[Modern endoscopic technologies for chronic calcifying pancreatitis]. / Sovremennye endoskopicheskie tekhnologii pri khronicheskom kal'tsinoznom pankreatite.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electrohydraulic lithotripsy of calculi of the main pancreatic duct using ultrathin SpyGlass DS endoscope. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 29 patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis and obstructive calculi of the main pancreatic duct. All surgeries were carried out between 2018 and 2023. RESULTS: Complete removal of calculi (≥5 mm) within one procedure was achieved in 25 (86%) patients. CONCLUSION: Pancreatoscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy using the digital SpyGlass DS system (BostonScientificCorp, Marlborough, MA) is the most effective method for calculi of the main pancreatic duct.

[Intraductal radiofrequency ablation for neoplasms of the major duodenal papilla with intraductal spread]. / Vnutriprotokovaya radiochastotnaya ablyatsiya pri novoobrazovaniyakh bol'shogo sosochka dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki s vnutriprotokovym rasprostraneniem.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for neoplasms of the major duodenal papilla with intraductal spread. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven patients with adenomas of the major duodenal papilla and intraductal spread underwent intraductal RFA between 2022 and 2023. Spread to the common bile duct ranged from 10 to 30 mm, to the main pancreatic duct - from 5 to 11 mm. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all cases. Complications after intraductal RFA occurred in 4 cases (post-manipulation pancreatitis - 2 cases, repeated intraductal RFA for residual adenomatous growths - 2 cases). Technical success of stenting of the main pancreatic and common bile ducts was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: Intraductal radiofrequency ablation for neoplasms of the major duodenal papilla with intraductal spread ensured complete destruction of intraductal tumor with adequate clinical effect and no need for highly traumatic surgery.

Clinical Relevance of Cancerization of Ducts in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Although prevalent in 50%-90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, the clinical relevance of "cancerization of ducts" (COD) remains unknown. METHODS: Pathologists retrospectively reviewed slides classifying prevalence of COD. Histopathological parameters, location of first recurrence, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were collected from the institutional pancreatectomy registry. RESULTS: Among 311 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, COD was present in 216 (69.5%) and more prevalent in the cohort that underwent upfront surgery (75.3% vs 63.1%, P = 0.019). Furthermore, COD was associated with female gender (P = 0.040), advanced T stage (P = 0.007), perineural invasion (P = 0.014), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.025), and R1 margin (P = 0.009), but not N stage (P = 0.401) or tumor differentiation (P = 0.717). In multivariable regression, COD was associated with less liver recurrence (odds ratio, 0.44; P < 0.005). This association was driven by the cohort of patients who had received preoperative treatment (odds ratio, 0.18; P < 0.001). COD was not predictive for RFS or OS. CONCLUSIONS: Cancerization of ducts was not associated with RFS or OS. Currently underrecognized, standardized implementation into histopathological reports may have merit, and further mechanistic scientific experiments need to illuminate its clinical and biologic impact.

[Study on the application of self-fixing and self-detachable drainage stent in pancreaticojejunostomy].

