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Background and Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging technique for the palliation of inoperable malignant biliary strictures (MBSs). We aimed to systemically investigate the long‐term outcome of RFA in a large cohort of patients. Methods: We recruited 883 patients with various MBSs who underwent endoscopic interventions at two large‐volume centers; 124 patients underwent RFA and stenting, whereas 759 underwent stenting alone. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM). The main outcome was overall survival (OS). Results: Following PSM, patients in the RFA group showed significantly longer OS (9.5 months; 95% CI: 7.7‐11.3 months) than those in the stenting alone group (6.1 months; 95% CI: 5.6‐6.6 months; P <.001). In stratified analyses, the improved OS was only demonstrated in the subgroup of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.3 months 95% CI: 10.2‐12.4 vs 6.9 months 95% CI: 6.0‐7.8; P <.001), but not in the subgroups of gallbladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and other metastatic cancers (all P >.05). The survival benefits were noted only in the patients with non‐metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.5 vs 7.4 months, P <.001). Conclusions: The survival benefits of endoscopic RFA appear to be limited to patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma without distant metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patients with advanced ampullary carcinoma (AC) who are unsuitable for surgery are most likely to have poor outcomes. The role of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in this population has not been fully defined. We aimed to assess the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of RFA in a large cohort of AC patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, data of consecutive patients with pathologically proven AC who underwent successful endobiliary RFA and/or stent placement were collected. All patients did not undergo surgical resection. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). The secondary outcomes included clinical success and adverse events. Results: A total of 85 patients, 50 in the RFA plus stenting group and 35 in the stenting alone group, were identified. The median OS was significantly longer in the RFA group than in the stenting alone group (16.9 vs. 9.8 months, P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox analysis, RFA (hazards ratio 0.408; 95% confidence interval 0.235–0.706; P = 0.001) was the only independent OS predictor. Eight patients with stage II tumors, exclusively from the RFA group, survived for more than 3 years. Clinical success was comparable between the two groups (96% vs. 100%, P = 0.231). Early adverse events between the two groups were similar (10% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.206); however, late biliary/pancreatic stenoses occurred in three RFA patients who were successfully managed with endoscopic interventions. Conclusions: Endoscopic RFA appears to prolong patients' survival with acceptable safety; it may therefore be a feasible treatment option for patients with inoperable ampullary cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic stenting to manage malignant hilar biliary obstruction has no consensus regarding the optimal stenting strategy. In this multicenter study, we compared transpapillary parallel‐style bilateral metal stenting with bilateral plastic stenting, and evaluated short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Methods: We recruited 262 consecutive patients (Bismuth classification types II–IV) who underwent either bilateral metal or plastic stenting as primary therapy at four tertiary centers. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching. Our primary outcome was overall survival. Results: After propensity score matching, each group comprised 96 patients, with no significant differences in any baseline characteristics. The median survival was significantly longer in the metal stenting group than in the plastic stenting group (7.2 months [95% CI 6.0–8.5] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI 2.9–5.3]; P = 0.015). The clinical success rates were significantly higher in the metal stenting group than in the plastic stenting group (99.0% vs. 71.9%, respectively; P < 0.001), and lower post‐procedure cholangitis incidence (7.3% vs. 26.0%; P < 0.001), longer median symptom‐free stent patency (9.2 months [95% CI 7.6–10.6] vs. 4.8 months [95% CI 4.2–5.3]; P < 0.001), and fewer total interventions (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 2.0 ± 1.4; P < 0.001). In multivariate Cox analysis of the overall survival, metal stenting (HR 0.589, P = 0.002), hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HR 0.419, P = 0.009), and adjuvant treatment (HR 0.596, P = 0.006) were independent predictors of death. Conclusions: Endoscopic therapy using bilateral metal stenting is superior to bilateral plastic stenting, with prolonged overall survival, higher clinical success, and longer stent patency in patients with advanced hilar biliary malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Endoscopic stenting for unresectable malignant hilar biliary strictures (MHBS) remains challenging. Post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography cholangitis (PEC) can be the most common and fatal adverse event. In the present study, we aimed to systematically evaluate the incidence, severity, risk factors, and consequences of PEC after endoscopic procedures for advanced MHBS. Methods: Of 924 patients, we identified 502 patients with MHBS (Bismuth types II to IV) who underwent endoscopic stenting as the primary therapy at two centers over 16 years. PEC and its severity were verified according to the current Tokyo guidelines. Results: A total of 108 patients (21.5%) experienced acute PEC. Mild, moderate, and severe cholangitis were encountered in 51 (10.1%), 42 (8.4%), and 15 (3.0%) patients, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that metal stenting (verse plastic stenting) (OR 0.328, 95% CI 0.200–0.535, P < 0.001) and Bismuth classification (IV vs III/II) (OR 2.499, 95% CI 1.150–5.430) were independent predictors for PEC and the moderate/severe type. Patients with PEC had significantly lower clinical success rates (86.3% vs 41.7%, P < 0.001), a higher rate of early death (6.5% vs 0.5%, P < 0.001), a shorter median stent patency (4.9 vs 6.4 months, P < 0.001), and shorter overall survival (2.6 vs 5.2 months, P < 0.001) compared with the noncholangitis group. Conclusions: After endoscopic stenting for advanced MHBS, cholangitis may occur in as many as 21.5% of patients, which may be associated with a poor prognosis. The risk is high in patients with Bismuth type IV and may be reduced by using metal stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging technique for the palliation of inoperable malignant biliary strictures (MBSs). We aimed to systemically investigate the long-term outcome of RFA in a large cohort of patients., Methods: We recruited 883 patients with various MBSs who underwent endoscopic interventions at two large-volume centers; 124 patients underwent RFA and stenting, whereas 759 underwent stenting alone. To overcome selection bias, we performed 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM). The main outcome was overall survival (OS)., Results: Following PSM, patients in the RFA group showed significantly longer OS (9.5 months; 95% CI: 7.7-11.3 months) than those in the stenting alone group (6.1 months; 95% CI: 5.6-6.6 months; P < .001). In stratified analyses, the improved OS was only demonstrated in the subgroup of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.3 months 95% CI: 10.2-12.4 vs 6.9 months 95% CI: 6.0-7.8; P < .001), but not in the subgroups of gallbladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and other metastatic cancers (all P > .05). The survival benefits were noted only in the patients with non-metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (11.5 vs 7.4 months, P < .001)., Conclusions: The survival benefits of endoscopic RFA appear to be limited to patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma without distant metastasis., (© 2021 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

A low cost and environmentally benign process for tetrabutyl titanate-controlled ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone at ambient temperature of 10-40 degrees C is introduced affording poly(epsilon-caprolactone) with pre-designed molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distribution.