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Objectives : To evaluate the role of ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) and EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) and to describe the efficacy and safety of these procedures in a paediatric cohort with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP). Methods : All patients (<18 years) undergoing an ERCP or EUS for ARP and CP between January 2008 and December 2022 were included. Data collection included indications for the procedure, technical success, adverse events and outcome data. Results : A total of 222 ERCPs were performed in 98 patients with CP and ARP (60% female, median age 10 years). The commonest indications were a main pancreatic duct stricture (PD) with or without a stone within the main PD. Successful cannulation was achieved in 98% of cases. Improved stricture resolution was demonstrated in 63% of patients. The overall adverse event rate for ERCP was low (n = 8/222, 3.6%). An improvement in abdominal pain was demonstrated in (75/98) 76% of patients. Their Body Mass Index also significantly improved post ERCP (15.5 ± 1.41 vs. 12.9 ± 1.16 kg/m 2 , p = 0.001). A total of 54 EUS procedures were undertaken in 48 individuals. Moreover, 35 individuals underwent a therapeutic EUS procedure, for which the commonest indication was the drainage of a pancreatic fluid collection. The overall complication rate was low (n = 2.4%) in all EUS cases. Conclusions : ERCP and EUS can be safely and effectively used in a paediatric population with indications analogous to an adult cohort.

Background: Fully covered intraductal self-expanding metal stents (IDSEMS) have been well described in the management of post-liver transplant (LT) anastomotic strictures (ASs). Their antimigration waists and intraductal nature make them suited for deployment across the biliary anastomosis., Objectives: We conducted a multicentre study to analyse their use and efficacy in the management of AS., Design: This was a retrospective, multicentre observational study across nine tertiary centres in the United Kingdom., Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with IDSEMS insertion were analysed retrospectively. Recorded variables included patient demographics, procedural characteristics, response to therapy and follow-up data., Results: In all, 162 patients (100 males, 62%) underwent 176 episodes of IDSEMS insertion for AS. Aetiology of liver disease in this cohort included hepatocellular carcinoma ( n  = 35, 22%), followed by alcohol-related liver disease ( n  = 29, 18%), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ( n  = 20, 12%), primary biliary cholangitis ( n  = 15, 9%), acute liver failure ( n  = 13, 8%), viral hepatitis ( n  = 13, 8%) and autoimmune hepatitis ( n  = 12, 7%). Early AS occurred in 25 (15%) cases, delayed in 32 (20%) cases and late in 95 (59%) cases. Age at transplant was 54 years (range, 12-74), and stent duration was 15 weeks (range, 3 days-78 weeks). In total, 131 (81%) had complete resolution of stricture at endoscopic re-evaluation. Stricture recurrence was observed in 13 (10%) cases, with a median of 19 weeks (range, 4-88 weeks) after stent removal. At removal, there were 21 (12%) adverse events, 5 (3%) episodes of cholangitis and 2 (1%) of pancreatitis. In 11 (6%) cases, the removal wires unravelled, and 3 (2%) stents migrated. All were removed endoscopically., Conclusion: IDSEMS appears to be safe and highly efficacious in the management of post-LT AS, with low rates of AS recurrence., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2022.)

