An endoscopic sphincterotomy of the minor papilla in the management of symptomatic pancreas divisum

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of endoscopic treatment in pancreas divisum remains controversial. This study evaluated the results of an endoscopic sphincterotomy of the minor papilla and temporary transpapillary pancreatic stenting in patients with pancreas divisum. METHODOLOGY: Pancreas divisum was diagnosed in four patients between 1994 and 2004. All patients demonstrated episodes of recurrent upper abdominal and back pain were with a median follow-up period of 14.5 months. One patient was treated by a sphincterotomy of the minor papilla alone, while three others also underwent transpapillary pancreatic stent insertion for seven days. RESULTS: A Sphincterotomy of the minor papilla could be successfully achieved in all patients. There was no instance of bleeding, perforation or sepsis after the procedure. The postoperative serum amylase level in the patients without stent insertion (1352 IU/L) was higher than that the patients with stents (mean level 515 IU/L, range 358 to 680). The dilatated dorsal pancreatic ducts were found to improve after a sphincterotomy in all patients. None of the patients had any further episodes of pancreatitis. In addition, all patients demonstrated a considerable improvement in their upper abdominal or back pain symptoms, which did not require either analgesic medication or hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: An endoscopic sphincterotomy and temporary transpapillary pancreatic stenting were therefore suggested to be a beneficial treatment modality for patients with pancreas divisum.     

ENDOSCOPIC APPROACH TO THE MINOR DUODENAL PAPILLA: SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT ON PANCREAS DIVISUM

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the minor duodenal papilla including standardized technique was reviewed. In cases in which a pancreatogram is not achieved or those in which only a small portion of the ductal anatomy is visualized via the major duodenal papilla, cannulation of the minor papilla provides a second route of access to the ductal system. Successful minor papilla cannulation requires meticulous attention to technique. As the orifice of the minor papilla is usually of pinpoint size, needle‐tipped catheters are useful. As minor papilla cannulation in pancreas divisum carries the risk of severe pancreatitis, the procedure should be performed with more caution. In some patients with pancreas divisum, an increased resistance to flow across the small orifice results in dorsal pancreatic duct hypertension and clinical symptoms including acute recurrent pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic‐type pain. Pancreas divisum patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis are the best candidates for endoscopic management for dorsal‐duct decompression including endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and stenting.     

内窥镜逆行胰胆管造影术对胰腺分裂症的诊断、治疗价值研究

目的:探讨内窥镜逆行胰胆管造影术(ERCP)对胰腺分裂症(PD)的诊断、治疗方法及其效果的价值。方法:回顾性分析本院2008年6月至2012年9月明确诊断的20例PD患者的临床表现、诊断及治疗方法,比较治疗前后患者的体重变化,用直观模拟标度尺(VAS)评分来评估腹痛症状改善的情况。结果:患者症状以腹痛为主,急性胰腺炎或慢性胰腺炎急性发作的发生率为75%。经ERCP确诊的患者中,磁共振胆胰管成像(MRCP)的检出率为24%。内镜下治疗包括行内镜下十二指肠主和(或)副乳头切开引流(95%)、胰管支架置入(65%)及鼻胰管引流(55%)。治疗后患者体重增加(P<0.05),疼痛VAS评分下降(P<0.05)。结论:PD患者主要症状为腹痛,急性胰腺炎或慢性胰腺炎急性发作的发生率较高,内镜下治疗可有效减少PD患者腹痛的程度并增加患者体重。     

Endoscopic botulinum toxin injection into the minor papilla for treatment of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in patients with pancreas divisum.

