Endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement for inflammatory pancreatic diseases

The role of endoscopic therapy in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuously evolving; at present most pathological conditions of the pancreas are successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography （ERCP） or endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）, or both. Endoscopic placement of stents has played and still plays a major role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreas divisum, main pancreatic duct injuries, pancreatic fistulae, complications of acute pancreatitis, recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, and in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. These stents are currently routinely placed to reduce intraductal hypertension, bypass obstructing stones, restore lumen patency in cases with dominant, symptomatic strictures, seal main pancreatic duct disruption, drain pseudocysts or fluid collections, treat symptomatic major or minor papilla sphincter stenosis, and prevent procedure-induced acute pancreatitis. The present review aims at updating and discussing techniques, indications, and results of endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pancreas.

Comparison of postoperative complications between internal and external pancreatic duct stenting during pancreaticoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis

Background：Two types of pancreatic duct stents are used to improve postoperative outcomes of pancreatic anastomosis.The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate and compare the postoperative outcomes of patients with internal or external stenting during pancreaticoduodenectomy（PD）.Methods：We searched Pub Med,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases until the end of December,2014.Studies comparing outcomes of external vs.internal stent placement in PD were eligible for inclusion.Included literature was extracted and assessed by two independent reviewers.Results：Seven articles were identified for inclusion：three randomized controlled trials（RCTs）and four observational clinical studies（OCS）.The meta-analyses revealed that use of external stents had advantage on reducing the incidences of pancreatic fistula（PF）in total[odds ratio（OR）=0.69;95%confidence interval（CI）,0.48-0.99;P=0.04],PF in soft pancreas（OR=0.30;95%CI,0.16-0.56;P=0.0002）and delayed gastric emptying（DGE）（OR=0.58;95%CI,0.38-0.89;P=0.01）compared with internal stents.There were no significant differences in other postoperative outcomes between two stenting methods,including postoperative morbidity（OR=0.93;95%CI,0.39-2.23;P=0.88）,overall mortality（OR=0.70;95%CI,0.22-2.25;P=0.55）,and intra-abdominal collections（OR=0.67;95%CI,0.26-1.71;P=0.40）.Conclusions：Based upon this meta-analysis,the use of external pancreatic stents might have potential benefit in reducing the incidence of PF and DGE.Due to the limited number of original studies,more RCTs are needed to further support our result and clarify the issue.

Continuing episodes of pain in recurrent acute pancreatitis: Prospective follow up on a standardised protocol with drugs and pancreatic endotherapy

AIM To assess the outcomes of drug therapy(DT)followed by pancreatic endotherapy for continuing painful episodes in recurrent acute pancreatitis.METHODS DT comprised of pancreatic enzymes and antioxidants failing which,endotherapy(ET;pancreatic sphincterotomy and stent placement)was done.The frequency of pain,its visual analogue score(VAS),quality of life(Qo L),serum C peptide and faecal elastase were compared between baseline and after 1 year of follow up in all patients and in the two subgroups on DT and ET.Response was defined as at least 50%reduction in the severity of pain to below a score of 5.RESULTS Of the thirty nine patients analysed,21(53.9%)responded to DT and 18(46.1%)underwent ET.The VAS for pain(7.0±2.0 vs 1.3±2.5,P<0.001)and the number of days with pain per month decreased[1.0(1.0,2.0)vs 1.0(0.0,1.0),P<0.001],and the Qo L scores[55.0(44.0,66.0)vs 38.0(32.00,51.00),P<0.01]improved significantly during follow up.Similar significant improvements were seen in patients in the subgroups of DT and ET except for Qo L in ET.The serum C-peptide(P=0.001)and FE(P<0.001)levels improved significantly in the entire group and in the two subgroups of patients except for the C peptide levels in patients on DT.CONCLUSION A standardised protocol of DT,followed by ET decreased the intensity and frequency of pain in recurrent acute pancreatitis,enhanced Qo L and improved pancreatic function.

Pancreatic guidewire placement for achieving selective biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography

AIM: To investigate the frequency and risk factors for acute pancreatitis after pancreatic guidewire placement (P-GW) in achieving cannulation of the bile duct during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: P-GW was performed in 113 patients in whom cannulation of the bile duct was difficult. The success rate of biliary cannulation, the frequency and risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis, and the frequency of spontaneous migration of the pancreatic duct stent were investigated. RESULTS: Selective biliary cannulation with P-GW was achieved in 73% of the patients. Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in 12% (14 patients: mild, 13; moderate, 1). Prophylactic pancreatic stenting was attempted in 59% of the patients. Of the 64 patients who successfully underwent stent placement, three developed mild pancreatitis (4.7%). Of the 49 patients without stent placement, 11 developed pancreatitis (22%: mild, 10; moderate, 1). Of the five patients in whom stent placement was unsuccessful, two developed mild pancreatitis. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no pancreatic stenting to be the only significant risk factor for pancreatitis. Spontaneous migration of the stent was observed within two weeks in 92% of the patients who had undergone pancreatic duct stenting.CONCLUSION: P-GW is useful for achieving selective biliary cannulation. Pancreatic duct stenting after P-GW can reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis, which requires evaluation by means of prospective randomized controlled trials.

