ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03698266Updated Apr 3, 2024

Is Needle Knife Fistulotomy An Effective First Step Strategy For All ERCPs?

An interventional study of Needle knife fistulotomy in ERCP, Biliary Disease Tract and Biliary Disease, sponsored by Lawrence Charles Hookey. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-04-03.

Sponsored by Lawrence Charles Hookey · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
84
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Participants in this study will be undergoing a procedure called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This procedure is most commonly performed to help treat conditions affecting specific areas of the digestive system called the pancreas and bile ducts.

Patients will consent to allow the study physician to access these areas of the digestive system by making a cut using a technique called a needle-knife fistulotomy. If the physician is unable to gain access through this method, they will make the cut using a technique called a sphincterotomy.

Read the detailed description

The ERCP procedure enables doctors to examine the regions of the digestive system called the pancreas and bile ducts. After sedating a patient, a bendable tube with a light (called an endoscope), is inserted through the mouth and into the digestive system. Within the digestive system, the doctor is able to identify the opening to where the gallbladder drains into the small bowel called the ampulla. Using the endoscope, a small plastic tube is then placed in the opening and dye (also called contrast material) is injected bile duct (where bile leaves the liver from). X-ray pictures can then be taken to provide further information to the doctor.

Sometimes it is necessary to make a cut to enlarge the opening to allow easier removal of stones from the bile duct or to place plastic tubes (stents) in the bile duct. To make this cut, there are two different approaches that the doctor can take:

  1. The standard way of making the cut is referred to as a "sphincterotomy". Using this method, a heated metal wire cuts the opening to the bile duct after a wire has been passed into it.
  2. The second way of making the cut is referred to as a "pre-cut". There are various types of "pre-cut" techniques; the technique being evaluated in this study is called the "needle knife fistulotomy". When using this technique, the doctor makes a cut directly into the bile duct using a tiny knife called a "needle knife".

Currently, there is not a standard that tells doctors what cutting technique to use. The decision is entirely up to the individual doctor.

Patients that participate in this study give their permission to allow the study doctor to use the "needle knife fistulotomy" cutting technique first to gain access to the bile ducts. If the study doctor is unable to gain access through this method, then they will use the standard sphincterotomy technique.

The purpose of this study, called a feasibility study, is to determine if the needle-knife fistulotomy is at least as safe and effective as the standard access technique, if not safer.

If it can be shown that the needle-knife fistulotomy is safer and/or more effective, then it could change the way that doctors conduct this procedure in Canada and the rest of the world.

02

Conditions studied

  • ERCP
  • Biliary Disease Tract
  • Biliary Disease

Keywords

  • Needle Knife Fistulotomy
  • Sphincterotomy
  • Post-ERCP pancreatitis
03

In context

Biliary Tract Diseases

59 studies on the registry are indexed under Biliary Tract Diseases; 12 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 84 is close to the median of 84 across 37 interventional studies indexed under Biliary Tract Diseases.

Browse Biliary Tract Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Lawrence Charles Hookey is the lead sponsor of 7 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Patients, ages > 18, with an intact sphincter undergoing ERCP by at Kingston Health Sciences Center for therapeutic purposes who can provide . This includes patients who have confirmed choledocholithiasis on imaging and those who have a high suspicion of it based on imaging and lab values. Patients with and without a high suspicion for cholangitis will be eligible for the study. Other indications include: type 1 sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, gallstone pancreatitis or other benign pancreaticobiliary duct diseases including strictures, primary sclerosing cholangitis and Mirizzi's syndrome. Furthermore, patients with suspected diagnosis of biliary leak following cholecystectomy will also be considered for enrollment in this study.
  2. Ability to read and understand the English language

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Bleeding disorder (Von Willebrand disorder, count \<100 000, or >1.5)
  2. Therapeutic level anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), warfarin, or a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC)
  3. Prior biliary sphincterotomy
  4. Altered upper GI tract anatomy (e.g. prior gastric bypass surgery such as Roux-en-Y or Billroth 2 gastrojejunostomy)
  5. Evidence of Malignant infiltration of the ampulla or peri-ampullary area.
  6. Inability to identify intra-duodenal portion of the bile duct, including deep peri-ampullary diverticulum.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
84 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Other
    All Enrolled Patients

    Receive needle knife fistulotomy as a starting technique to gain access to the biliary system

    Procedure: Needle knife fistulotomy

Interventions

  • ProcedureNeedle knife fistulotomy

    A needle knife fistulotomy uses a tiny knife to cut directly into the ampulla to gain access to the biliary system in patients undergoing ERCP