BACKGROUND: In some patients with pancreas divisum, obstruction to the flow of pancreatic juice into the duodenum is the presumptive cause of acute recurrent pancreatitis. However, identification of those patients who may benefit from minor papilla sphincterotomy or stent placement is difficult. METHODS: Five patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis and pancreas divisum were therefore treated by endoscopic injection of 50 units of botulinum toxin into the minor papilla in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: Botulinum toxin injection was successfully performed on six occasions in 5 patients and no adverse effects were noted. Two patients relapsed after 9 and 10 months, respectively, but had definite relief of symptoms after needle-knife sphincterotomy. One patient relapsed 7 months after botulinum toxin injection but became symptom free again after a second botulinum toxin injection. Another patient is still in clinical remission 4 months after botulinum toxin administration, and 1 patient did not respond to either botulinum toxin administration or to sphincterotomy and stent placement. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin into the minor papilla in patients with pancreas divisum and acute recurrent pancreatitis is a safe procedure that is easy to perform and provides short-term relief in some patients. Response to botulinum toxin injection may predict whether patients with pancreas divisum and acute recurrent pancreatitis will benefit from other forms of endoscopic therapy.     

Idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis: long-term results after ERCP, endoscopic sphincterotomy, or ursodeoxycholic acid treatment

OBJECTIVE: In about 30% of cases, the etiology of acute recurrent pancreatitis remains unexplained, and the term "idiopathic" is currently used to define such disease. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis who underwent endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by either endoscopic biliary (and seldom pancreatic) sphincterotomy or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment, in a prospective follow-up study. METHODS: A total of 40 consecutive patients with intact gallbladder entered the study protocol after a 24-month observation period during which at least two episodes of pancreatitis occurred. All patients underwent diagnostic ERCP, followed by biliary or minor papilla sphincterotomy in cases of documented or suspected bile duct microlithiasis and sludge, type 2 sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, or pancreas divisum with dilated dorsal duct. Patients with no definite anatomical or functional abnormalities received long-term treatment with UDCA. After biliary sphincterotomy, patients with further episodes of pancreatitis underwent main pancreatic duct stenting followed by pancreatic sphincterotomy if the stent had proved to be effective. RESULTS: ERCP found an underlying cause of pancreatitis in 70% of cases. Patients were followed-up for a period ranging from 27 to 73 months. Effective therapeutic ERCP or UDCA oral treatment proved that occult bile stone disease and type 2 or 3 sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (biliary or pancreatic segment) had been etiological factors in 35 of the 40 cases (87.5%) After therapeutic ERCP or UDCA, only three patients still continued to have episodes of pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP and UDCA were effective in 92.5% of our cases, over a long follow-up, indicating that the term "idiopathic" was justified only in a few patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis.     

Preliminary experience with endoscopic stent placement in benign pancreatic diseases

We treated 35 patients with endoscopic stent placement across the major or minor papilla in an attempt to relieve suspected partial obstruction to pancreatic duct drainage in patients with pancreatitis. The patients subsequently have been followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 3 years (mean, 14 months). Endoscopic stents were successfully placed across the minor papilla in 19 of 22 patients with pancreas divisum associated with acute recurrent pancreatitis (19) and severe abdominal pain (3). 17 patients had symptomatic improvement manifested by a decrease in frequency of attacks of pain and emergency admission. Stents were placed through the major papilla in 14 of 15 patients with recurrent pancreatitis related to a variety of causes. 8 of the 14 patients improved during the follow-up period, including 4 of 5 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis complicated by a segmental stricture.     

State-art: diagnosis and management in pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum (PD), the most common congenital variant of pancreatic duct anatomy, occurs when the ductal systems of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts fail to fuse during the second month of gestation. With non-union of the ducts, the major portion of the pancreatic exocrine secretion enters the duodenum by way of the dorsal duct and minor papilla. It has been generally accepted that a relative obstruction to pancreatic exocrine secretory flow through the minor duct and minor papilla could result in pancreatitis in small numbers of patients with PD. The debate whether PD causes pancreatitis continues, although most authorities agree that PD is a definite cause in a subgroup of patients. Most patients with PD and well-documented acute recurrent pancreatitis have responded favorably to surgical sphincteroplasty of the minor papilla. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the most common procedure for diagnosis PD in patients who have pancreatobiliary symptoms. MRCP is being increasingly used to establish the diagnosis and secretin stimulation can improve ductal images greatly. Endoscopic management of symptomatic patients with PD is evolving. Only a limited number of series are available, using endoscopic pancreatic stent placement, minor papilla endoscopic papillotomy, or both to decompress the dorsal duct in an effort to restore pancreatic exocrine secretory flow. Even with relatively small numbers of patients and a near absence of controlled, randomized trials, it appears that the patients most likely to benefit, as with surgery, are those with well-documented ARP rather than pain alone or chronic pancreatitis. Overall we recommend that pancreatic stenting and pancreatic sphincterotomy should be done only in large centers with experience in therapeutic ERCP. Further randomized trials would be of interest.     

