Cholangioscopy with Spyglass DS using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography access: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Conventional peroral methods to visualize biliary strictures are not feasible in some patients with altered anatomy or biliary obstruction, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy can be used as an alternative procedure. This study aimed to retrospectively review the use of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography using the SpyGlass DS technology (S-PTCS) during a 5-year period at a Danish tertiary referral centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent S-PTCS at a single Danish tertiary referral centre between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The visual, technical, and overall success rates of S-PTCS were analyzed, as well as the complication rate. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of S-PTCS were calculated.

RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. Visual, technical, and overall success of S-PTCS was achieved in 17/22, 22/22, and 21/22 patients, respectively. S-PTCS yielded a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100%, a NPV of 94.1%, and an accuracy of 95.4%. Complications occurred in 1/22 patients.

CONCLUSION: S-PTCS is a safe modality, with high success rates, high predictive values, and a low rate of complications. This study suggests that S-PTCS is an alternative to conventional methods in patients with indeterminate biliary strictures where conventional methods were unfeasible.