Introduction: Nasobiliary drains (NBDs) have been successfully used to manage intrahepatic cholestasis, bile leaks and obstructive cholangitis. It allows external drainage of bile, bypassing the ileum where bile salts are reabsorbed. We assessed the utility of placement with effect on markers of cholestasis and patient symptoms., Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing NBD over 12 years for the management of pruritus were retrospectively analysed. Recorded variables included patient demographics, procedural characteristics and response to therapy., Results: Twenty-three patients (14, 61% male) underwent 30 episodes of NBD. The median age was 26 years old (range 2-67 years old). A single procedure was carried out in 20. One patient each had two, three and five episodes of NBD. The most common aetiologies were hereditary cholestatic disease (n=17, 74%) and drug-induced cholestasis (n=5, 22%),NBD remained in situ for a median of 8 days (range 1-45 days). Significant improvement in bilirubin was seen at 7 days post-NBD (p=0.0324), maintained at day 30 (335 μmol/L vs 302 µmol/L vs 167 µmol/L). There was symptomatic improvement in pruritus in 20 (67%, p=0.0494) episodes. One patient underwent NBD during the first trimester of pregnancy after medical therapy failure with a good symptomatic response. The catheters were well tolerated in 27 (90%) of cases. Mild pancreatitis occurred in 4 (13%) cases., Conclusion: NBD can be used to provide symptomatic improvement to patients with pruritus associated with cholestasis. It is well tolerated by patients. They can be used in pregnancy where medical management has failed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: We report our experience of treating anastomotic strictures using a novel type of fully covered metal stent (FCSEMS). This stent, known as the Kaffes Stent, is short-length with an antimigration waist and is easily removable due to long retrieval wires deployed within the duodenum., Methods: Sixty-two patients underwent ERCP and Kaffes stent insertion for post-transplant anastomotic strictures following confirmation of a stricture on MRCP. These patients were retrospectively analysed for immediate and long-term stricture resolution, improvement in symptoms and liver function tests (LFTs), stricture recurrence and complication rates., Results: Of the 56 patients who had their stent removed at the time of analysis, 54 (96%) had immediate stricture resolution and 42 continued to have long-term resolution (mean follow-up period was 548 days). Of the 16 patients with symptoms of biliary obstruction, 13 had resolution of their symptoms. Overall, there was a significant improvement in LFTs after stent removal compared to before stent insertion. Complication rates were 15% with only one patient requiring biliary reconstruction., Conclusions: The Kaffes stent is effective and safe at resolving post liver transplant biliary anastomotic strictures.

Objective: General anaesthesia (GA) has been increasingly used for advanced endoscopic procedures in particular endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Given the increasing pressure on many hospitals, the delivery of such service on a regular basis may not always be possible. We established a new day case 'GA ERCP' service. We describe our experience in evaluating the safety and overall feasibility of this new service., Design: Prospective database has been interrogated for the period from March 2015 to December 2016. We documented patients' demographics, ERCP indications, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, Cotton grade and complications., Results: 67 patients were referred to endoscopy unit at King's College Hospital (KCH), for urgent day case GA ERCP from nine referring hospitals. The main indications were failed ERCP under sedation 47.8% (32/67), and unavailability of ERCP locally 41.8% (28/67). A total of 64 patients were actually transferred to KCH; 57.8% (37/64) women with a median age 55.8 years (range 23-90). 78.1% (50/64) of patients had a virgin papilla, with 39% (25/64) were ASA ≥3. The Cotton grade was ≥ 3 in 50% (32/64) patients. ERCP was completed successfully in 87.5% (56/64). For patients with previous failed ERCP, repeat ERCP under GA was successful in 75% (24/32). All patients were safely discharged back to their referring hospitals after the short observation period post-ERCP., Conclusions: Urgent inpatient transfers between hospitals for performing ERCP under GA as a day case is safe and feasible. The new GA ERCP pathway can be replicated by other UK centres., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Background: Soluble silica, a ubiquitous component of the diet, may be the natural ligand for dietary aluminum and may prevent its accumulation and toxicity in animals. However, previous studies on the inhibition of aluminum absorption and toxicity by soluble silica have produced conflicting results. We recently identified a soluble silica polymer, oligomeric silica, that has a much higher affinity for aluminum than does monomeric silica and that may be involved in the sequestration of aluminum., Objective: By using (26)Al as a tracer, we investigated the effects of oligomeric and monomeric silica on the bioavailability of aluminum (study 1) and compared the availability of silicon from oligomeric and monomeric silica in the human gastrointestinal tract (study 2)., Design: In study 1, three healthy volunteers each ingested aluminum alone (control), aluminum with oligomeric silica (17 mg), and aluminum with monomeric silica (17 mg). In study 2, five healthy volunteers ingested both the oligomeric and monomeric forms of silica (34 mg). Serum and urine samples were analyzed for aluminum and silicon., Results: Oligomeric silica reduced the availability of aluminum by 67% (P = 0.01) compared with the control, whereas monomeric silica had no effect (P = 0.40). Monomeric silica was readily taken up from the gastrointestinal tract and then excreted in urine (53%), whereas oligomeric silica was not detectably absorbed or excreted., Conclusions: The oligomeric, high-aluminum-affinity form of soluble silica reduces aluminum availability from the human gastrointestinal tract. Its potential role in the amelioration of aluminum toxicity in other biological systems requires attention.