-jejunal drainage

IEBJD was used to divert bile from the BD directly into the initial loops of the small intestine to prevent duodeno-biliary reflux and reflux cholangitis. In our study, the IEBJD technique was applied using a newly developed biliary-jejunal drainage system. The drain tube has two groups of lateral openings (proximal and distal), between which it is devoid of openings from the distal border of the tumor to the initial loops of the small intestine[24].

IEBJD was carried out using percutaneous transhepatic access. The end of the drain tube with the distal group of lateral openings is located behind the duodeno-jejunal bend in the initial loops of the jejunum, while the proximal group of lateral openings is located in the dilated BD above the stenosis (Figure 2).

Figure 2  Layout of external-internal biliary-jejunal drainage placement.

Endpoints and variables

Endpoints of the study were the clinical success of the procedure, the frequency and nature of complications from the manipulation, and the cumulative survival rate.

The procedure was considered clinically successful if the serum level of total bilirubin decreased by at least 50% as compared to the baseline value during the first 7 d after manipulation[12].

The Society of Interventional Radiology Clinical Practice Guidelines[25] classified postoperative complications as insignificant or significant.

Significant complications included acute hemobilia, pancreatitis, pneumothorax, sepsis, liver abscess, cholecystitis, biliary peritonitis, bleeding requiring blood transfusion, bile duct rupture, and cholangitis.

The clinical diagnosis of cholangitis was established on the basis of the following criteria: Body temperature above 38.5 °C, leukocyte count > 10 × 10⁹/L, and proportion of neutrophils > 70%[26].

Postoperative pancreatitis was graded as “mild” in cases of the onset or progression of abdominal pain and an elevated serum amylase level three or more times above the reference range within 24 h after the procedure, requiring a minimum of 2-3 d of hospitalization. Pancreatitis was graded as “moderately severe” if the patient required hospitalization for 4-10 d, and as “severe” when the patient required hospitalization for more than 10 d, as well as in cases of necrosis and pseudocysts, indicating the need for percutaneous drainage or open pancreatic debridement[27].

Total bilirubin and α-amylase levels in serum were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer, Olympus AU-800 (Olympus, Japan). Blood tests were performed using the hematological analyzer Mindray BC-2800 (China).

Statistical analysis

Statistical data processing was performed using the statistical package IBMSPPS Statistics 22. To determine whether the observations deviated from the normal curve, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used. Statistical differences were calculated using ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons and a two-tailed t-test (for normally distributed variables) and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test (for non-normally distributed variables) for single comparisons. A Pearson χ² test was used for qualitative data. A cumulative survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method using the log-rank test. All differences with a P value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Ethics statement

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of O. O. Bogomolets National Medical University, and informed consent was obtained from all participants before the study.

RESULTS

General characteristics of patients

The general characteristics of study participants are summarized in Table 1. The anamnesis revealed that mechanical jaundice occurred in patients on an average of 15.2 d ± 0.2 d before the manipulation (from 10 d to 22 d). Patients did not have a statistically significant difference in terms of the average duration of jaundice before surgery.

Table 1 General characteristics of study participants, n (%).

