Risk factors for pancreatitis after pancreatic sphincterotomy: a review of 572 cases.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy is indispensable for many therapeutic endoscopic maneuvers, but is also associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In this study, this subgroup of patients was investigated in order to identify risk factors and protective factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified 572 endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomies that met the inclusion criteria. Charts were examined for indications, endoscopic technique, and outcomes, including pancreatitis. RESULTS: A total of 477 patients underwent 572 endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomies during a 5-year period. Indications for sphincterotomy included chronic pancreatitis (n = 398), access for tissue sampling (n = 52), acute recurrent pancreatitis (n = 45), transpapillary drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst (n = 32), precut access to the common bile duct (n = 29), and others (n = 16). Pancreatic duct drainage was performed in 69.1 % of the procedures (nasopancreatic catheter, n = 290, or pancreatic stent placement, n = 105). Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in 69 cases (12.1 %) and was severe in 10. The multivariate analysis identified female sex as being associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis, while an elevated C-reactive protein level, pancreatic ductal stones, sphincterotomy at only the major papilla, and pancreatic duct drainage with a nasopancreatic catheter or stent were associated with a lower risk. CONCLUSIONS: This large series of patients undergoing endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy provides further evidence that both patient characteristics and technical factors modify the risk profile for post-ERCP pancreatitis. In addition to providing further definition of which patients are at risk, it also suggests that pancreatic duct drainage is an independently significant protective maneuver.

Long-term outcome after pancreatic stenting in severe chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Although it has been proved that pancreatic stenting is effective in the symptomatic management of severe chronic pancreatitis, long-term outcomes after stent removal have not been fully evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients (75 men, 25 women; median age 49) with severe chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic duct strictures were successfully treated for pancreatic pain using polyethylene pancreatic stents and were followed up for at least 1 year after stent removal. The stents were exchanged "on demand" (in cases of recurrence of pain) and a definitive stent removal was attempted on the basis of clinical and endoscopic findings. Clinical variables were retrospectively assessed as potential predictors of re-stenting. RESULTS: The etiology of the chronic pancreatitis was alcoholic (77 %), idiopathic (18 %), or hereditary (5 %). Patients were followed up for a median period of 69 months (range 14 - 163 months) after study entry, including a median period of 27 months (range 12 - 126 months) after stent removal. The median duration of pancreatic stenting before stent removal was 23 months (range 2 - 134 months). After attempted definitive stent removal, 30 patients (30 %) required re-stenting within the first year of follow-up, at a median time of 5.5 months after stent removal (range 1 - 12 months), while in 70 patients (70 %) pain control remained adequate during that period. By the end of the follow-up period a total of 38 patients had required re-stenting and four ultimately underwent pancreaticojejunostomy. Pancreas divisum was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of re-stenting (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The majority (70 %) of patients with severe chronic pancreatitis who respond to pancreatic stenting maintain this response after definitive stent removal. However, a significantly higher re-stenting rate was observed in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreas divisum.

Prevalence and clinical evolution of isolated ventral pancreatitis in alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The role of pancreas divisum in chronic pancreatitis is controversial. Ductal changes limited to the pancreatic ventral duct (isolated ventral pancreatitis) have only been described as isolated case reports. METHODS: In a cohort of 542 patients with chronic pancreatitis we determined the frequency of ventral chronic pancreatitis among patients with pancreas divisum and analyzed the clinical presentation of 10 patients with isolated ventral alcohol-induced pancreatitis compared with 10 patients with isolated dorsal alcohol-induced pancreatitis and 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis and without pancreas divisum. Magnetic resonance pancreatography under secretin stimulation was used to evaluate the status of the dorsal pancreatic duct in some patients during follow-up. RESULTS: We identified 62 (11.4%) patients with pancreas divisum and 16 (2.9%) patients with incomplete pancreas divisum. The ventral duct was affected by chronic pancreatitis in 74% of these patients. Isolated ventral or dorsal duct alterations were identified in 14% and 26%, respectively, of patients with pancreas divisum. Patients with isolated ventral pancreatitis had pain symptoms similar to those of the two other groups but had no endocrine or exocrine insufficiency on initial presentation. After a mean follow-up of 44 months, 83% of patients studied with isolated ventral pancreatitis developed alterations of the dorsal ductal part of the gland. CONCLUSION: We conclude that isolated ventral alcohol-induced pancreatitis is one of the first manifestations of generalized pancreatic disease where the anatomic factor of pancreas divisum plays only a marginal role.

