Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Manometry Findings in 1,241 Idiopathic Pancreatitis Patients

Background: 10–30% of patients with pancreatitis are classified as idiopathic after the initial evaluation. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic yield of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincter of Oddi manometry in patients with idiopathic pancreatitis in a tertiary referral center. Methods: A single-center, retrospective study analyzing the ERCP and manometry results of 1,241 patients who were classified as having idiopathic pancreatitis based upon their initial evaluation. Results: A single episode of pancreatitis occurred in 20.4%, acute recurrent pancreatitis in 56.3% and chronic pancreatitis in 23.3% of the patients undergoing ERCP. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction was found in 40.3% and pancreas divisum in 18.8% of the patients. Biliary stone disease was found in 3.0%. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms were identified in 52 patients with increasing frequency in older age groups. The overall diagnostic yield of ERCP and sphincter of Oddi manometry to elucidate a potential cause of pancreatitis was 65.8%. Of these, 91.9% patients had findings amenable to endoscopic therapy. The complication rate was 11.5%. Conclusions: In this large series, ERCP with manometry frequently identified conditions which probably caused or contributed to the idiopathic pancreatitis. Long-term studies are awaited to determine outcomes after correctable factors are addressed.     

Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in the Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Biliary Pancreatitis

Background: The ultimate treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) is undoubtedly laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but controversy remains about the optimal imaging method in the preoperative assessment of these patients. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in detecting common bile duct (CBD) stones and associated pathologies in patients with ABP. At the same time, we tried to determine the natural transit time of gallstones from gallbladder to duodenum in ABP. Methods: Between February 1999 and October 2006 a prospective observational study was conducted and 104 consecutive patients with ABP were recruited. MRCP findings were correlated with subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography, intraoperative cholangiography or clinical follow-up. Results: MRCP correctly predicted the presence of CBD stones in 19 out of 104 patients, and there were two false-positive and four false-negative results. The ability of MRCP to detect CBD stones was: positive predictive value 90.5%, negative predictive value 95.2%, sensitivity 82.6%, specificity 97.5% and overall accuracy 94.2%. MRCP performed within 48 h after admission showed CBD stones in 28.6% of the patients decreasing to 8.0% after 1 week. MRCP disclosed cholecystitis in 25 patients, anatomical variants of the cystic duct in 10 patients and a wide variety of other abnormalities of the upper abdominal cavity. Conclusion: MRCP is highly accurate in the preoperative detection of CBD stones and other biliopancreatic pathologies in patients with gallstone pancreatitis.     

The Selective Use of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in the Imaging of the Axial Biliary Tree in Patients with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis

Background: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an emerging modality in the management of acute gallstone pancreatitis (AGP). The aim of this study was to assess the impact following the introduction of MRCP in the management of AGP in a tertiary referral unit. Methods: Patients presenting with AGP from January 2002 to December 2004 were reviewed to assess the impact of the introduction of MRCP in June 2003. The indication for MRCP was suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones in the absence of biliary sepsis. Definitive treatment for AGP was laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincterotomy reserved for patients unfit for cholecystectomy and those with biliary sepsis. Results: 249 patients were identified of whom 36 (14.5%) underwent ERCP and sphincterotomy as definitive treatment. 96 patients with a non-dilated CBD and normal or resolving liver function tests proceeded to laparosocopic cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC), 8 (8.5%) of whom had CBD stones intraoperatively. Eleven patients underwent cholecystectomy during pancreatic necrosectomy. Of those undergoing preoperative diagnostic biliary tract imaging, ERCP was undertaken in 57 patients and MRCP in 49 patients. There was no significant difference in serum bilirubin levels [ERCP 43 mmol/l (18–204) vs. MRCP 39 mmol/l (24–180), p = NS] or the proportion of patients with CBD stones [ERCP 10 (17.5%) vs. MRCP 7 (14.2%), p = NS] between the two groups. Patients who underwent MRCP had a shorter median hospital stay [MRCP 5 days (range: 3–14) vs. ERCP 9 days (range: 4–20), p < 0.01] and higher rate of cholecystectomy during the index admission (MRCP 83.3% vs. ERCP 67.2%, p < 0.05). There was a high degree of correlation between preoperative MRCP results and findings of subsequent IOC or therapeutic ERCP (area under ROC curve: 0.94). Conclusions: MRCP is an accurate modality for imaging the axial biliary tree in patients with AGP. Selective use of MRCP reduces the need for ERCP and results in shorter hospital Stay.     

