Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrointestinal anastomoses for the treatment of afferent limb syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
摘要
Afferent limb syndrome (ALS) is a rare condition resulting in a mechanical obstruction in the afferent loop after surgical gastrointestinal (GI) reconstruction. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided gastrojejunostomy (GJ) or jejunojejunostomy (JJ) is increasing in clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-GJ or EUS-JJ for ALS.
Patients and methodsThe most important medical databases were systematically searched through May 2025. The primary outcome was technical success of EUS-GJ/JJ for ALS. Secondary outcomes were clinical success, safety, and recurrence rate. A random-effects model was used to pool the results. Heterogeneity was expressed as inconsistency index (I2) and explored through subgroup analyses.
Results9 studies (all retrospective) involving 188 patients were included in the analysis. The weighted mean age was 65.38(± 10.57) years and the etiology of the ALS was mostly malignant. Technical success was 96.3% (CI95% 93.2–99.4%, I2 = 0%). Clinical success was 95% (CI95% 91.2–98.7%, I2 = 0%) and adverse events (AEs) rate was 6.9% (CI95% 2.9–11.1%, I2 = 0%). Recurrence rate was 16.6% (CI95% 7.7–25.4%, I2 = 43.79%). Subgroup analyses showed differences in the recurrence rate between the use of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) (35.9% [CI95% 20.3–51.6%, I2 = 0%]) and a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS)(10.4% [CI95% 4–16.8%, I2 = 0%], p = 0.003). Follow-up ranged from a median of 96.5 to 185 days.
ConclusionsEUS-guided GI anastomosis is an effective treatment for ALS, showing high technical and clinical success rates and a low incidence of AEs. The use of LAMS over FCSEMS seems to reduce the recurrence rate, suggesting the routine use of LAMS in the case of EUS-guided GI anastomosis for treating ALS.