A guiding catheter to facilitate accurate stent length determination.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic stenting is widely used for drainage in benign and malignant strictures of the bile and pancreatic ducts. Accurate fitting of the stent to the anatomic ductal features is essential, although this is often done by visual assessment alone. METHODS: A new guiding catheter, the measuring-mounting catheter, with radiopaque bands at 1 cm intervals from its distal end, was used in 10 patients. Visual estimates, based on fluoroscopic images, of the length of the duct segments considered for stenting were compared with measurements obtained with the catheter. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between duct length estimations based on visual assessment and lengths determined objectively using the catheter (mean +/- SD, 17 +/- 11 mm; p < 0.0005). In one half of the cases, the operator rejected the stent he chose before using the catheter. CONCLUSIONS: The measuring-mounting catheter improves the precision of plastic stent implantation without loss of time during the procedure. It is particularly useful in technically difficult situations such as hilar or main pancreatic duct strictures.

Plastic and metal stents for postoperative benign bile duct strictures: the best and the worst.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic treatment of postoperative benign bile duct strictures (BBDS) is technically challenging, and the long-term outcome after stricture dilation remains poorly defined. METHODS: Forty-eight cases of postoperative BBDS with attempted endoscopic treatment (either transient plastic stenting or definitive metal stent insertion) were reviewed. RESULTS: Endoscopic stricture dilation succeeded in 47 of 48 cases (98%). No procedure-related mortality was observed; 16 (33%) procedure-related or stent-associated complications were observed during treatment. Endoscopic treatment was interrupted in five patients. Stricture relapse occurred in 6 of 6 (100%) and 7 of 36 (19%) patients after metal stent insertion and plastic stent removal, respectively (p < 0.001) (mean follow-up periods 50+/-12 and 44+/-34 months, respectively). After plastic stent removal, stricture relapses were more frequent among patients with strictures related to liver transplantation as opposed to other surgical procedures (p < 0.05); these recurrent strictures were successfully treated by repeated insertion of plastic stents on a temporary basis. At the end of follow-up, all but one patient treated with plastic stents had normal serum alkaline phosphatase values. CONCLUSION: Metal stents proved to be inadequate for treating postoperative BBDS. Temporary insertion of a plastic stent (possibly repeated) provided long-term results equal or superior to those reported for surgical biliary drainage. Repeated insertion of plastic stents was more frequently indicated for strictures related to liver transplantation compared with other surgical procedures.

Endoscopic treatment of gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone (Bouveret's syndrome) after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

Two patients with gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone were treated by endoscopic lithotripsy. All fragments of significant size were removed orally, except for one that was left in the stomach in the first patient. This fragment caused a recurrent ileus after initial clinical improvement. The other patient remained clinically well after hospital discharge.

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumours of the pancreas. Clinical and therapeutic issues in 32 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The clinical presentation, pancreatographic findings, and outcome of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumours have not been reported in a large patient series in the English literature. This study reviewed 32 patients diagnosed between 1980 and 1994, with special attention to these features. PATIENTS/METHOD: Data on 24 operated and eight non-operated patients were abstracted from inpatient, outpatient, and procedure records. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis was the most common presentation seen in 56% of patients. Relapses occurred during an average of 43 months before diagnosis. A patulous papilla was observed in 55% of the cases. Endoscopic pancreatography showed communicating cysts, a diffusely dilated main pancreatic duct, and amorphous defects in 42, 71, and 97% respectively. An invasive carcinoma was found in nine of 24 (37.5%) of operated patients: six of the patients (66%) died or developed metastases within three years after surgery. No mortality was related to the tumour in absence of invasive carcinoma. Benign recurrence on the remaining pancreas was unusual and occurred late after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Intraductal papillary mucinous tumours must be considered in the differential diagnosis of relapsing pancreatitis. Despite slow growing, these tumours have an obvious malignant potential and a very poor prognosis when invasive carcinoma has developed. Early recognition and resection are the cornerstones of treatment.

Endoscopic pancreatic drainage in chronic pancreatitis associated with ductal stones: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: In severe chronic pancreatitis associated with intraductal stones, therapeutic endoscopy aims to reduce increased intraductal pressure by pancreatic sphincterotomy and stone clearance. METHODS: Results of treatment were evaluated in 70 new patients who underwent pancreatic sphincterotomy and attempted stone removal. Technical results and frequency of pain relief and recurrence are compared. RESULTS: Complete ductal clearance of calculi was obtained in 50% of cases. Immediate clinical improvement occurred in 95% of patients with painful attacks. No severe complications or mortality occurred. Fifty-four percent of all patients with painful chronic pancreatitis did not experience any pain recurrence within 2 years. Associations found to be statistically significant by multivariate analysis were ductal clearance and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, pain disappearance and ductal clearance, pain recurrence and long evolution, and severe disease before treatment and presence of a ductal substenosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this subset of patients our results indicate that the pain of chronic pancreatitis is mainly related to increased intraductal pressure. Endoscopic management appears to be a safe, conservative, alternative to surgery. The best results are obtained when it is performed early in the course of calcifying chronic pancreatitis.