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of the Pancreatic Duct with Secretin-Stimulated Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in Alcoholic Pancreatitis Patients

Objectives The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the pancreatographic findings and dynamics of pancreatic duct diameter, as determined by secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (S-MRCP), in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis or chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and in a control group. Methods S-MRCP was performed in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis who did not manifest the functional and radiological (ultrasonography and computed tomography) criteria of chronic pancreatitis (n = 21), in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (n = 28) and in a control group (n = 16). The diameter of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was monitored before secretin administration and at 3 and 10 min after secretin administration. Morphological features were also assessed before and after the administration of secretin. Results All ductal diameters were significantly larger in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in MPD caliber between patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and the control group. The percentage of variation between basal MPD diameter and at 3 min post-secretin administration was lower in patients with chronic (35.5%) pancreatitis than in those with acute alcoholic pancreatitis (52.3%) and the control group (52.5%). There were no significant differences between patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and the control group in terms of the frequency of visualization of side branches, ductal narrowing, intraluminal filling defects, and ductal irregularity. One patient with acute alcoholic pancreatitis presented ductal criteria of chronic pancreatitis following the administration of secretin. Conclusions The dynamics of MPD visualized on S-MRCP in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis is similar to that observed in the control group and different from that observed in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. There were no significant differences between patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and the control group in terms of morphological pancreatographic features.     

A Clinical Study of Acute Pancreatitis following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Abstract: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been established as a safe and effective examination for patients with pancreatobiliary diseases. Pancreatitis following ERCP is an extremely rare complication. However, once pancreatitis occurs, patients may deteriorate developing a severe condition. This study was designed to investigate the cause of this pancreatitis with the aim of minimizing complications. Six hundred and forty-nine patients underwent ERCP in our clinic, from January 1990 to December 1994. Six patients developed acute pancreatitis following the examination. Amounts of contrast medium used, examination durations, pancreatic duct diameters, the existence of chronic pancreatitis, the presence of para-papillary diverticulum, and the use of a brushing procedure on the pancreatic duct are discussed in this study. There was no significant difference in the amount of contrast medium used, examination duration or pancreatic duct diameter. Chronic pancreatitis was not related to the occurrence of acute pancreatitis following ERCP (p = 0.1352). The presence of para-papillary diverticulum was associated with a tendency to develop pancreatitis (p=0.0989). Use of the brushing procedure correlated significantly with the occurrence of acute pancreatitis (p= 0.0081). This technique is one of the most important methods of diagnosing pancreatic malignancy, and should be done with great care in examining cases of suspected malignancy.     

磁共振胰胆管造影术与经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术诊断阻塞性黄疸的价值评价

目的:比较磁共振胰胆管造影术(MRCP)与经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术(ERCP)对阻塞性黄疸的诊断价值.方法:55例阻塞性黄疸患者分别行MRCP和ERCP,其中1例行ERCP失败者改行经皮肝胆管造影术(PTC).MRCP采用重T2加权及超快速自旋回波水成像技术进行,ERCP和PTC按常规方法进行.结果:MRCP与ERCP(或PTC)总的诊断准确率分别为90.9%(50/55)和98.2%(54/55),对恶性狭窄的诊断准确率为73.7%(14/19)和94.7%(18/19),对胆总管结石的诊断准确率均为100%(30/30).结论:MRCP为无创性检查,漏诊率较低但误诊率较高,在明确阻塞性黄疸病因时虽可作为首选方法,但不能取代ERCP(或PTC),两者结合使用可以弥补对方的不足,提高对阻塞性黄疸病因诊断的准确率.     

磁共振胰胆管造影术与经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术诊断阻塞性黄疸的价？…

目的：比较磁共振胰胆管造影术（ＭＲＣＰ）与经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术（ＥＲＣＰ）对阻塞性黄疸的诊断价值。方法：５５列阻塞性黄疸患者分别行ＭＲＣＰ和ＥＲＣＰ,其中１例行ＥＲＣＰ失败改行经皮肝胆管造影术（ＰＴＣ）。ＭＲＣＰ采用重Ｔ２加权及超快速自旋回波水成像技术进行,ＥＲＣＰ和ＰＴＣ按常规方法进行。结果：ＭＲＣＰ与ＥＲＣＰ（或ＰＴＣ）总的诊断准确率分别为９０．９％（５０／５５）和９８．２％（５４／５５）,     

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients with Previous Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background/Aims

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered a high-risk procedure in patients with previous acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, clinical studies are rare in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of ERCP in patients with previous ACS.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with previous ACS who underwent ERCP between January 2007 and August 2012. The clinical characteristics, ERCP diagnoses, treatment results, and complications were analyzed.

