Effect of the manipulation of the duodenal papilla during double balloon enteroscopy

AIM: To determine the hypothesis that inflating the balloons in the duodenal papilla determines changes in the biochemical markers of pancreatitis.METHODS: Four groups of pigs were used: Group papilla(GP), the overtube's balloon was inflated in the area of the papilla; GP + double balloon enteroscopy(GP + DBE), the overtube's balloon was kept inflated in the area of the papilla for 20 min before a DBE; Group DBE(GDBE), DBE was carried out after insuring the balloon's inflation far from the pancreatic papilla; and Group control(GC). Serum concentrations of amylase, lipase and C-reactive protein(CRP) were evaluated. Pancreases were processed for histopathology examination.RESULTS: Main changes occurred 24 h after the procedure compared with baseline levels. Amylase levels increased significantly in GP(59.2% higher) and were moderately higher in groups GP + DBE and GDBE(22.7% and 20%, respectively). Lipase increased in GP and GP + DBE, whereas it hardly changed in GDBE and in GC. CRP increased significantly in GP, GP + DBE and GDBE, while no changes were reported for GC. No statistically significant difference between groups GP and GP + DBE was found for the histopathological findings, except for vacuolization and necrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma that was higher in GP than in GP + DBE.CONCLUSION: The manipulation of the duodenal papilla by the inflated overtube's balloon during DBE causes pancreatic structural damage and increased biochemical markers associated with pancreatitis.