Fig 2 -

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography images obtained before (A) and 35 days after (B) ethanol ablation. Stricture formation is observed at the ablated site, and dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct is observed 35 days after ablation.</p

Fig 4 -

Microscopic examination shows epithelial sloughing (arrow) and necrosis with denaturation (arrowheads) at the site of ablation, which has replaced the granulation tissue and fibrotic changes (asterisk); A, B, hematoxylin & eosin; C, Masson’s trichrome.</p

Details and outcomes of endoscopic biliary ethanol ablation.

Details and outcomes of endoscopic biliary ethanol ablation.</p

The mucosa at the site of ablation shows the formation of scar stricture on macroscopic examination 35 days after ethanol ablation.

The mucosa at the site of ablation shows the formation of scar stricture on macroscopic examination 35 days after ethanol ablation.</p

Cholangioscopic view before and 35 days after ethanol ablation in the swine model.

Cholangioscopic view before and 35 days after ethanol ablation in the swine model.</p

Fig 1 -

Prototype of the newly developed multi-hole balloon catheter equipped with a 30-mm long balloon of 6, 8, or 10 mm diameter, which has 600 holes of 10 μm diameter on two-thirds of the surface on the distal side of the balloon (A). When ethanol is injected into the balloon, the balloon expands initially until the full size is achieved; subsequently, a small amount of ethanol gradually oozes out of the balloon through the holes (B).</p

Bench test of the novel multi-hole balloon catheter.

Bench test of the novel multi-hole balloon catheter.</p