Pancreatic duct stones in patients with chronic pancreatitis:surgical outcomes

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic duct stone (PDS) is a common complication of chronic pancreatitis. Surgery is a common therapeutic option for PDS. In this study we assessed the surgical procedures for PDS in patients with chronic pancreatitis at our hospital. METHOD: Between January 2004 and September 2009, medical records from 35 patients diagnosed with PDS associated with chronic pancreatitis were retrospectively reviewed and the patients were followed up for up to 67 months. RESULTS: The 35 patients underwent ultrasonography, computed tomography, or both, with an overall accuracy rate of 85.7%. Of these patients, 31 underwent the modified Puestow procedure, 2 underwent the Whipple procedure, 1 underwent simple stone removal by duct incision, and 1 underwent pancreatic abscess drainage. Of the 35 patients, 28 were followed up for 4-67 months. There was no postoperative death before discharge or during follow-up. After the modified Puestow procedure, abdominal pain was reduced in patients with complete or incomplete stone clearance (P>0.05). Steatorrhea and diabetes mellitus developed in several patients during a long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery, especially the modified Puestow procedure, is effective and safe for patients with PDS associated with chronic pancreatitis. Decompression of intraductal pressure rather than complete clearance of all stones predicts postoperative outcome.

Retrospective analysis of 88 patients with pancreatic duct stone

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic duct stone is a rare disease, but there appears to be a rising trend in its incidence in recent years. Its pathogenesis remains unknown. The causes, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic duct stone are reviewed through a retrospective analysis of the cases treated in our hospital. METHODS: The medical records of 88 patients with pancreatic duct stone treated in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 1, 1998 to November 30, 2004 were analyzed retrospectively in terms of clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Epigastric pain was the most common symptom in the 88 patients with an average age of 45.44 +/- 6.72 years. Various other symptoms were also observed. Eighty-one patients were subjected to B-ultrasonography, 51 to CT, and 47 to magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Fifty-six patients (63.64%) were operated on, 25 (28.41%) were treated with Chinese and Western medicine, and 7 (7.95%) abandoned treatment. Chronic pancreatitis was pathologically confirmed in all patients undergoing operation. CONCLUSIONS: B-ultrasonography is the first choice to check for pancreatic duct stone, while MRCP proves instructively useful for the diagnosis and treatment. Chronic pancreatitis is the most important cause of pancreatic duct stone, but whether there is not a direct correlation between stone formation and alcohol abuse needs further study in China. Surgery is the most curative method for pancreatic duct stone patients with severe symptoms or suspected pancreatic carcinoma, while individual treatment is emphasized, and microtraumatic surgery may be a developing option for treating pancreatic stone.

Successful outcome of retrograde pancreatojejunostomy for chronic pancreatitis and infected pancreatic cysts:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic pancreatitis occasionally requires surgical treatment that can be performed with various techniques.Often,this type of surgery presents with postoperative complications.We report a case of a successful retrograde pancreatojejunostomy for chronic pancreatitis and infected pancreatic cysts.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old male with a 10-year history of chronic pancreatitis presented with epigastric pain for one week and a 20 kg weight loss over one year.Computed tomography showed stones in the pancreas(mainly the head),expansion of the main pancreatic duct,and thinning of the pancreatic parenchyma.Magnetic resonance imaging showed infected pancreatic cysts connected to the stomach with a fistula from the splenic hilum to the caudal portion of the liver’s lateral segment.An endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was performed;the guide wires could not pass through the stones in the pancreas and therefore,drainage of the main pancreatic duct was not achieved.Next,a distal pancreatomy and splenectomy were performed;however,the pancreatic juice in the remaining parenchyma was blocked by the stones.Hence,we performed a retrograde pancreatojejunostomy and Roux-en-Y anastomosis.The patient had no postoperative complications and was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 14.CONCLUSION A distal pancreatomy,retrograde pancreatojejunostomy,and Roux-en-Y anastomosis could be an effective surgical procedure for intractable chronic pancreatitis.

Do available data support the widespread adoption of pancreatoscopy guided-lithotripsy?

Peroral pancreatoscopy(POPS)is a demanding endoscopic procedure that can be used to perform intracanal lithotripsy in obstructing pancreatic stones but the experience is limited.Most stones can be removed successfully by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography but patients with large stones require advanced therapeutic approaches,such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(alone or followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography),currently the mainstay of treatment.Unfortunately,in about 10%of cases,extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can fail;moreover,it is not be available in many institutions.For this subgroup of patients,POPS guided-lithotripsy can play a role and have benefits.The most consistent study concerns a retrospective multicenter analysis that enrolled few patients per center.Considering the epidemiological scenario and the scant volume of skilled endoscopists,POPS must be developed in very few high-volume referral centers with standardized pathways and capable of performing multi-modality treatment.In addition,we could reasonably assume that POPS-guided-lithotripsy should be used as rescue therapy in special situations,identifying the ideal candidate who can achieve the maximum clinical result,and carefully balancing risk/benefits ratio.