Indicator	Total, n = 134	Study group				Pvalue
		EIBJD, n = 29	ERBS, n = 25	IETBD, n = 19	PTBD, n = 65
Age in yr, mean ± SD	64.1 ± 11.6	65.8 ± 10.1	61.9 ± 12.9	62.2 ± 13.0	66.0 ± 10.4	0.296
Male/female	69/65	19/15	17/15	14/16	19/19	0.894
Duration of jaundice in d, mean ± SD	15.0 ± 2.0	14.7 ± 1.5	15.5 ± 2.0	14.9 ± 2.6	14.3 ± 1.1	0.250
Total serum bilirubin in mg/dL, mean ± SD	11.3 ± 4.6	12.4 ± 4.5	12.3 ± 4.2	10.1 ± 5.3	10.5 ± 4.2	0.092
Cholangitis before the procedure	19 (14.2)	6 (17.6)	4 (12.5)	4 (13.3)	5 (13.2)	0.928
T stage
T2	6 (4.6)	1 (2.9)	1 (3.1)	2 (6.7)	2 (5.3)	0.985
T3	78 (58.2)	19 (55.9)	19 (59.4)	18 (60.0)	22 (57.9)
T4	50 (37.3)	14 (41.2)	12 (37.5)	10 (33.3)	14 (36.8)
N stage
N0	8 (6.7)	3 (8.8)	2 (6.3)	3 (10.0)	1 (2.6)	0.922
N1	97 (72.4)	24 (70.6)	24 (75.0)	19 (63.3)	30 (78.9)
N2	11 (8.2)	3 (8.8)	2 (6.3)	4 (13.3)	2 (5.3)
Nx	17 (12.7)	4 (11.8)	4 (12.5)	4 (13.3)	5 (13.2)
М stage
М0	64 (47.8)	14(41.2)	18 (56.3)	16 (53.3)	16 (42.1)	0.858
М1	53 (39.6)	15 (44.1)	11 (34.4)	10 (33.3)	17 (44.7)
Мх	17 (12.7)	5 (14.7)	3 (9.4)	4 (13.3)	5 (13.2)
Grade
ІІВ	4 (3.0)	1 (2.9)	1 (3.1)	2 (6.7)	0 (0.0)	0.760
ІІІ	47 (35.1)	12 (35.3)	13 (40.6)	10 (33.3)	12 (31.6)
ІV	83 (61.9)	21 (61.8)	18 (56.3)	18 (60.0)	26 (68.4)
Tumour etiology
Pancreatic cancer	92 (68.7)	23 (67.6)	23 (71.9)	19 (63.3)	27 (71.1)	0.757
Cholangiocarcinoma	25 (18.7)	7 (20.6)	5 (15.6)	7 (23.3)	6 (15.8)
Ampullary cancer	14 (10.4)	2 (5.9)	3 (9.4)	4 (13.3)	5 (13.2)
Metastatic nodes	3 (2.2)	2 (5.9)	1 (3.1)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)

ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

There were no significant differences in the serum level of total bilirubin between the groups. The mean serum level of total bilirubin was 11.36 mg/dL ± 0.04 mg/dL (3.93-22.78 mg/dL).

There was no statistically significant difference between the study groups in terms of average age, sex ratio, cancer stage, TNM criteria, or etiological factors of stricture.

Comparative analysis of clinical outcomes of DMBO patients who underwent various minimally invasive procedures

In the case of PTBD, the technical success was 100%, and it was 94.1% for ERBS, 93.8% for IETBD, and 91.9% for IEBJD (P = 0.365).

The clinical success was 94.1% in the IEBJD group, 93.8% in the ERBS group, 86.7% in the IETBD group, and 94.7% in the PTBD group (P > 0.582 for all).

Cholangitis, which was diagnosed at admission, subsided within 3-4 d after the procedure.

There were no technical complications (related to the specifics of the manipulation) in any study group. Minor complications occurred both singly and in combination. The groups did not differ statistically in terms of the number of patients with minor complications and their variants (Table 2).

Table 2 Frequency of minor postoperative complications in study groups, n (%).

Complication	Study group				Pvalue
	EIBJD, n = 34	ЕRBS, n = 32	IETBD, n = 30	PTBD, n = 38
Pain in the drainage area	6 (17.6)	5 (15.6)	7 (23.3)	7 (18.4)	0.885
Hyperthermia	3 (8.8)	-	2 (6.7)	3 (7,9)	0.423
Bile leakage	1 (2.9)	2 (6.3)	1 (3.3)	2 (5.3)	0.903
Bleeding	3 (8.8)	-	3 (10,0)	4 (10.5)	0.325
Subcapsular biloma	1 (2.9)	3 (9.4)	1 (3.3)	1 (2.6)	0.498
Shingle pain	1 (2.9)	-	1 (3.3)	2 (5.3)	0.642
Total	1 (2.9)	3 (9.4)	1 (3.3)	-	0.223

ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

Significant complications occurred in 5 (14.7%) patients in the IEBJD group, in 10 (31.3%) in the ERBS group, in 13 (43.3%) in the IETBD group, and in 8 (21.1%) in the PTBD group (Table 3). In the PTBD and external-internal biliary-jejunal drainage (EIBJD) groups, a significant complication of one type was observed, while in the ERBS and IETBD groups, significant complications of two types were observed in one patient.

Table 3 Frequency and types of significant postoperative complications in study groups, n (%).