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-ERCP pancreatitis

    The primary objective to be examined is the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis

    Time frame: Up to 7 days post-procedure

Secondary outcomes

  1. Technical success

    Determined by successful cannulation of the CBD as evidenced on cholangiogram

    Time frame: Day of procedure

Other outcomes

  1. Total procedure time

    Measured for completed procedures from the time of esophageal intubation to the time of scope withdrawal from the patient mouth

    Time frame: Day of procedure

  2. Time to successful cannulation

    Measured from the time of identification of the papilla to successful CBD cannulation as evident by the cholangiogram

    Time frame: Day of procedure

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
    Kingston, Ontario K7L 5G2, Canada
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Robison LS, Varadarajulu S, Wilcox CM. Safety and success of precut biliary sphincterotomy: Is it linked to experience or expertise? World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Apr 21;13(15):2183-6. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i15.2183. PubMed 17465498 ↗
  • Maydeo A, Borkar D. Techniques of selective cannulation and sphincterotomy. Endoscopy. 2003 Aug;35(8):S19-23. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-41532. PubMed 12929049 ↗
  • Kahaleh M, Tokar J, Mullick T, Bickston SJ, Yeaton P. Prospective evaluation of pancreatic sphincterotomy as a precut technique for biliary cannulation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Nov;2(11):971-7. doi: 10.1016/s1542-3565(04)00484-7. PubMed 15551249 ↗
  • Sherman S, Ruffolo TA, Hawes RH, Lehman GA. Complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy. A prospective series with emphasis on the increased risk associated with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and nondilated bile ducts. Gastroenterology. 1991 Oct;101(4):1068-75. PubMed 1889699 ↗
  • Shakoor T, Geenen JE. Pre-cut papillotomy. Gastrointest Endosc. 1992 Sep-Oct;38(5):623-7. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5107(92)70537-9. No abstract available. PubMed 1397929 ↗
  • Foutch PG. A prospective assessment of results for needle-knife papillotomy and standard endoscopic sphincterotomy. Gastrointest Endosc. 1995 Jan;41(1):25-32. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5107(95)70272-5. PubMed 7698621 ↗
  • Huibregtse K, Katon RM, Tytgat GN. Precut papillotomy via fine-needle knife papillotome: a safe and effective technique. Gastrointest Endosc. 1986 Dec;32(6):403-5. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5107(86)71921-4. No abstract available. PubMed 3803839 ↗
  • Lopes L, Dinis-Ribeiro M, Rolanda C. Early precut fistulotomy for biliary access: time to change the paradigm of "the later, the better"? Gastrointest Endosc. 2014 Oct;80(4):634-641. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2014.03.014. Epub 2014 May 6. PubMed 24814775 ↗
  • Testoni PA, Mariani A, Aabakken L, Arvanitakis M, Bories E, Costamagna G, Deviere J, Dinis-Ribeiro M, Dumonceau JM, Giovannini M, Gyokeres T, Hafner M, Halttunen J, Hassan C, Lopes L, Papanikolaou IS, Tham TC, Tringali A, van Hooft J, Williams EJ. Papillary cannulation and sphincterotomy techniques at ERCP: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline. Endoscopy. 2016 Jul;48(7):657-83. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-108641. Epub 2016 Jun 14. PubMed 27299638 ↗
  • ASGE Standards of Practice Committee; Chandrasekhara V, Khashab MA, Muthusamy VR, Acosta RD, Agrawal D, Bruining DH, Eloubeidi MA, Fanelli RD, Faulx AL, Gurudu SR, Kothari S, Lightdale JR, Qumseya BJ, Shaukat A, Wang A, Wani SB, Yang J, DeWitt JM. Adverse events associated with ERCP. Gastrointest Endosc. 2017 Jan;85(1):32-47. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.06.051. Epub 2016 Aug 18. No abstract available. PubMed 27546389 ↗
  • ASGE Standards of Practice Committee; Chathadi KV, Chandrasekhara V, Acosta RD, Decker GA, Early DS, Eloubeidi MA, Evans JA, Faulx AL, Fanelli RD, Fisher DA, Foley K, Fonkalsrud L, Hwang JH, Jue TL, Khashab MA, Lightdale JR, Muthusamy VR, Pasha SF, Saltzman JR, Sharaf R, Shaukat A, Shergill AK, Wang A, Cash BD, DeWitt JM. The role of ERCP in benign diseases of the biliary tract. Gastrointest Endosc. 2015 Apr;81(4):795-803. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2014.11.019. Epub 2015 Feb 7. No abstract available. PubMed 25665931 ↗
