Endoscopic approach to pancreatic pseudocyst,abscess and necrosis: Review on recent progress

Aim: The aim of this study is to introduce recent progress in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst, abscess and necrosis using the endoscopic approach. Methods: Studies on PubMed and MEDLINE from the last 30 years on progress in the management of the complications from severe pancreatitis were researched and reviewed. Herein, the indication for intervention, definition of fluid collection associated with acute pancreatitis and treatment modalities of these complications are summarized. Results: Three types of management are employed for complications of severe pancreatitis: the endoscopic, surgical and percutaneous approaches. Conclusions: Over the years, as technical expertise has increased and instruments for endoscopy have improved, patients who had endoscopic surgery to address the complications of severe pancreatitis have had higher survival rates, lower mortality rates and lower complication rates than those having open debridement. However, traditional open abdominal surgery should be advocated when minimally invasive management fails or necrosis is extensive and extends diffusely to areas such as the paracolic gutter and the groin (i.e. locations not accessible by endoscopy).     

Endotherapy for pancreatic necrosis and abscess: endoscopic drainage and necrosectomy

Pancreatic necrosis and abscess are among the most severe complications of acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections has been increasingly performed in many tertiary care centers. The type of fluid collection that is being intervened upon determines the outcome. The development of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has expanded the safety and efficacy of this modality by allowing one to access and drain more challenging fluid collections. The technique and review of current literature regarding endoscopic therapy of pancreatic necrosis and abscess will be discussed.     

Long-term results after endoscopic drainage and necrosectomy of symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections

Aims: To determine the immediate and long‐term results of endoscopic drainage and necrosectomy for symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections. Methods: The data of 80 patients with symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections (mean diameter: 11.7 cm, range 3–20; pseudocysts: 24/80, abscess: 20/80, infected walled‐off necrosis: 36/80) referred for endoscopic management from October 1997 to March 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Endoscopic drainage techniques included endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided aspiration (2/80), EUS‐guided transenteric drainage (70/80) and non‐EUS‐guided drainage across a spontaneous transenteric fistula (8/80). Endoscopic necrosectomy was carried out in 49/80 (abscesses: 14/20; infected necrosis: 35/36). Procedural complications were bleeding (12/80), perforation (7/80), portal air embolism (1/80) and Ogilvie Syndrome (1/80). Initial technical success was achieved in 78/80 (97.5%) and clinical resolution of the collections was achieved endoscopically in 67/80 (83.8%), with surgery required in 13/80 (perforation: four; endoscopically inaccessible areas: two; inadequate drainage: seven). Within 6 months five patients required surgery due to recurrent fluid collections; over a mean follow up of 31 months, surgery was required in four more patients due to recurrent collections as a consequence of underlying pancreatic duct abnormalities that could not be treated endoscopically. The long‐term success of endoscopic treatment was 58/80 (72.5%). Conclusions: Endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections is safe and effective, with excellent immediate and long‐term results. Endoscopic necrosectomy has a risk of serious complications. The underlying pancreatic duct abnormalities must be addressed to prevent recurrence of fluid collections.     

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in pancreatic trauma: Need to break the mental barrier

Pancreatic injury has a high morbidity and mortality. The integrity of the main pancreatic duct is the most important determinant of prognosis. Serum amylase, peritoneal lavage and computed tomography of the abdomen can assist with diagnosis but endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) is the most accurate investigation for diagnosing the site and extent of ductal disruption. However, it is invasive and can be associated with significant complications. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and secretin-enhanced MRCP probably parallel ERP in delineating pancreatic ductal injuries. They can also delineate the duct upstream to complete disruption, an area not visualized on ERP. In relation to therapy, endoscopic transpapillary drainage has been successfully used to heal duct disruptions in the early phase of pancreatic trauma and, in the delayed phase, to treat the complications of pancreatic duct injuries such as pseudocysts and pancreatic fistulae. Transpapillary drainage is especially effective in patients who have partial pancreatic duct disruption that can be bridged. Endoscopic transmural drainage has also been successfully used to treat post-traumatic pancreatic pseudocysts. Further large, prospective and randomized studies are required to adjudge the efficacy and long-term safety of pancreatic duct drainage in the treatment of post-traumatic pancreatic duct injuries.     