Potential risk factors for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis related to pancreatic secretions following pancreaticoduodenectomy

AIM: To identify risk factors for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis following pancreaticoduodenectomy, with a focus on factors related to pancreatic secretions. METHODS: The medical records of 228 patients who had a pancreaticoduodenectomy over a 16-mo period were reviewed retrospectively. The 193 patients who did not have fatty liver disease preoperatively were included in the final analysis. Hepatic steatosis was diagnosed using the differences between splenic and hepatic attenuation and liver-to-spleen attenuation as measured by non-enhanced computed tomography. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (7.8%) who showed postoperative hepatic fatty changes were assigned to Group A, and the remaining patients were assigned to Group B. Patient demographics, preoperative laboratory findings (including levels of C-peptide, glucagon, insulin and glucose tolerance test results), operation types, and final pathological findings did not differ significantly between the two groups; however, the frequency of pancreatic fistula (P = 0.020) and the method of pancreatic duct stenting (P = 0.005) showed significant differences between the groups. A multivari- ate analysis identified pancreatic fistula (HR = 3.332, P = 0.037) and external pancreatic duct stenting (HR = 4.530, P = 0.017) as independent risk factors for the development of postoperative steatohepatitis. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic fistula and external pancreatic duct stenting were identified as independent risk factors for the development of steatohepatitis following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Analysis of the risk factors for severity in post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: The indication of prophylactic treatments

To determine the risk factors of severe post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (sPEP) and clarify the indication of prophylactic treatments. METHODSAt our hospital, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed on 1507 patients from May 2012 to December 2015. Of these patients, we enrolled all 121 patients that were diagnosed with post endoscopic retrograde PEP. Fourteen of 121 patients diagnosed as sPEP were analyzed. RESULTSForty-one patients had contrast media remaining in the pancreatic duct after completion of ERCP. Seventy-one patients had abdominal pain within three hours after ERCP. These were significant differences for sPEP (P < 0.05). The median of Body mass index, the median time for ERCP, the median serum amylase level of the next day, past histories including drinking and smoking, past history of pancreatitis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, whether emergency or not, expertise of ERCP procedure, diverticulum nearby Vater papilla, whether there was sphincterotomy or papillary balloon dilation, pancreatic duct cannulation, use of intra-ductal ultrasonography enforcement, and transpapillary biopsies had no significant differences with sPEP. CONCLUSIONContrast media remaining in the pancreatic duct and the appearance of abdominal pain within three hours after ERCP were risk factors of sPEP.

Long-term follow-up of endoscopic papillectomy and the value of preventive pancreatic stent placement(with videos)

Background:Early-stage ampullary adenomas have only been reported in a small case series on endoscopic management.Hence,this study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of early ampullary adenoma with endoscopic management and identify the risk factors for acute pancreatitis after endoscopic papillectomy(EP).Methods:In this study,115 patients who underwent EP at Changhai Hospital(Shanghai,China)between January 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively analysed.Endoscopy was performed at 1,3,6,and 12months after EP.Data were statistically analysed using the t-test or the Mann–Whitney U test.Results:A total of 107 patients were included in this study and the follow-up period was 75643 months.The average age of the 107 patients was 54.6 years and the average tumor size was 17mm.The average age of the patients(53.7610.7 years vs 55.2610.5 years,P=0.482),minimum tumor size(13 vs 19mm,P=0.063),and complete resection rate(84.78%vs 85.25%,P=0.947)did not differ significantly between the stent placement and non-stent placement groups.Post-EP acute pancreatitis rates in the non-stent placement and stent placement groups were 11.48%and 4.35%,respectively.The risk of post-EP acute pancreatitis was significantly associated with the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level in univariate analysis,but not in multivariate analysis.The risk of post-EP acute pancreatitis was not significantly associated with the placement of the pancreatic stent in either univariate or multivariate analysis.Moreover,delayed proximal pancreatic duct stenosis was not noted in either group during long-term follow-up.Conclusions:EP is a satisfactory option for treating adenomas of the ampulla of the duodenum.