Complete disruption of the main pancreatic duct: endoscopic management.

BACKGROUND: Complete disruption of the main pancreatic duct is an unusual event in the course of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic management has already proven effective in the treatment of partial ruptures. METHODS: Thirteen patients presented over a 7-year period with acute (9 patients) or chronic (4 patients) pancreatitis complicated by complete disruption of the main pancreatic duct and cyst formation. Endoscopic treatment was attempted in 12. Treatment varied depending on the site of the rupture and accessibility of the pseudocyst and consisted either of transpapillary drainage (3), cystogastrostomy (3), cystoduodenostomy (2), or combined procedures (4) when one of these procedures did not induce significant decrease in collection size. Long-term results were obtained by observing the patients with ultrasound, CT, ERCP, and clinical evaluation. RESULTS: Short-term results were excellent with complete cyst resolution and clinical recovery in all but one patient treated by endoscopy. Two patients had pseudocyst infection successfully treated by drainage and antibiotics. Long-term follow-up was available for 11 patients (mean duration, 30.2 months; range, 12 to 72 months) without relapsing clinical symptoms or pseudocyst. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management is effective and safe for treating patients with complete main pancreatic duct disruption. A double drainage combining transpapillary drainage and cystoenterostomy must be done in selected instances, especially when rupture occurs in the setting of chronic pancreatitis with stricture or stone distal to the rupture.

Diminutive polyp: a rare presentation of breast cancer metastases to the colon.

Digestive metastases of breast cancer are well documented (1-4). We report a patient with metastatic breast cancer presenting as a 5 mm polypoid benign looking lesion. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunostaining.

Management of common bile duct stricture caused by chronic pancreatitis with metal mesh self expandable stents.

Twenty patients with chronic pancreatitis and signs of biliary obstruction were treated by endoscopic placement of self expandable metal mesh stents, and followed up prospectively. Eleven had been treated previously with plastic endoprostheses. All had persistent cholestasis, seven patients had jaundice, and three overt cholangitis. Endoscopic stent placement was successful in all cases. No early clinical complication was seen and cholestasis, jaundice or cholangitis rapidly resolved in all patients. Mean follow up was 33 months (range 24 to 42) and consisted of clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In 18 patients, successive ERCPs and cholangioscopies have shown that the metal mesh initially embeds in the bile duct wall and is rapidly covered by a continuous tissue by three months. The stent lumen remained patent and functional throughout the follow up period except in two patients who developed epithelial hyperplasia within the stent resulting in recurrent biliary obstruction, three and six months after placement. They were treated endoscopically with standard plastic stents with one of these patients ultimately requiring surgical drainage. No patient free of clinical or radiological signs of epithelial hyperplasia after six months developed obstruction later. This new treatment could become an effective alternative to surgical biliary diversion if further controlled follow up studies confirm the initial impression that self expandable metal mesh stents offer a low morbidity alternative for longterm biliary drainage in chronic pancreatitis without the inconvenience associated with plastic stents.

Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis.

The indications of endoscopic management for chronic pancreatitis are strictly related to the classification of severe types and to the particular anatomy of the ducts: 1. Impacted or distal calculi: endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPS) alone followed by ESWL when extraction fails. 2. Stone(s) and stricture: EPS, ESWL, NPC, and then 10F plastic stenting. 3. Relapsing strictures (with upwards dilatation) after 6 to 12 months stenting: silicone covered self expanding stent in a trial, versus surgical pancreaticojejunostomy. 4. Paraduodenal cyst bulging into the duodenum: ECD. 5. Jaundice and/or cholestasis due to stricture of the intrapancreatic CBD: 10F single or multiple plastic stent for calibration during 3 months. For relapsing cholestasis and stricture, 30F metal mesh stent versus surgical hepaticojejunostomy. The indications of endoscopic management for chronic pancreatitis are specific and require complete imaging and functional check up (ERCP, CT scanner, endosonography, pancreatic function tests). The technique is quite difficult and requires definition fluoroscopy, appropriate devices and experienced team. On this condition, the complication rate is very low and usually medically controlled. Treatment does not compromise any further surgery. Endoscopy allows to avoid or to postpone surgery which indication will become better defined and selected in the future.

Endoscopic stenting for biliary strictures.

