CompletedNot Applicable

EUS-guided Biliary Drainage Versus Percutanenous Transhepatic Biliary Darinage for Malignant Biliary Obstruction After Failed ERCP

South Korea66 participantsStarted 2014-10

Plain-language summary

Although ERCP is almost always successful in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, selective biliary cannulation fails in some cases and conventional ERCP may not be possible in patients with tumor invasion of the duodenum or major papilla, surgically altered anatomy (e.g., Roux-en-Y anastomosis), or complex hilar biliary strictures. In such cases, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is an useful alternative. However, PTBD had various complications and the presence of an external drainage catheter would also have a cosmetic problem related to the external drainage and an adverse impact on quality of life (QOL) of terminally ill patients. Since endoscopic ultrasound-guided bile duct puncture was described in 1996, sporadic case reports of EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) suggested that it was a feasible and effective alternative in patients with failed conventional ERCP stenting. The potential benefits of EUS-BD include one-stage procedure in ERCP unit, and internal drainage for avoiding long-term external drainage in cases where external PTBD drainage catheters cannot be internalized, thus significantly improving the QOL of terminally ill patients, and possibly lower morbidity than PTBD or surgery. Up to date, only a few case series of EUS-BD with small numbers of patients have been published, and known the feasibility and safety in terms of the incidence of procedure-related clinical outcomes.10-21 There has been no comparative study between the outcomes of PTBD and EUS-BD focusing on the QOL, cost-effectiveness, and complications. The researchers investigated the technical success of EUS-BD and PTBD in patients with malignant biliary obstruction after failed conventional ERCP as a prospective randomized comparative study in multicenters. Secondary endpoints were the cost-effectiveness and complications rates between EUS-BD and PTBD.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Presence of unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction (greater 2cm than distal to hilum, i.e., pancreatic cancer, common bile duct cancer, ampulla of Vater cancer, gallbladder cancer, duodenal cancer, and metastatic biliary obstruction) * Failed conventional ERCP and inaccessible papilla because of accompanying duodenal obstruction, periampullary tumor infiltration, ampulla stenosis, or surgically altered anatomy (Billroth II operation, Roux-an-Y operation.) * Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of malignancy, d) A Karnofsky index of ≧30%, e) No serious or uncontrolled medical illness * Provided informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * patient age of less than 18 years * uncorrectable coagulopathy * history of allergy to radiocontrast agents * refusal to participate in this study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Technical success of EUS-BD and PTBD

Timeframe: twelve months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02103413

SponsorAsan Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2015-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cholestasis, Extrahepatic trials