Recent advances in clinical practice endohepatology: the endoscopic liver rush

Abstract

The integration of advanced endoscopy within the practice of hepatology is nowadays heralded in the concept of 'endohepatology' and is dichotomised in applications intervening for disorders of the hepatic parenchyma and vasculature and for biliary tract disease. Current applications under the umbrella of endohepatology focus on advanced diagnostics and vascular, metabolic and hepatobiliary interventions. These involve, among others, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided liver biopsy, EUS-guided portal pressure gradient measurement, coil and glue embolisation of gastric varices and spontaneous portosystemic shunts, artificial-assisted cholangioscopy.In this review, we aim to focus on different applications within endohepatology which are at the benchtop (or coming close by) and attempt to prognosticate potential future techniques within this rapidly evolving field.

Keywords: CIRRHOSIS; ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY; LIVER BIOPSY; PORTAL HYPERTENSION.