Indicator	Study group				Pvalue
	EIBJD, n = 34	ЕRBS, n = 32	IETBD, n = 30	PTBD, n = 38
Patients with complications	5 (14.7)	10 (31.3)	13 (43.3)	8 (21.1)	0.053
Number of complications in one patient
No	29 (85.3)	22 (68.8)	17 (56.7)	30 (78.9)	0.072
One	5 (14.7)	7 (21.9)	10 (33.3)	8 (21.1)
Two	0 (0.0)	3 (9.4)	3 (10.0)	0 (0.0)
Type of complication
Cholangitis	3 (8.8)	8 (25.0)	10 (33.3)	9 (13.2)	0.052
Pancreatitis
No	32 (94.1)	28 (87.5)	27 (90.0)	38 (100)	0.121
Mild	2 (5.9)	2 (6.3)	3 (10.0)	0 (0.0)
Moderately severe	0 (0.0)	2 (6.3)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Cholecystitis	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1 (3.3)	3 (7.9)	0.157
Liver abscess	0 (0.0)	1 (3.1)	2 (6.7)	0 (0.0)	0.217

ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

The complication rate (P = 0.053) did not differ significantly between the groups, but it did differ significantly between the groups where the biliary decompression system connected the lumen of the duodenum to the bile ducts (IETBD and ERBS) and those where it did not (PTBD and IEBJD): 23 (37.1%) vs 13 (18.1%), respectively, P = 0.013.

The most frequent complication was cholangitis (26 cases, 19.4%). In general, there were no statistically significant differences in the cholangitis rate between the groups (P = 0.052). However, when a drain tube or stent was used to connect the lumen of the duodenum to the bile ducts, the frequency of cholangitis was significantly higher than when it was not used: 18 (29.0%) vs 8 (11.1%) (P = 0.009).

The course of cholangitis in the IEBJD group differed from that in the ERBS and IETBD groups by a longer period before its occurrence after the procedure (P < 0.05) and a shorter duration (P < 0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4 Features of cholangitis in study groups.

Indicator	Study group
	EIBJD, n = 34	ЕRBS, n = 32	IETBD, n = 30	PTBD, n = 38
The time period from the procedure until the cholangitis onset, d	106.7 ± 38.4a	75.1 ± 14.9b	35.3 ± 9.9b	44.5 ± 9.9b
Cholangitis duration, d	4.7 ± 0.3a	9.9 ± 0.5b	7.7 ± 0.6b	5.3 ± 0.2a

^aDifferent letters indicate significant differences between study groups (Tukey post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction, P < 0.05.

^bDifferent letters indicate significant differences between study groups (Tukey post-hoc test with Bonferroni correction, P < 0.05). ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

The patients who underwent IEBJD had the highest cumulative survival rate [239.3 d, 95% confidence interval (CI): 198.9-279.6 d] when compared to other groups (Figure 3). However, patients in the PTBD (102.0 d, 95%CI: 77.6-128.1 d) and IETBD (94.8 d, 95%CI: 54.1-135.5 d) groups had significantly lower cumulative survival rates (P < 0.01) than those in the ERBS group (187.8 d, 95%CI: 153.8-221.9 d).

Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves for patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction who underwent various minimally invasive palliative procedures. Patients with internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage had a higher survival rate than the other groups (P < 0.05). DMBO: Distal malignant biliary obstruction; ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

In comparison to other groups, the mortality risk in the IEBJD group was lower 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mo after the start of the procedure (Table 5).

Table 5 Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the mortality in patients who underwent internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage as compared to other techniques.

Observation period in mo	PTBD	IETBD	ERBS
3	0.39; 0.19-0.82, Р = 0.018	0.31; 0.14-0.69, Р = 0.005	0.75; 0.31-1.76, Р = 0.438
6	0.49; 0.28-0.87, Р = 0.011	0.34; 0.18-0.66, Р < 0.001	0.96; 0.56-1.69, Р = 0.982
9	0.36; 0.22-0.60, Р < 0.001	0.26; 0.14-0.49, Р < 0.001	0.78; 0.49-1.22, Р = 0.232
12	0.39; 0.24-0.64, Р < 0.001	0.26; 0.14-0.48, Р < 0.001	0.86; 0.56- 1.32, Р = 0.507
15	0.38; 0.23-0.62, Р < 0.001	0.30; 0.17-0.54, Р < 0.001	0.77; 0.51-1.16, Р = 0.078

ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage; PTBD: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

The technique aimed to increase the survival rate of patients with distal block by reducing the risk of duodeno-biliary reflux as well as the frequency and duration of reflux cholangitis. In the IEPTB and ERBS groups, there was a high probability of reflux of duodenal contents into the biliary tract through the drain tube and stent, respectively. Analysis of the impact of cholangitis episodes on the survival rate in these groups confirmed the success of the newly developed technique (Figure 4). The average survival time in patients with cholangitis episodes was 93.9 d (95%CI: 70.4-117.4 d), whereas in patients without cholangitis it was 156.1 d (95%CI: 124.9-191.3 d) (P = 0.009); the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.96 (95%CI: 1.02-3.79). However, the cholangitis factor had no effect on the survival rate in patients from the EIBJD group (HR = 1.07, 95%СI: 0.32-3.64).

Figure 4 Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves for patients with internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage and endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting depending on the presence of cholangitis episodes. Patients with cholangitis had a lower survival rate compared to those without (P < 0.05). ERBS: Endoscopic retrograde biliary stenting; IETBD: Internal-external transpapillary biliary drainage.

DISCUSSION

Cholangitis is one of the major complications of palliative BD decompression in patients with DMBO. It is recognized as an independent risk factor for liver dysfunction, reduced quality of life, and decreased life expectancy[28].

Cholangitis can develop in cases of gastrointestinal tract infection in patients with an unresectable bilioduodenopancreatic neoplasm due to: (1) Retrograde reflux of intestinal flora during and after the procedure; (2) microbiota dissemination through the external drainage; (3) hematogenous spread of microorganisms; and (4) the contrast reaching the bile ducts. Furthermore, the infection may already be present before the procedure, despite the absence of typical cholangitis manifestations[29,30]. However, duodeno-biliary reflux is the most significant systemic cause of cholangitis. It occurs when the lumen of the duodenum is connected to the lumen of the bile duct, resulting in the disruption or even loss of the barrier function of the sphincter of Oddi[16]. The basal pressure, which is normally created by the sphincter of Oddi (135-202 mm H₂O), is higher than that in the duodenum (80-120 mm H₂O)[31,32]. Phase contractions of the duodenum are accompanied by an increase in pressure and simultaneous initiation of the sphincter of Oddi contractions, which, in turn, prevent reflux[31]. In contrast, the basal pressure in the common BD is usually in the range of 50-100 mm H₂O and does not prevent reflux, especially in the case of connecting the lumen of the bile duct to the lumen of the duodenum[33]. Duodeno-biliary reflux occurs in 100% of patients after ERBS, as demonstrated by duodenography with barium, but it is not always associated with cholangitis[11,12]. After stenting of the BD, 98% of patients show positive bile cultures[34]. Bacteriobilia after ERBS is associated with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus cloacae, and other microorganisms that are usually resistant to commonly used antibiotics[13]. The high incidence of cholangitis after ERBS has prompted an analysis of a two-step approach to radical treatment of pancreatic head cancer. It has been demonstrated that the number of infectious complications and mortality rate are significantly higher in patients who receive two-stage treatment (BD stenting followed by radical surgery) in comparison to patients who receive one-stage treatment[13]. A meta-analysis including 1435 patients with malignant bile duct obstruction revealed a significantly lower frequency of cholangitis in the case of nasobiliary BD drainage (without duodenobiliary reflux) as compared to ERBS (HR = 0.46, P < 0.00001)[35]. In our study, cholangitis occurred in 36.0% of patients in the ERBS group during the follow-up period.

Apparently, favorable conditions for duodeno-biliary reflux and cholangitis also develop after IETBD, as evidenced by the results of the study by Xu et al[22], who diagnosed cholangitis in 52.4% of patients with IETBD, which coincides with our observations (31.6%).

Duodeno-biliary reflux after ERBS and IETBD is responsible for the reduced duration of stent patency[21,12,36]. This creates a risk of cholangitis. The presence of the food fibers, bile, bacteria, fibrin, debris, granulation tissue, and inflammatory cells in the occlusive material from removed stents confirms the effect of duodeno-biliary reflux on stent/drainage patency[37]. These sediments are usually infected with Gram-negative bacteria[38]. The biliary stent becomes occluded as a result of biofilm formation caused by bacterial colonization. Biofilm formation begins with the priming of the stent surface by various microbial proteins, followed by microbial adhesion to the stent and the formation of an exopolysaccharide matrix, embedding microbial colonies and other particles into the mature biofilm[39,40]. Over time, this leads to increased bile viscosity, slowed bile flow[41], bile stasis, increased deposition of bile salts[42], and the formation of a brown pigment stone (calcium bilirubinate)[43]. Despite the fact that the stent patency rate is frequently used as an indicator of adverse events following successful placement, we did not compare it between the groups because patients died before stent dysfunction occurred. Namely, in the IETBD and PTBD groups, the stent patency was maintained until the death in 16 (84.2%) and 59 (90.8%) patients, respectively, and the average stent patency duration was mainly determined by the life span and was 69.6 d ± 7.2 d and 84.6 d ± 6.6 d, respectively. At the same time, the average stent patency duration among patients who had drainage obstruction prior to death was 94.3 d ± 3.5 d and 155.2 d ± 20.1 d, respectively (P = 0.078). In the IEBJD and ERBS groups, the stent patency was maintained until death in 14 (48.3%) and 12 (48.0%) patients, respectively. The average stent patency duration in these groups was longer than that in the IETBD and PTBD groups: 178.9 d ± 11.5 d and 155.3 d ± 14.3 d, respectively. Among other things, this could be attributed to the longer life expectancy of patients. Nevertheless, in patients who had stent dysfunction before death, the stent patency duration was 204.1 d ± 13.1 d (between 131 d and 275 d) and 168.2 d ± 20.1 d (between 98 d and 292 d), respectively (P = 0.047). Although the stent patency duration was longer in the IEBJD group, probably due to the absence of reflux of duodenal content, we decided not to emphasize this fact for the aforementioned reasons. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the cumulative survival rate in the ERBS group with preserved stent patency and cholangitis was 157.1 d (95%CI: 132.1-182.1), while without cholangitis it was 269.6 d (95%CI: 230.3-309.0) (P = 0.005). Notably, biliary decompression was not interrupted because of drainage dysfunction in any of the patients and was usually continued for the rest of their lives.

To reduce the incidence of stent-associated cholangitis, stents with anti-reflux valves of various shapes (wine glass-shaped, funnel-shaped, or windsock-shaped) and lengths have been developed[12,16,14,15]. Preliminary data suggest that such stents may be potentially beneficial, although more research is required[17]. Despite the fact that they have patency indices comparable to valveless metal stents[15], they have not been widely used and are prone to dislocation[17]. Kuwatani et al[43] noted that, currently, there is no ideal stent with constant patency.

Our study aimed to reduce the incidence of reflux cholangitis. Therefore, we used external-internal drainage to provide bile evacuation into the initial loops of the small intestine, bypassing the duodenum. As a result, the major duodenal papilla is not damaged during the procedure, so the probability of duodeno-biliary reflux is minimal and, in our study, it was not observed. Instead, duodenal contents may enter the bile duct from the outside of the drain.

The possibility of emptying the contents of the small intestine into the choledoch cannot be ruled out, despite the fact that the basal pressure in the intestine is lower[44] or similar to that in the choledoch[45]. In our study, duodeno-biliary reflux was not observed. Furthermore, the pressure in the jejunum does not change (82 mm H₂O ± 11 mm H₂O) when the balloon located in the duodenum and simulating the passage of the food is inflated (up to 6 mL), in contrast to a significant increase in the pressure in the duodenum (up to 242 mm H₂O ± 52 mm H₂O) and in the area of duodenojejunal flexure (up to 334 mm H₂O ± 48 mm H₂O)[45].

We carried out IEBJD on 34 patients with DMBO. A control barium X-ray of the stomach and duodenum did not reveal a reflux of contrast into the BD (Figure 5).

Figure 5 Barium X-ray examination of the stomach and duodenum in a patient 3 mo after external-internal biliary-jejunal drainage for pancreatic head cancer. Contrast reflux in the bile duct is absent. IEBJD: Internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage.

Subcapsular biloma and bleeding, two minor complications that were noted during the manipulation procedure, both subsided on their own without the need for a blood transfusion.