Results

Fifty patients underwent ERCP an average of 41.6 months after ACS. The most common indication for ERCP was calculous cholangitis. After deep biliary cannulation, endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary stone removal and endoscopic biliary drainage were successfully performed. Immediate postsphincterotomy bleeding occurred in seven patients, which was successfully controlled using endoscopic therapy. Elevation of cardiac troponin I levels were observed in three patients (6%) before ERCP, and all of these patients were diagnosed with pancreatobiliary disease combined with recurrent ACS, which was treated with coronary artery stent insertion (n=2) and balloon angioplasty (n=1).

Conclusions

Therapeutic ERCP is effective and safe in patients with previous ACS. Cardiac troponin I elevation should be considered a warning sign for recurrent ACS in patients who undergo ERCP.     

Prognostic Value of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Acute Pancreatitis

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a useful modality to diagnose causes of pancreatitis. The role of EUS for prediction of pancreatitis severity has not been studied. The aim of this study was to identify the utility of EUS in determining the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: All patients diagnosed with pancreatitis consecutively underwent EUS on the 2nd day of their admission. Atlanta criteria were used as the severity index of pancreatitis. Results: During the study period, 114 patients (74 females, 40 males; mean age of 53.03 ± 17.7 years) were enrolled in the study. The most common cause of AP was gallstone (78.9%). According to the Atlanta criteria, pancreatitis was mild in 72 (63.2%) and severe in 42 (36.8%) patients. In univariate analysis, the presence of peri pancreatic edema, pancreas inhomogeneity, common bile duct dilation and ascites were associated with severe pancreatitis. In multivariate analysis, only the presence of peri pancreatic edema in EUS correlated with the severity of AP according to the Atlanta criteria (sensitivity, specificity and accuracy: 65.8, 75.7 and 72.2%, respectively). Conclusion: EUS may be a new useful imaging modality for prediction of severity of AP and may have prognostic significance in the early phase of AP.     

核磁共振胰胆管造影与内镜下逆行胰胆管造影在胰胆疾病诊断方面的对比研究

目的：探索核磁共振胰胆管造影（ＭＲＣＰ）检查在临床应用中的价值。方法：对１１０例胰胆管疾病患者选择性地行ＭＲＣＰ检查,并与内镜下逆行胰胆管造影（ＥＲＣＰ）检查作比较,结合内镜下治疗以及外科手术,以明确两者之间的相关性。ＥＲＣＰ和手术结果作为金标准。结果：１１０例患者ＭＲＣＰ图像质量均较高,对胆管扩张诊断的敏感性为８５．０６％（７８／８７）,对胆管下段狭窄伴扩张诊断的敏感性为９０％（１８／２０）。Ｍ     

急性胆源性胰腺炎的内镜下介入治疗

目的 :综合评价早期内镜下介入治疗急性胆源性胰腺炎的方法、疗效及并发症等。方法 :10 3例胆源性胰腺炎患者中 ,5 7例在 72h内行早期内镜下介入治疗 ,4 3例保守治疗 ,保守治疗中的 19例择期内镜检查及治疗 ,3例外科手术治疗。结果 :早期内镜治疗组 80 .70 %患者临床症状得到迅速缓解 ;保守治疗组 6 2 .79%也可迅速缓解。全部内镜治疗后 3例出现胰腺炎加重。结论 :早期内镜介入治疗对于急性胆源性胰腺炎是一种有效而安全的方法 ,对于有明显黄疸、感染、结石嵌顿的病例应急诊内镜下治疗 ;对于病情较轻、黄疸不重的患者可先保守治疗后再行择期内镜治疗     

Characteristic Findings of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Background/Aims

Diffuse or segmental irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct (MPD), as observed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), is a characteristic feature of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

Methods

ERCP findings were retrospectively examined in 40 patients with AIP in whom irregular narrowing of the MPD was detected near the orifice. The MPD opening sign was defined as the MPD within 1.5 cm from the orifice being maintained. The distal common bile duct (CBD) sign was defined as the distal CBD within 1.5 cm from the orifice being maintained. Endoscopic findings of a swollen major papilla and histological findings of specimens obtained from the major papilla were examined in 26 and 21 patients, respectively.

