Editorial
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2012; 18(6): 491-497
Published online Feb 14, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i6.491
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage
Disaya Chavalitdhamrong, Peter V Draganov
Disaya Chavalitdhamrong, Peter V Draganov, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0214, United States
Author contributions: Chavalitdhamrong D performed the literature search and wrote the first draft of the paper; Draganov PV reviewed and edited the article.
Correspondence to: Peter V Draganov, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Room HD 602, PO Box 100210, Gainesville, FL 32610-0214, United States. dragapv@medicine.ufl.edu
Telephone: +1-352-2739400 Fax: +1-352-3923618
Received: February 3, 2011
Revised: April 15, 2011
Accepted: April 22, 2011
Published online: February 14, 2012
Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to percutaneous and surgical interventions for patients with biliary obstruction who had failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). EUS-guided biliary drainage has become feasible due to the development of large channel curvilinear therapeutic echo-endoscopes and the use of real-time ultrasound and fluoroscopy imaging in addition to standard ERCP devices and techniques. EUS-guided biliary drainage is an attractive option because of its minimally invasive, single step procedure which provides internal biliary decompression. Multiple investigators have reported high success and low complication rates. Unfortunately, high quality prospective data are still lacking. We provide detailed review of the use of EUS for biliary drainage from the perspective of practicing endoscopists with specific focus on the technical aspects of the procedure.

Keywords: Bile duct; Biliary obstruction; Biliary drainage; Endoscopic ultrasound; Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage