Novel powered 5.0-mm endoscopic debridement catheter for endoscopic transmural necrosectomy of pancreatic walled-off necrosis: a case series of consecutive patients from a tertiary referral center (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: EUS-guided drainage and, if required, endoscopic necrosectomy (EN) has become the criterion standard for the treatment of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON). A dedicated powered endoscopic debridement system, the EndoRotor (Interscope Inc, Northbridge, Mass, USA), has been introduced as an alternative to snare necrosectomy. This study evaluates the novel EndoRotor catheter, NecroMax 6.0 (Interscope Inc, Whitinsville, Mass, USA), for EN in patients with WON. METHODS: This single-center retrospective case series included consecutive patients with WON treated with the NecroMax 6.0 catheter. Safety, ability to perform EN, and clinical resolution were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent 30 EN procedures with the NecroMax 6.0 catheter. One suspected device-related adverse event was observed (3.3%). In 1 procedure, EN could not be performed because of excessive bending of the endoscope. Eighteen patients (90.0%) achieved clinical resolution. CONCLUSIONS: EN with the NecroMax 6.0 catheter was technically feasible in 96.7% of patients with a low rate of adverse events.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided ablation is a promising treatment for pancreatic cystic neoplasms - a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: With the increasing use of cross-sectional imaging, the incidence of non-symptomatic pancreatic cystic neoplasms is increasing. Surgical management of pancreatic cystic neoplasms possess significant risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided ablation as a non-operative treatment of pancreatic cystic neoplasms. METHODS: We performed a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus. All clinical studies examining the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation with radiofrequency, sclerosants, ethanol, chemotherapeutics or a combination hereof were included. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies were included. We found that EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation was feasible with complete resolution in up to 86% of cases after 3-12 months. The modality with the most promising results after 3-12 months was chemoablation with complete resolution rates ranging from 46 to 79% (median 64%). The most appropriate follow-up period was estimated to be 12 months. The risk of serious adverse events including pancreatitis was approximately 16%. Very few cyst recurrences have been documented following complete resolution after cyst ablation. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided cyst ablation of pancreatic cystic lesions seems effective and safe as an alternative to surgical resection in patients who are unfit for surgery or who have low-risk pancreatic cystic neoplasms.