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the self-fixing and self-detachable drainage stent in pancreaticojejunostomy and to provide supportive data for the follow clinical trials. Methods: This is an experimental research in animals which completed from February 2022 to September 2022. A self-fixing and self-detachable pancreaticojejunostomy drainage stent was designed for Hong's pancreaticojejunostomy technique based on the theory of "fistula healing" in pancreaticojejunostomy. Ten biocompatibility tests were completed in vitro before this study. Twenty-five Bama minipigs were selected and double-ligated in the neck of the pancreas to dilate the distal main pancreatic duct. Twenty-three of them were successfully modelled and divided into three groups by a stratified random method: pancreaticojejunostomy drainage stent group (referred to as stent group) with 11 pigs, pancreatic duct to jejunal mucosa anastomosis group (referred to as manual suture group) with 8 pigs, sham operation group with 4 pigs. The anastomic time,amylase content in postoperative abdominal drainage fluid and the tolerable pressure value of pancreaticojejunostomy were compared between the stent group and the manual suture group. An abdominal X-ray fluoroscopy examination was adopted to detect the detach time of the stent. A postoperative pathological examination was performed to verify the healing time,the type of treatment and the stricture rate of pancreaticojejunostomy. Quantitative data was analyzed by independent sample t-test. The classified data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Results: There were no significant differences in the diameter of the pancreatic duct and pancreatic texture,the time of pancreaticojejunostomy,the amylase content in postoperative peritoneal drainage fluid,and the tolerable pressure value of the pancreaticojejunostomy between the stent group and the manual suture group(all P>0.05). Abdominal X-ray fluoroscopy showed that the stents gradually detached and were removed from the body 21 days after operation,and all stents were detached in the follow 3 months after operation. Pancreaticojejunostomy healed 7 days after operation based on fistula formation in the stent group,and 14 days in the manual suture group. The incidence of anastomotic stricture within 35 days after operation was 2/8 in the stent group and 6/8 in the manual suture group (Fisher's exact test: P=0.132). Conclusion: The stent method is safer and simpler than the manual suture method in pancreaticojejunostomy of Bama minipigs, with shorter anastomotic healing time and lower stricture rate.

Pancreatoscopy-Guided Endotherapies for Pancreatic Diseases.

Per-oral pancreatoscopy (POP) is a pancreas-preserving modality that allows for targeted pancreatic duct interventions, particularly in cases where standard techniques fail. POP specifically has an emerging role in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and disease extent determination of main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). It has also been successfully used for laser ablation of IPMNs in poor surgical candidates, lithotripsy for complex stone disease, and laser stricturoplasty. As experience with POP increases beyond select referral center practices, further studies validating POP efficacy with long-term follow-up will help clarify when POP-guided intervention is most beneficial in relation to surgical intervention.

Endoscopic Management of Pain due to Chronic Pancreatitis.

Pain secondary to chronic pancreatitis is a poorly understood and complex phenomenon. Current endoscopic treatments target pancreatic duct decompression secondary to strictures, stones, or inflammatory and neoplastic masses. When there is refractory pain and other treatments have been unsuccessful, one can consider an endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block. Data on the latter are underwhelming.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreatic Duct Drainage.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD) is a method of decompressing the pancreatic duct (PD) if unable to access the papilla or surgical anastomosis, particularly in nonsurgical candidates. The 2 types of EUS-PDD are EUS-assisted pancreatic rendezvous (EUS-PRV) and EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy (EUS-PG). EUS-PRV should be considered in patients with accessible papilla or anastomosis, while EUS-PG is a comparable alternative in surgically altered foregut anatomy. While technical and clinical successes range from 79% to 100%, adverse events occur in approximately 20%. A multidisciplinary approach that considers the patient's anatomy, clinical indication, and long-term goals should be discussed with surgical and interventional radiology colleagues.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for the Management of Pancreatic Duct Leaks and Fistulas.

Pancreatic duct (PD) leaks are a common complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis, trauma to the pancreas, and pancreatic surgery. Diagnosis of PD leaks and fistulas is often made with contrast-enhanced pancreatic protocol computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging with MRCP. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography with pancreatic duct stenting in appropriately selected patients is often an effective treatment, helps to avoid surgery, and is considered first-line therapy in cases that fail conservative management.