  • Freeman ML, Guda NM. ERCP cannulation: a review of reported techniques. Gastrointest Endosc. 2005 Jan;61(1):112-25. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5107(04)02463-0. No abstract available. PubMed 15672074 ↗
  • Katsinelos P, Gkagkalis S, Chatzimavroudis G, Beltsis A, Terzoudis S, Zavos C, Gatopoulou A, Lazaraki G, Vasiliadis T, Kountouras J. Comparison of three types of precut technique to achieve common bile duct cannulation: a retrospective analysis of 274 cases. Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Dec;57(12):3286-92. doi: 10.1007/s10620-012-2271-8. Epub 2012 Jun 20. PubMed 22714730 ↗
  • Sundaralingam P, Masson P, Bourke MJ. Early Precut Sphincterotomy Does Not Increase Risk During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients With Difficult Biliary Access: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 Oct;13(10):1722-1729.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.06.035. Epub 2015 Jul 2. PubMed 26144018 ↗
  • Cha SW, Leung WD, Lehman GA, Watkins JL, McHenry L, Fogel EL, Sherman S. Does leaving a main pancreatic duct stent in place reduce the incidence of precut biliary sphincterotomy-associated pancreatitis? A randomized, prospective study. Gastrointest Endosc. 2013 Feb;77(2):209-16. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2012.08.022. Epub 2012 Oct 22. PubMed 23084272 ↗
  • Mariani A, Di Leo M, Giardullo N, Giussani A, Marini M, Buffoli F, Cipolletta L, Radaelli F, Ravelli P, Lombardi G, D'Onofrio V, Macchiarelli R, Iiritano E, Le Grazie M, Pantaleo G, Testoni PA. Early precut sphincterotomy for difficult biliary access to reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis: a randomized trial. Endoscopy. 2016 Jun;48(6):530-5. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-102250. Epub 2016 Mar 18. PubMed 26990509 ↗
  • Freeman ML. Precut (access) sphincterotomy. Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endosocpy. 1999;1(1):40-8.
  • Ayoubi M, Sansoe G, Leone N, Castellino F. Comparison between needle-knife fistulotomy and standard cannulation in ERCP. World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Sep 16;4(9):398-404. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v4.i9.398. PubMed 23125897 ↗
  • Jin YJ, Jeong S, Lee DH. Utility of needle-knife fistulotomy as an initial method of biliary cannulation to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis in a highly selected at-risk group: a single-arm prospective feasibility study. Gastrointest Endosc. 2016 Nov;84(5):808-813. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.04.011. Epub 2016 Apr 19. PubMed 27102829 ↗
  • Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, Gooszen HG, Johnson CD, Sarr MG, Tsiotos GG, Vege SS; Acute Pancreatitis Classification Working Group. Classification of acute pancreatitis--2012: revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut. 2013 Jan;62(1):102-11. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302779. Epub 2012 Oct 25. PubMed 23100216 ↗
  • Dumonceau JM, Andriulli A, Elmunzer BJ, Mariani A, Meister T, Deviere J, Marek T, Baron TH, Hassan C, Testoni PA, Kapral C; European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline - updated June 2014. Endoscopy. 2014 Sep;46(9):799-815. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1377875. Epub 2014 Aug 22. PubMed 25148137 ↗
  • Freeman ML, Nelson DB, Sherman S, Haber GB, Herman ME, Dorsher PJ, Moore JP, Fennerty MB, Ryan ME, Shaw MJ, Lande JD, Pheley AM. Complications of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy. N Engl J Med. 1996 Sep 26;335(13):909-18. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199609263351301. PubMed 8782497 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Nov 2018 to primary completion in Jan 2020, 14 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Oct 4, 2018
First posted
Oct 5, 2018
StartActual
Nov 23, 2018
Primary completionActual
Jan 29, 2020
CompletionActual
Jan 30, 2020
Last update
Apr 3, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 3, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03698266
Lead sponsor
Lawrence Charles Hookey
Responsible party
Lawrence Charles Hookey (Associate Professor, Medical Director - Endoscopy Unit, Kingston Health Sciences Centre) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Oct 5, 2018
Start date
Nov 23, 2018
Primary completion
Jan 29, 2020
Completion
Jan 30, 2020
Last update
Apr 3, 2024

Study contacts

Lawrence C Hookey, MD
principal investigator · Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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