Results

The MPD opening sign was detected in 26 of the 40 patients (65%). The distal CBD sign was detected in 25 of the 32 patients (78%), which showed stenosis of the lower bile duct. The patients who showed the MPD opening sign frequently showed the distal CBD sign (p=0.018). Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, but not dense fibrosis, was histologically detected in biopsy specimens obtained from the major papilla.

Conclusions

On ERCP, the MPD and CBD adjacent to the major papilla are frequently maintained in patients with AIP involving the pancreatic head. These signs are useful for diagnosing AIP on ERCP.     

EUS-Guided Endoscopic Transgastric Necrosectomy in Patients with Infected Necrosis in Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Infected pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis is potentially lethal, with mortality rates up to 35%. Therefore, there is growing interest in minimally invasive treatment options, such as (EUS-guided) endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy. Methods: Retrospective cohort study on EUS-guided endoscopie transgastric necrosectomy in patients with infected necrosis in acute pancreatitis. Results: 8 patients (age 38–75, mean 50 years) with documented infected peripancreatic or pancreatic necrosis were included. Median time to first intervention was 33 days (range 17–62) after onset of symptoms. At the time of first intervention 2 patients had organ failure. All patients were managed on the patient ward. Initial endoscopie drainage was successful in all patients, a median of 4 (range 2–6) subsequent endoscopie necrosectomies were needed to remove all necrotic tissue. Two patients needed additional surgical intervention because of pneumoperitoneum (n = 1) and insufficient endoscopie drainage (n = 1). Six patients recovered, with 1 mild relapse during follow-up (median 12, range 8–60 months). One patient died. Conclusion: EUS-guided endoscopie transgastric necrosectomy of infected necrosis in acute pancreatitis appears to be a feasible and relatively safe treatment option in patients who are not critically ill. Further randomized comparison with the current ‘gold standard’ is warranted to determine the place of this treatment modality.     

Combined Endoscopic Ultrasound and Secretin Endoscopic Pancreatic Function Test in Patients Evaluated for Chronic Pancreatitis

Background  

Endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic secretin pancreatic function test may be combined in a single endoscopic session (EUS/ePFT) to diagnose chronic pancreatitis (CP).     

Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Reports in the Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Need for Quality Improvement

Background: Numerous publications from academic centers suggest that magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) can diagnose early chronic pancreatitis (CP) and assess pancreatic secretory reserve/function. However, the rigorous composite interpretation methods and quantitative secretory dynamics reported in these studies are not routinely measured in clinical practice.Therefore, the utility of routine MRCP reports in the clinical setting is unknown. Study Design: Cross-sectional study of patients referred to a tertiary center who underwent both MRCP and endoscopic pancreas function testing (ePFT) for assessment of chronic pancreatitis and abdominal pain. Aims: To compare MRCP and sMRCP reports to a reference standard pancreas function test for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Methods: Source population: patients seen within a pancreas clinic at a tertiary referral center. MRCP and sMRCP reports were reviewed to record pancreas duct (dilation, side-branch changes), parenchyma enhancement (T₁, T₂ signal) and physiologic response (duodenal filling, pancreas duct response) to secretin. ePFT was categorized based on previously published data (normal peak bicarbonate >80 mEq/l). Referent values were calculated for MRCP and sMRCP using secretin ePFT as gold standard. Results: A total of 69 patients were identified (mean age 43.5 ± 12; 65.2% female). 28 (40.6%) patients had abnormal ePFT based on their peak bicarbonate level. The mean bicarbonate values in the abnormal PFT and normal PFT groups were 59 ± 13.9 and 95.3 ±12.6 mEq/l, respectively. Peak bicarbonate decreased with severity of chronic pancreatitis on MRCP (p = 0.0016). There was fair agreement of MRCP and ePFT (κ 0.335 [0.113,0.557]). The pre-stimulation pancreas duct changes reported were found to be the only predictor of abnormal pancreas function (p = 0.002). The post-stimulation findings of duodenal filling (p = 0.47), T₂ enhancement (p = 0.21) or change in pancreas duct caliber (p = 0.3) reported did not improve MRCP agreement with ePFT. Overall diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 70, 85 and 46%, respectively, for MRCP reports using ePFT as the gold standard. Conclusions: Pancreas ductal features described on routine MRCP reports correlate with abnormal pancreas function. Current MRCP reports should be standardized to include all radiologie information available in hopes of predicting early chronic pancreatitis.