Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage with a novel fine-gauge balloon catheter: one-step placement technique.

with a novel fine-gauge balloon catheter: one-step placement technique During endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS), it is necessary to dilate the fistula [1]. Graded dilation with a 4-Fr cannula and 6and 7-Fr bougie dilators is relatively easily performed, and this stepwise procedure appears to be safe [2]. On the other hand, the use of a needle knife for fistula dilation in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) may be associated with post-procedural adverse events [3]. These procedures have the potential to cause bile leakage because only the guidewire is placed between the bile duct and intestine across the abdominal cavity during the exchange of devices. There is a great need for a simplified technique to avoid such adverse events. A novel balloon catheter (ZARA; Century Medical, Tokyo, Japan) has two unique characteristics (●" Fig.1). First, the tip of the balloon catheter is only 3Fr in diameter and tapered. Second, the surface of the balloon catheter is rough. Therefore, the device is easily inserted following puncture with a 19-gauge needle, and during balloon dilation, the characteristics of the surface may be of clinical benefit in preventing malposition of the dilation site. An 80-year-old man was admitted because of vomiting and obstructive jaundice due to unresectable pancreatic cancer, which was obstructing the duodenum. First, we performed duodenal stenting. Next, we punctured the intrahepatic bile duct with a 19-gauge fine-needle aspiration needle and inserted a 0.025-inch stiff guidewire. The novel balloon catheter could then be smoothly inserted into the duodenum across the stricture site and duodenal stent. We dilated the stricture and duodenal stent to place the metallic stent, after which we used the novel balloon catheter to dilate the intrahepatic bile duct (●" Fig.2) and stomach wall (●" Fig.3). A metallic stent delivery system was then inserted in antegrade fashion and successfully placed at the lower bile duct. Finally, we performed the EUS-HGS (●" Fig.4). No adverse events occurred. Fig.2 Dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct wall. Fig.1 The tip of this balloon catheter is only 3Fr in diameter and tapered. The surface of the balloon catheter is rough.