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), formerly known as pancreatic abscess is a late complication of acute pancreatitis. It can be lethal, even though it is rare. This critical review provides an overview of the continually expanding knowledge about WOPN, by review of current data from references identified in Medline and PubMed, to September 2009, using key words, such as WOPN, infected pseudocyst, severe pancreatitis, pancreatic abscess, acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), pancreas, inflammation and al...     

Intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst: A case report

An intrasplenic psudocyst associated with the acute relapsing phase of chronic pancreatitis in a 51-year-old woman is reported, with a review of the Japanese literature. The patient was admitted with a complaint of left lateral and back pain. Abdominal US and CT revealed communicating cysts at the pancreatic tail and the subcapsule of the spleen. A repeat US and CT 1 month after admission demonstrated enlargement of the cyst at the pancreatic tail. ERCP revealed a dilated main pancreatic duct without any definite evidence of stenosis, and direct communication with the cyst at the pancreatic tail. Percutaneous cystography revealed that the subcapsular cyst of the spleen, the cyst of the pancreatic tail, and the main pancreatic duct communicated with each other. The cyst contained serous fluid with an amylase content of 57,500 IU/I. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. Histologically, there was a nonepithelial lining on the inner surface of the cysts at the pancreatic tail and the subcapsule of the spleen. Severe chronic inflammatory changes were present in the resected tail of the pancreas. Timely surgical treatment is advocated to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with complications of intrasplenic pseudocysts.     

Endoscopic ultrasonography guided pancreatic pseudocysts drainage by self-made stent

AIM Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) guided pancreatic pseudocysts drainage is an ideal therapeuticprocedure. We perform it in just one step by using the self-made drainage stent.ETHODS We made an aperture at the tip of the needle outer sheath, and tied the outer sheath with theself-made stent by suture. EUS-guided pancreatic pseudocysts drainage was performed in five patients. Nopatient had visible endosmotic bulge on the gastrointestinal wall. Mean pseudocyst diameter was 4.5 cm(pancreatic head 1, body 2, tail 4). We determined the optimal site for puncture and advanced the needlyand stent into cyst. Taking out the needle made the stent separated from the sheath.RESULTS No hemorrhage happened among these patients. One patient suffering from fever up to 40℃recovered within two days after operation. All the cysts diminished insige after 7 days and resolvedcompletely after 6.8 weeks in average. Cyst resolution was accompanied by symptomatic improvement in allpatients. During a follow-up of 6 months no cyst recurred.CONCLUSION EUS-guided drainage of pseudocysts is a safe and effective procedure, which performs thejust in one process and diminishes the patients' distness.     

Endoscopic transmural necrosectomy for walled-off pancreatic necrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND:

Endoscopic transmural necrosectomy (ETN) is emerging as a viable treatment option for walled-off pancreatic necrosis. This NOTES-type procedure is significantly less invasive than an extensive surgical debridement; however, published data regarding the success of ETN in treating pancreatic necrosis have varied.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the published medical literature to determine the success of treating walled-off pancreatic necrosis with ETN.

METHODS:

Studies using ETN as a primary mode of therapy to treat organized pancreatic necrosis were selected. Success was defined as resolution of the necrotic cavity proven by radiology. Articles were searched in Medline, PubMed, Ovid journals, CINAH, old Medline, Medline nonindexed citations and the Cochrane controlled trials registry. The summary estimates were expressed as pooled proportions. First, the individual study proportions were transformed into a quantity using Freeman-Tukey variant of the arcsine square root transformed proportion. The pooled proportion was calculated as the back-transform of the weighted mean of the transformed proportions, using inverse arcsine variance weights for the fixed-effects model and DerSimonian-Laird weights for the random-effects model. Publication bias was calculated using the Begg-Mazumdar and Harbord bias estimators.

