The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of adult colonoscopy or single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE)-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in long-limb surgical bypass patients.

Retrospective analysis of 16 patients with long-limb surgical bypasses who underwent therapeutic ERCP because of suspected pancreaticobiliary diseases. Small-bowel intubation was performed by peroral adult colonoscopy or SBE. If colonoscopy success was achieved, ERCP was performed subsequently. But in patients using SBE, a small-caliber colonoscope would be used to replace enteroscope if the SBE success was achieved. ERCP was then performed with the conventional accessories.

A total of 21 ERCP procedures were performed. Adult colonoscope was used for ERCP in 8 patients with standard Whipple resection consecutively. Colonoscopy success was achieved in 8 of 8 patients (100%), of whom 7 of 8 (87.5%) achieved ERCP success. SBE-assisted ERCP was attempted in other 8 patients with different types of Roux-en-Y anatomy. SBE success was achieved in 7 of 8 patients (87.5%), of whom 4 of 7 (57.1%) achieved ERCP success. The overall success rate of endoscopy and ERCP was 93.8% (15/16) and 68.8% (11/16), respectively.

Adult colonoscopy has high success rate for performing ERCP after Whipple resection and should be selected for such patient preferentially. By using the facilitated method for endoscopic interventions at pancreaticobiliary disease after Roux-en-Y reconstruction, SBE-assisted ERCP can be attempted when it is difficult to gain access to the papilla of Vater or bilioenteric/pancreaticoenteric anastomosis and long length ERCP accessories cannot be available.