Stent placement for the prevention of clinically-relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula following pancreaticojejunostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: There remains a lack of consensus regarding the benefits of stent placement following pancreaticojejunostomy in terms of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistulas (CR-POPFs). This study was aimed at analyzing the effects of stent placement, stent technique (internal and external), stent size, and dilation of the main pancreatic duct on CR-POPFs. METHODS: Our study comprised a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving patients undergoing pancreaticojejunostomy. The primary outcome was defined as the incidence of CR-POPFs. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted, and pooled analyses were performed to provide comparative references. RESULTS: Twelve randomized controlled trials, including a total of 1117 patients, were included. Compared with no stent placement, stenting did not exhibit a significant association with reduced CR-POPF incidence (odds ratio [OR] â€‹= â€‹0.60, 95% CI: 0.34-1.04, P â€‹= â€‹0.07). Subgroup analysis revealed that only external stents, and not internal stents, were significantly associated with a reduced CR-POPF incidence compared with no stent placement (OR â€‹= â€‹0.53, 95% CI: 0.28-0.99, P â€‹= â€‹0.05 vs. OR â€‹= â€‹0.92, 95% CI: 0.28-3.05, P â€‹= â€‹0.89). Furthermore, stent placement in patients with a main pancreatic duct diameter of ≤3 â€‹mm, and not in those with a main pancreatic duct diameter of >3 â€‹mm, was associated with a significantly reduced CR-POPF incidence compared with no stent placement (OR â€‹= â€‹0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.78, P â€‹= â€‹0.02 vs. OR â€‹= â€‹1.58, 95% CI: 0.41-6.06, P â€‹= â€‹0.50). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a potential role for external stent placement in the prevention of CR-POPFs after pancreaticojejunostomy, particularly in patients with undilated pancreatic ducts. The reliability of our findings is constrained by the limited number of studies included. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022380103.

Preoperative pancreatic stent placement before the enucleation of insulinoma located in the head and neck of the pancreas in proximity to the main pancreatic duct: study protocol for a multicentre randomised clinical trial in Chinese tertiary medical centres.

INTRODUCTION: The surgical intervention approach to insulinomas in proximity to the main pancreatic duct remains controversial. Standard pancreatic resection is recommended by several guidelines; however, enucleation (EN) still attracts surgeons with less risk of late exocrine/endocrine insufficiency, despite a higher postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) rate. Recently, the efficacy and safety of preoperative pancreatic stent placement before the EN have been demonstrated. Thus, a multicentre open-label study is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stent placement in improving the outcome of EN of insulinomas in proximity to the main pancreatic duct. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, randomised, open-label, superiority clinical trial conducted at multiple tertiary centres in China. The major eligibility criterion is the presence of insulinoma located in the head and neck of the pancreas in proximity (≤2 mm) to the main pancreatic duct. Blocked randomisation will be performed to allocate patients into the stent EN group and the direct EN group. Patients in the stent EN group will go through stent placement by the endoscopist within 24 hours before the EN surgery, whereas other patients will receive EN surgery directly. The primary outcome is the assessment of the superiority of stent placement in reducing POPF rate measured by the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery standard. Both interventions will be performed in an inpatient setting and regular follow-up will be performed. The primary outcome (POPF rate) will be tested for superiority with the Χ2 test. The difference in secondary outcomes between the two groups will be analysed using appropriate tests. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Peking Union Medical College Hospital Institutional Review Board (K23C0195), Ruijin Hospital Ethics Committee (2023-314), Peking University First Hospital Ethics Committee (2024033-001), Institutional Review Board of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University (2023223-002), Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU1AF2023LSK-473), Institutional Review Board of Tongji Medical College Tongji Hospital (TJ-IRB202402059), Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College Union Hospital (2023-0929) and Shanghai Cancer Center Institutional Review Board (2309282-16). The results of the study will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05523778.

Pancreaticoureteric fistula following penetrating abdominal trauma: A Case Report.

Pancreaticoureteric Fistula (PUF) is a very rare complication secondary to penetrating abdominal trauma involving the ureter and pancreatic parenchyma. Pancreatic injuries carry h igh morbidity due to the involvem ent of surrounding structures and are d ifficult to diagnose due to thei r retroperitoneal location. A case of a patient is reported at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad who presented with a history of firearm injury and missed pancreatic duct involvement on initial exploration that eventually led to the development of Pan creaticoureteric Fistula. He was managed v ia p erc ut aneous nep hrostomy ( PCN ) for the right ureteric injury and pancreatic duct (PD) stenting was done for distal main pancreatic duct injury (MPD).