RESULTS:

The initial search identified 920 reference articles, of which 129 relevant articles were selected and reviewed. Data were extracted from eight studies (n=233) that met the inclusion criteria. Organization of pancreatic necrosis was determined by computed tomography scan in all of the studies. The mean time of ETN after onset of acute pancreatitis/abdominal pain was seven weeks. The weighted mean size of the necrotic cavity was 12.87 cm (95% CI 10.54 cm to 15.20 cm). The weighted mean number of endoscopic procedures needed to resolve the necrotic cavity was 4.09 (95% CI 2.31 to 5.87). Pooled proportion of successful resolution of pancreatic necrosis using ETN was 81.84% (95% CI 76.73% to 86.44%). The pooled proportion of recurrence in the form of necrotic cavity or pseudocyst after ETN was 10.88% (95% CI 7.27% to 15.11%). Complications were noted in 21.33% (95% CI 16.40% to 26.72%) of patients and included bleeding, sepsis and perforation. The weighted mean number of days in hospital after ETN was 32.85 days (95% CI 10.50 to 55.20 days). For pancreatic necrosis that did not resolve, surgery had to be performed in 12.98% (95% CI 9.05% to 17.51%) of patients. The fixed-effect model was used to report all of the pooled proportions. Estimates calculated using fixedand random-effects models were similar. Test of heterogeneity yielded P>0.10, indicating that the studies could be combined. The publication bias calculated using Begg-Mazumdar bias indicator yielded a Kendall’s tau b value of −0.07 (P=0.72) and the same using Harbord bias indicator gave a value of 0.33 (95% CI −1.35 to 2.01; P=0.60). Both of these indicators show that there was no publication bias.

CONCLUSION:

The present meta-analysis showed that ETN is safe and effective at treating patients with symptomatic walled-off necrosis. ETN offers the advantage of minimally invasive endoscopic treatment without transabdominal surgery; however, better techniques and equipment are still needed to improve procedural efficiency. Decisions to perform ETN should be made by advanced endoscopists in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team with the facilities and personnel to manage these complex patients.     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic fluid collections' transmural drainage outcomes in 100 consecutive cases of pseudocysts and walled off necrosis: a single-centre experience from the United Kingdom

Background and aim: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage is a minimally invasive first-line modality for the drainage of pancreatic fluid collection (PFC) resulting in a shorter hospital stay and less morbidity compared with surgical cystogastrostomy. Our aim is to evaluate potential differences in the outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided transmural drainage (EUS-TD) drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) and walled-off necrosis (WON).

Method: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive EUS-guided drainages of PFC utilising EUS reports; clinical notes and imaging with follow-up (FU) to 12 months. All procedures were undertaken under conscious sedation with EUS guidance alone (without fluoroscopy) and placement of plastic double pigtail stents.

Results: In these 100 sequential cases, there were 78 cases of PP and 22 cases of WON. All 22/22(100%) cases of WON had successful EUS-guided stent placement. In 2/22(9%), there was little or no clinical improvement. These two patients required further computed tomography (CT)–guided drainage and one of these patients (1/22) (4.5%) developed recurrence within 12 months FU after removal of stents.

In case of PP, overall stent placement was successful in 76/78 (97%) patients, but 6/78(8%) required 2nd EUS procedure after failure to show clinical improvement; 3/78(2.5%) required further CT-guided drainage. The overall complication rate was 9%(9/100) with 4%(4/100) requiring endoscopic or CT-guided intervention with no overall 30-day mortality.

Conclusion: This is the largest series from a single UK centre demonstrating that EUS-guided cystogastrostomy of PFC drainage using plastic double pigtail stents is sufficient in majority of cases with PFC including that of WON, with or without infection.     

NOTES and endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy for the GI endoscopist

Endoscopists seek to conduct more aggressive surgical procedures that surpass the limitations of existing endoscopic procedures. Endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) are typical examples of this new trend; both are performed through the gastrointestinal wall without a skin incision. Endoscopic necrosectomy is effective for managing organized pancreatic necrosis and abscesses. The necrotic tissues are removed endoscopically by directly entering the cavity of the organized pancreatic necrosis. NOTES is a possible advance over surgical intervention, as it is a less invasive, more cosmetic, and effective procedure. There are various approaches, including the esophagus, stomach, colon, and vagina; Various procedures are possible using NOTES, such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, full-thickness stomach resection, splenectomy, gastrointestinal (GI) anastomosis, and peritoneoscopy. The requirements for NOTES include high proficiency in endoscopic techniques, including knowledge of various devices, anatomy, and surgical procedures. Since most GI endoscopists have no surgical background, to increase the usage of NOTES, GI endoscopists should form and lead teams that include various specialists. We believe that endoscopic necrosectomy and NOTES represent a major shift in the treatment paradigm because physicians can treat beyond the gastrointestinal wall and endoscopic procedures will replace surgical treatment.     