A consensus is growing among units that have an experience in both endoscopic and percutaneous stenting techniques that the endoscopic approach of malignant biliary strictures is more comfortable for the patient and provides less complications. This article describes endoscopic biliary drainage in different malignant stenosis of the bile ducts and delineates the respective indications of percutaneous and endoscopic techniques together with the possible combination of these two methods in selected cases. It also tackles the question of the medical surgical approach of the patients, which might, thanks to a better selection, reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with surgery. The indications of biliary stenting in benign strictures, namely post operative or chronic pancreatitis associated biliary stenoses, are also discussed. Recently, new materials became available for endoscopic and percutaneous biliary drainage, and particularly metallic self expanding stents which might provide a better palliation among these patients. If these stents fulfill their promise on longer follow-up, they may replace the conventional stenting devices.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy of pancreatic calculi.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been used to disintegrate pancreatic stones located in the main pancreatic duct for 123 patients with severe chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic management following ESWL is aimed at restoring the pancreatic flow to the duodenum. Stone disintegration was achieved in 122 patients, whereas a decrease in the main pancreatic duct diameter resulted in 111, and complete clearance of the main pancreatic duct was obtained in 72. Pain relief, complete (40/88) or partial (35/88), correlated significantly with the results of the endoscopic drainage of the main pancreatic duct (e.g., decrease in main pancreatic duct diameter). Relapsing pain was most often related to recurrent pancreatic duct obstruction. Of 76 patients whose body weight had decreased before ESWL, 54 gained weight. Improvement of the exocrine function, evaluated by the [14C]triolein breath test before and 11 months, on the average, after ESWL, was observed in 12 patients among 22 for whom this test was performed before and after treatment. Improvement of the endocrine function after relief of obstruction of the main pancreatic duct was less frequently recorded (4/41). ESWL of pancreatic stones is a new, safe, and highly effective method of facilitating the endoscopic procedures for relief of pancreatic duct obstruction in severe chronic pancreatitis.

[Emergency intrahepatic shunt via transjugular approach]. / Shunt intrahépatique par voie transjugulaire en urgence.

We report the case of a cirrhotic 65 year-old woman presenting with persistent and recurrent variceal hemorrhage in spite of endoscopic sclerotherapy with bucrylate, glypressin infusion and balloon tamponade. At the time of intrahepatic shunt placement via the transjugular route, Child-Pugh score was 14 (Child C category) and surgical variceal decompression or liver transplantation were contraindicated. At the end of the procedure, which included the placement of two Palmaz stents, varices were no more opacified and the wedge hepatic venous pressure gradient had decreased from 70%. Evolution of the patient was excellent with a permeable shunt after one month. Emergency placement of intrahepatic shunt with metallic stent has certainly a place in case of failure of initial management of variceal bleeding with pharmacotherapy, sclerotherapy or balloon tamponade.

Stenting in severe chronic pancreatitis: results of medium-term follow-up in seventy-six patients.

Between January 1985 and September 1989, 75 patients presenting with severe chronic pancreatitis with distal stricture and upstream dilatation underwent stenting of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) through the major papilla (n = 54) or minor papilla (n = 21) in order to drain the predominant duct through a 10 F plastic prosthesis. All patients had undergone biliary and pancreatic sphincterotomy with a few cases of complications, and the majority (84%) also ESWL in the period from October 1987 onwards without complications. Relief of pain (94%) occurred parallel to a decrease in the MPD diameter. In a mean follow-up period of 37 months improvement of the nutrition status and relief of pain was seen. Clogging of these large plastic stents was treated by replacement or by another endoscopic or surgical procedure. Complications were treated endoscopically. Further measures necessary due to failure of stenting consisted of laterolateral pancreatico-jejunostomy in 15% of patients and placement of self-expanding 18 F metal mesh stents in 29%. There was no mortality due to surgery. It is concluded that stenting of distal strictures in the MPD can lead to rapid resolution of pancreatic pain due to ductal hypertension and is the best means for determining the cause of pain, providing an alternative to surgery. Significant improvement of a stricture by prolonged stenting is however unusual, and such patients treated endoscopically require close follow-up with stent replacement approximately once a year.

Expandable biliary metal stents for malignancies: endoscopic insertion and diathermic cleaning for tumor ingrowth.

Seventeen patients with malignant biliary strictures have been treated by endoscopic insertion of self-expandable metallic prostheses. Two patients received two prostheses inserted simultaneously in both the left and right hepatic ducts for Klatskin tumor type III. Immediate results were satisfactory despite an operative mortality of 18%, and neither early nor late clogging was observed even in patients who presented previously with sludge above plastic stents that were removed. However, among five patients followed for more than 4 months, two presented with obstruction due to tumor ingrowth into the stent through the metallic mesh. Accordingly, initial enthusiasm concerning long-term patency of these stents has decreased. However, we describe a technique of "diathermic cleaning" of tumor ingrowth which can easily restore the stent patency. The advantages of these wire mesh 30 F stents are their easier insertion, better immediate drainage, and absence of dislocation or perforation.