A decrease in the serum level of total bilirubin by more than 50% compared to baseline values was detected in 94.1% of cases. Bile leakage was not observed, unlike in the PTBD group.

In the postoperative period, significant complications occurred in 5 (14.7%) patients in the IEBJD group, in 10 (31.3%) in the ERBS group, in 13 (43.3%) in the IETBD group, and in 8 (21.1%) in the PTBD group. Although there were no significant differences between the groups (P = 0.053), the frequency of serious complications was significantly higher in the groups with the connection between the duodenal lumen and the bile ducts than in the groups without it: 23 (37.1 %) vs 13 (18.1%) patients, respectively (P = 0.013). This can also be referred to cholangitis, which is the most frequent complication: 18 (29.0%) vs 8 (11.1%) patients (P = 0.009).

The cumulative survival rate was the highest in the IEBJD group, at an average of 239.3 d (95%CI: 198.9-279.6) (P < 0.05). Three, six, nine, twelve, and fifteen months after the procedure, patients who underwent IEBJD had a lower mortality risk than those who were treated using other techniques. A lower cholangitis onset rate may account for a higher survival rate in the IEBJD group. It has been shown that cholangitis can be associated with a decrease in life expectancy: 93.9 d (95%CI: 70.4-117.4 d) in the groups with a high risk of duodenal-biliary reflux and reflux cholangitis vs 156.1 d (95%CI: 124.9-191.3 d) in the groups without cholangitis (P = 0.009) (HR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.02-3.79). However, cholangitis had no impact on the survival rate in the IEBJD group (HR = 1.07, 95%CI: 0.32-3.64).

In patients with IEJBD, the drain tube is easier to manage in cases of cholangitis symptoms. Antibiotic therapy and drain rehabilitation helped remove cholangitis symptoms within 3-4 d, whereas other methods took 7-14 d.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that IEBJD has advantages over other BD decompression techniques in the palliative treatment of patients with DMBO. However, this technique, like other external-internal drainage systems, causes difficulties for the patient since the drain exits the body and requires a drainage bag. Compared to IEBJD, ERBS has advantages in this regard. Moreover, further development of reliable anti-reflux stents would definitely prioritize ERBS use for palliative BD decompression. Nonetheless, IEBJD is currently a cost-effective treatment option, particularly for patients with a short life expectancy. The study has certain limitations, including a relatively small number of patients in the comparison groups. In addition, the study did not include patients with total bilirubin > 20.47 mg/dL and high operative risk (ASA score of 4).

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) may benefit from bile duct (BD) decompression using endoscopic biliary drainage since the procedure reduces pain, relieves symptoms, allows for the administration of chemotherapy, improves quality of life, and increases the survival rate. Cholangitis is one of the main complications of palliative BD decompression in patients with DMBO. Therefore, BD decompression techniques require further improvement to reduce the frequency of cholangitis episodes.

Research motivation

Duodeno-biliary reflux (DBR), among others, is regarded as one of the major systemic causes of cholangitis. The aim of the study was to develop a BD drainage technique for bile diversion from the BD directly into the initial loops of the small intestine, preventing DBR and reflux cholangitis.

Research objectives

To develop a technique for internal-external biliary-jejunal drainage (IEBJD) and assess its effectiveness in comparison to other minimally invasive procedures.

Research methods

In our study, the IEBJD technique was applied using a newly developed biliary-jejunal drainage system. It has two groups of lateral openings (proximal and distal), between which the drainage tube is devoid of openings from the distal border of the tumor to the initial loops of the small intestine. IEBJD was carried out using percutaneous transhepatic access.

Research results

The application of the IEBJD technique contributed to a reduction in the incidence of significant postoperative complications, a delayed onset and shorter duration of postoperative cholangitis, and a considerable improvement in the cumulative survival rate of patients with DMBO.

Research conclusions

The IEBJD technique prevents DBR and reflux cholangitis and can be recommended for the palliative treatment of patients with DMBO.

Research perspectives

The clinical success of the newly developed IEBJD technique in a limited patient group necessitates further evaluation of its efficacy in a larger patient cohort, including those with total bilirubin > 20.47 mg/dL and high operative risk (ASA score of 4).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are very grateful to everyone who took part in this study.