Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Access, with Focus on Technique and Practical Tips

Abstract

In 1980, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was introduced as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of the pancreas. Since the introduction of curvilinear-array echoendoscopy, EUS has been used for a variety of gastrointestinal interventions, including fine needle aspiration, tumor ablation, and pancreatobiliary access. One of the main therapeutic roles of EUS is biliary drainage as an alternative to endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). This article summarizes three different methods of EUS-guided biliary access, with focus on technique and practical tips.

Keywords

• Endosonography
• Cholestasis
• Biliary drainage
• Cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde
• Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage