Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and endoscopic pancreatic stenting without pancreatic sphincterotomy for the treatment of pancreatolithiasis: a case series.

Endoscopic therapy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) are recommended as the first choice in treating pancreatolithiasis. Endoscopic therapy is generally performed using endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPST). Herein, we report our experience implementing a treatment protocol, combining endoscopic therapy and ESWL without EPST, for pancreatolithiasis. The inpatient treatment plan was performed every 3 months with a set number of sessions of ESWL with endoscopic pancreatic stenting (EPS) implanted or replaced. Finally, treatment was terminated when the stone was removed after implantation of a 10-Fr stent and crushed to approximately 3 mm or after spontaneous stone discharge. Eight patients were included in this study; the median time to stone disappearance was 208.5 days. The median number of inpatient treatment cycles, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and ESWL sessions was 2.5, 3, and 3, respectively. No serious adverse events were observed in all patients. Therefore, combining ESWL and EPS without EPST can safely treat pancreatolithiasis.

Endoscopic therapy for recurrent pancreatitis complicated with pancreatolithiasis in a case of annular pancreas.

Annular pancreas is a congenital abnormality in which part of the pancreatic head completely or partially surrounds the duodenum in a ring-like manner. The condition is thought to be an abnormality of the ventral pancreatic bud. While pancreatitis is a common complication of the annular pancreas, its recurrence may be prevented by improving the outflow of pancreatic juice. The present case report describes a 23-year-old woman who had been referred to our hospital for recurrent pancreatitis since childhood. An endoscopic incision was made on the orifice of the annular pancreas, after which pancreatitis of the annular pancreas did not recur for 6 years. The patient subsequently exhibited pancreatolithiasis in the dorsal pancreatic duct, which was successfully treated with endoscopic treatment. Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy may prevent the recurrence of pancreatitis and avoid further surgical interventions by improving the flow of pancreatic juice.

Endoscopic therapy for patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Data on the experience of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the management of pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is limited. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with PBM who underwent therapeutic ERCP at our endoscopy center between January 2008 and January 2016 was performed. Demographic, clinical, radiological and endoscopic data was documented. Patients who underwent sphincterotomy were divided into dilated group and undilated group based on their common channel diameter. RESULTS: Sixty-three PBM patients underwent 74 ERCP procedures. The technical success rate was 97.3%. ERCP therapy significantly decreased the levels of elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin. After an average of 27 months follow-up, 7 patients (11.1%) were lost. The overall effective rate of ERCP therapy was 60.7% (34/56). Decline in severity and frequency of abdominal pain was significant. Procedure-related complications were observed in 5 (6.8%) cases. Between the dilated group and undilated group, no significant difference was observed in effective rate, adverse events and follow-up results. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP can serve as a transitional step to stabilize PBM patients before definitive surgery. PBM patients with undilated common channel could benefit from sphincterotomy as well as those with dilated common channel.

Treatment outcomes of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy combined with pancreatic duct stent for acute recurrent pancreatitis caused by biliary microlithiasis / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficiency of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy ( EPS) combined with pancreatic duct stent for acute recurrent pancreatitis ( ARP ) caused by biliary microlithiasis. Methods A total of 71 patients were diagnosed as having ARP resulting from biliary microlithiasis from April 2005 to November 2016, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different endoscopic therapy, EPS ( n=34) and EST group (n=37), respectively. The rate of pancreatitis recurrence, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and biliary complications were compared by Chi-square test and the influencing factors of recurrence were evaluated by survival analysis. Results The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 108 months ( median 21. 5 months) in EPS group and ranged from 5 to 120 months ( median 39 months) in EST group. Twelve months after endoscopic therapy, 2 patients in EPS group and 5 in EST group suffered recurrent pancreatitis(χ2=0. 461, P=0. 497). Recurrence occurred in 13 patients in 60 months after endoscopic therapy, 4 patients in EPS group and 9 in EST group. Cox regression analysis indicated different endoscopic treatment ( RR=6. 808, 95%CI: 1. 389-33. 356, P=0. 018) and type 2 diabetes ( RR=0. 134, 95%CI:0. 029-0. 608, P=0. 009) were statistically significant factors. There were no significant difference in incidence of PEP (20. 6% in EPS group, 10. 8% in EST group,χ2=1. 294, P=0. 255) and biliary complications between two groups (11. 8% in EPS group, 24. 3% in EST group, χ2=1. 869, P=0. 172). Conclusion EPS combined with pancreatic stenting is effective for acute recurrent pancreatitis caused by microlithiasis. Type 2 diabetes may also lead to recurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Treatment outcomes of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy combined with pancreatic duct stent for acute recurrent pancreatitis caused by biliary microlithiasis / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficiency of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy ( EPS) combined with pancreatic duct stent for acute recurrent pancreatitis ( ARP ) caused by biliary microlithiasis. Methods A total of 71 patients were diagnosed as having ARP resulting from biliary microlithiasis from April 2005 to November 2016, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different endoscopic therapy, EPS ( n=34) and EST group (n=37), respectively. The rate of pancreatitis recurrence, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and biliary complications were compared by Chi-square test and the influencing factors of recurrence were evaluated by survival analysis. Results The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 108 months ( median 21. 5 months) in EPS group and ranged from 5 to 120 months ( median 39 months) in EST group. Twelve months after endoscopic therapy, 2 patients in EPS group and 5 in EST group suffered recurrent pancreatitis(χ2=0. 461, P=0. 497). Recurrence occurred in 13 patients in 60 months after endoscopic therapy, 4 patients in EPS group and 9 in EST group. Cox regression analysis indicated different endoscopic treatment ( RR=6. 808, 95%CI: 1. 389-33. 356, P=0. 018) and type 2 diabetes ( RR=0. 134, 95%CI:0. 029-0. 608, P=0. 009) were statistically significant factors. There were no significant difference in incidence of PEP (20. 6% in EPS group, 10. 8% in EST group,χ2=1. 294, P=0. 255) and biliary complications between two groups (11. 8% in EPS group, 24. 3% in EST group, χ2=1. 869, P=0. 172). Conclusion EPS combined with pancreatic stenting is effective for acute recurrent pancreatitis caused by microlithiasis. Type 2 diabetes may also lead to recurrence of acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic Intervention through Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Management of Symptomatic Pancreas Divisum: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the treatment of symptomatic pancreas divisum (PD) and to discuss whether ERCP procedures and outcomes in younger patients differ from those of adults. METHODS: Symptomatic patients with PD were included in the study and divided into underaged (age ≤17 years) and adult (age ≥18 years) group. The clinical information of each patient was reviewed, and then the patients were contacted by telephone or their medical records were reviewed to determine their long-term followup outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 141 procedures were performed in 82 patients (17 underaged and 65 adult patients). The ERCP indications included abdominal pain (39.02%), pancreatitis (12.20%), recurrent pancreatitis (36.59%), and other discomfort (12.20%). The endoscopic interventions included endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy in 44.68% of the patients, bouginage in 26.95%, pancreatic ductal stone extraction in 19.15%, endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage in 21.99%, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatic drainage in 56.74%. After a median follow-up of 41 months, the overall response rate was 62.32%. Between the underaged group and the adult group, significant differences were not observed in the ERCP procedures, complications and longterm follow-up results. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic PD. Based on the details, complications, and follow-up results, the ERCP procedure did not present differences between the underaged and adult groups.

Endoscopic Intervention through Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Management of Symptomatic Pancreas Divisum: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the treatment of symptomatic pancreas divisum (PD) and to discuss whether ERCP procedures and outcomes in younger patients differ from those of adults. METHODS: Symptomatic patients with PD were included in the study and divided into underaged (age ≤17 years) and adult (age ≥18 years) group. The clinical information of each patient was reviewed, and then the patients were contacted by telephone or their medical records were reviewed to determine their long-term follow-up outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 141 procedures were performed in 82 patients (17 underaged and 65 adult patients). The ERCP indications included abdominal pain (39.02%), pancreatitis (12.20%), recurrent pancreatitis (36.59%), and other discomfort (12.20%). The endoscopic interventions included endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy in 44.68% of the patients, bouginage in 26.95%, pancreatic ductal stone extraction in 19.15%, endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage in 21.99%, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatic drainage in 56.74%. After a median follow-up of 41 months, the overall response rate was 62.32%. Between the underaged group and the adult group, significant differences were not observed in the ERCP procedures, complications and long-term follow-up results. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic PD. Based on the details, complications, and follow-up results, the ERCP procedure did not present differences between the underaged and adult groups.

New cannulation method for pancreatic duct cannulation-bile duct guidewire-indwelling method.

The patient was a 58-year-old male with symptomatic alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Since a 10 mm calculus was observed in the pancreatic body and abdominal pain occurred due to congestion of pancreatic juice, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was conducted for assessment of the pancreatic duct and treatment of pancreatic calculus. Pancreatogram was slightly and insufficiently obtained by injecting the contrast media via the common channel of the duodenal main papilla. We tried to cannulate selectively into the pancreatic duct for a clear image. However, the selective cannulation of the pancreatic duct was difficult because of instability of the papilla. On the other hand, selective cannulation of the bile duct was relatively easily achieved. Therefore, after the imaging of the bile duct, a guidewire was retained in the bile duct to immobilize the duodenal papilla and cannulation of the pancreatic duct was attempted. As a result, selective pancreatic duct cannulation became possible. It is considered that the bile duct guidewire-indwelling method may serve as one of the useful techniques for cases whose selective pancreatic duct cannulation is difficult ("selective pancreatic duct difficult cannulation case").

Clinical Application and Safety of Endoscopic Pancreatic Sphincterotomy in 339 Cases / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPST) has been performed more frequently in recent years. However, it is less widely practiced than biliary sphincterotomy due to lack of firm scientific data regarding its indication and safety. The aims of this study are to evaluate EPST with regard to indications, complications, and safety. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the results of EPST performed in three hundred thirty nine patients from January 2000 to April 2004.RESULTS: Complications occurred in 37 patients (10.7%) which included pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation, cholangitis, sepsis, and stenosis of sphincterotomy site. They were successfully managed by medical treatment. No mortalities were reported. CONCLUSIONS: EPST is a relatively safe procedure in various pancreatic diseases. Incidence of long-term complications awaits further investigations. EPST enlarges our endotherapeutic armamentarium and deserves additional evaluation.