[Double extrahepatic bile duct with pancreaticobiliary maljunction:a case report].

A 76-year-old woman with a suspected double extrahepatic bile duct was referred to our hospital. MRCP revealed that the left hepatic and posterior ducts combined to form the ventral bile duct and that the anterior duct formed the dorsal bile duct. ERCP demonstrated that the ventral bile duct was linked with the Wirsung duct. Amylase levels in the bile were unusually high. Based on these findings, we diagnosed a double extrahepatic bile duct with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and choledocholithiasis. Duplicate bile duct resection and bile duct jejunal anastomosis were performed considering the risk of biliary cancer due to pancreaticobiliary maljunction. The resected bile duct epithelium demonstrated no atypia or hyperplastic changes.

Risk Factors and Risk Assessment for Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the pertinent risk factors associated with post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) and develop a predictive scoring system for assessing the risk of PEP in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Gastroenterology, Nantong First People's Hospital, Jiangsu, China, from January 2022 to January 2023. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data of 375 patients who underwent successful ERCP treatment were collected and organised. Relevant risk factors for PEP were analysed, and a scoring system was established to predict the risk of PEP. RESULTS: Among the 375 patients who underwent ERCP, the incidence of PEP was 9.07% (34/375). Univariate analysis revealed that female gender, pancreatic duct opacification, difficult cannulation, operation time ≥45 minutes, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), and biliary stenting were risk factors for PEP. Multivariate analysis showed that female gender, pancreatic duct opacification, difficult cannulation, operation time ≥45 minutes, and SOD were independent risk factors for PEP. A scoring system was developed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis determined a cut-off value of 1.5 points. Patients with a score less than 1.5 points had a low probability of developing PEP, while those with a score greater than 1.5 points had a significantly higher probability of PEP. CONCLUSION: Female gender, pancreatic duct opacification, difficult cannulation, operation time ≥45 minutes, and SOD were independent risk factors for PEP. Additionally, a reliable scoring system was established to predict the risk of PEP. Clinicians can use this scoring system to assess the risk of PEP in patients and implement preventive measures to reduce the incidence of PEP. KEY WORDS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, Post-ERCP pancreatitis, Risk factors, Risk assessment, Preventive measure.

Transpancreatic Sphincterotomy After Double Guidewire Technique Was Noninferior to Primary Transpancreatic Sphincterotomy in Difficult Biliary Cannulation.

BACKGROUND: When unintentional pancreatic duct access occurs during difficult biliary cannulation, the double guidewire (DGW) or transpancreatic sphincterotomy (TPS) may be utilized. DGW can be easily switched to TPS due to the existing guidewire in the pancreatic duct. However, the efficacy of TPS after DGW, named sequential DGW-TPS technique, versus primary TPS has not been assessed. AIMS: Our aim was to compare the benefits and adverse events of sequential DGW-TPS technique and primary TPS. METHODS: We performed a comparative retrospective cohort study that enrolled a total of 117 patients with native papillae. The patients were divided into one of 2 groups according to the primary bile duct access technique (sequential DGW-TPS or primary TPS), both with pancreatic stenting. RESULTS: Between November 2017 and May 2023, a total of 84 patients were grouped into sequential DGW-TPS and 33 into primary TPS. The overall post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) rate was 4.3% in the entire cohort, with no statistical differences were observed between the groups in terms of PEP rates (P = 0.927), PEP severity (P = 1.000), first biliary cannulation success (P = 0.621), overall cannulation success (P = 1.000), hyperamylasemia incidence (P = 0.241), elevated amylase levels (P = 0.881), and postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.185). Furthermore, these results remained consistent in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential DGW-TPS technique showed a comparable safety and biliary cannulation success rate to primary TPS in difficult biliary cannulation. Given the potential long-term complications associated with TPS, DGW should be first if inadvertent pancreatic access occurs, with TPS serving as second only if DGW fails.