Endoscopic transluminal pancreatic necrosectomy using a self-expanding metal stent and high-flow water-jet system

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis and a pancreatic abscess are the most severe complications of acute pancreatitis. Surgery in such critically ill patients is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality within the first few weeks after the onset of symptoms. Minimal invasive approaches with high success and low mortality rates are therefore of considerable interest. Endoscopic therapy has the potential to offer safe and effective alternative treatment. We report here on 3 consecutive patients with infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis and 1 patient with a pancreatic abscess who underwent direct endoscopic necrosectomy 19-21 d after the onset of acute pancreatitis. The infected pancreatic necrosis or abscess was punctured transluminally with a cystostome and, after balloon dilatation, a non-covered self-expanding biliary metal stent was placed into the necrotic cavity. Following stent deployment, a nasobiliary pigtail catheter was placed into the cavity to ensure continuous irrigation. After 5-7 d, the metal stent was removed endoscopically and the necrotic cavity was entered with a therapeutic gastroscope. Endoscopic debridement was performed via the simultaneous application of a high-flow water-jet system; using a flush knife, a Dormia basket, and hot biopsy forceps. The transluminal endotherapy was repeated 2-5 times daily during the next 10 d. Supportive care included parenteral antibiotics and jejunal feeding. All patients improved dramatically and with resolution of their septic conditions; 3 patients were completely cured without any further complications or the need for surgery. One patient died from a complication of prolonged ventilation severe bilateral pneumonia, not related to the endoscopic procedure. No procedure related complications were observed. Transluminal endoscopic necrosectomy with temporary application of a self-expanding metal stent and a high-flow water-jet system shows promise for enhancing the potential of this endoscopic approach in patients with walled-off pancreatic ne     

Endoscopic management of complications of acute pancreatitis: an update on the field

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is a frequent, nonmalignant gastrointestinal disorder leading to hospital admission. For its severe form and subsequent complications, minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures are being used increasingly, and are subject to rapid technical advances.

Areas covered: Based on a systematic literature search in PubMed, medline, and Web-of-Science, we discuss the currently available treatment strategies for endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts, walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON), and disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS), and compare the efficacy and safety of plastic and metal stents. A special focus is placed on studies directly comparing different stent types, including lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) and clinical outcomes when draining pseudocysts or WONs. The clinical significance and endoscopic treatment options for DPDS are also discussed.

Expert commentary: Endoscopic therapy has become the treatment of choice for different types of pancreatic and peripancreatic collections, the majority of which, however, require no intervention. The use of LAMS has facilitated drainage and necrosectomy in patients with WON or pseudocysts. Serious complications remain a problem in spite of high technical and clinical success rates. DPDS is an increasingly recognized problem in the presence of pseudocysts or WONs but evidence for endoscopic stent placement in this situation remains insufficient.     

Endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts and necrosis

Over the last several years, there have been refinements in the understanding and nomenclature regarding the natural history of acute pancreatitis. Patients with acute pancreatitis frequently develop acute pancreatic collections that, over time, may evolve into pancreatic pseudocysts or walled-off necrosis. Endoscopic management of these local complications of acute pancreatitis continues to evolve. Treatment strategies range from simple drainage of liquefied contents to repeated direct endoscopic necrosectomy of a complex necrotic collection. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocysts may arise as a consequence of pancreatic ductal obstruction that then leads to pancreatic ductal disruption. In this review, we focus on the indications, techniques and outcomes for endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis.     

Endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement for inflammatory pancreatic diseases

The role of endoscopic therapy in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuously evolving; at present most pathological conditions of the pancreas are successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography （ERCP） or endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）, or both. Endoscopic placement of stents has played and still plays a major role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreas divisum, main pancreatic duct injuries, pancreatic fistulae, complications of acute pancreatitis, recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, and in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. These stents are currently routinely placed to reduce intraductal hypertension, bypass obstructing stones, restore lumen patency in cases with dominant, symptomatic strictures, seal main pancreatic duct disruption, drain pseudocysts or fluid collections, treat symptomatic major or minor papilla sphincter stenosis, and prevent procedure-induced acute pancreatitis. The present review aims at updating and discussing techniques, indications, and results of endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pancreas.