Pancreas Divisum

Opinion statement  

胰腺分裂内镜治疗价值

目的探讨内镜下治疗胰腺分裂的疗效和安全性。方法收集2006年6月至2013年6月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院消化科就诊的8例胰腺分裂患者的临床资料,对术中及术后情况进行回顾性分析。结果8例胰腺分裂患者共行经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术28例次,均置入胰管支架,其中7例同时行副乳头括约肌切开术,6例行内镜下扩张术,1例行胰管取石术。术后出现1例次轻度胰腺炎。随访2～47个月,1例死于胰腺癌,3例已拔出支架,3例定期复查,1例失访。患者术后慢性胰腺炎急性发作频率及腹痛程度均较术前明显降低。结论内镜下治疗胰腺分裂安全有效,可减少胰腺炎发作频率,减轻术后腹痛程度,术后并发症发生率低。     

A two-year old boy with recurrent bouts of acute abdominal pain

In a small number of patients with pancreas divisum (with stenotic minor papilla) a relative obstruction to pancreatic exocrine secretory flow results in pancreatitis. We report a 2-year-old boy presenting with recurrent bouts of abdominal pain. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made based on blood biochemistry results. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed several abdominal pseudocysts, peritoneal exsudate and confirmed pancreatitis but initially failed to reveal the aetiology. Ascites and cysts contained pancreatic enzymes. After weeks of combined conservative and surgical treatment, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography with secretin, showed a pancreas divisum with a cyst between the ducts of Santorini and Wirsung. Based on these findings, two endoscopic papillotomies (minor and major papilla) were performed. Three years follow-up was uneventful. In a child with recurrent pancreatitis or pancreatitis with chronic recurrent abdominal pain it is crucial to search aggressively for congenital abnormalities, including pancreas divisum. Secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography or diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for visualizing pancreatic duct anatomy.     

Clinical experience in 82 patients with pancreas divisum: preliminary results of manometry and endoscopic therapy

Although it is clear that the majority of patients with pancreas divisum have no clinical disease, there is a subset of patients who have either unexplained abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis. Endoscopic therapy of the minor papilla may alter the clinical course of those patients with pancreas divisum and recurrent pancreatitis. Manometric study of the minor papilla is feasible and reveals a sphincter mechanism similar to the major papilla. Clinical response to endoscopic therapy may aid in selecting patients who might benefit from surgical sphincteroplasty. Refinement of manometric study of the minor papilla offers a potential method of detecting functional obstruction of dorsal duct drainage.     

Pancreas divisum: clinical and therapeutic study in man. Apropos of 87 cases

In order to evaluate the responsibility of pancreas divisum in the occurrence of pancreatitis, we studied retrospectively 1,808 endoscopic retrograde pancreatograms. Eighty-seven pancreas divisum (4.8 p. 100) were found in 50 males and 37 females, mean age 53.3 +/- 16.8 yrs. Acute pancreatitis was significantly more frequent (p less than 0.001) in this group (19.6 p. 100) than in the patients with fused pancreas (4.3 p. 100). The difference was also significant (p less than 0.01) for idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis. Histologic lesions in the dorsal pancreas were in favor of a retentional mechanism of pancreatitis. Sphincterotomy of the accessory papilla, proposed to improve the drainage of the dorsal pancreas, was performed in 11 patients (10 endoscopic, 1 surgical). This treatment, repeated in case of secondary stenosis of the accessory papilla, was successful in 5 out of 8 patients with acute pancreatitis followed up from 12 to 30 months. After reviewing the literature, secondary stenosis of accessory papilla was found significantly less frequently (p less than 0.05) after surgical sphincterotomy or sphincteroplasty (4 out of 46, 8.6 p. 100) than after endoscopic sphincterotomy (6 out of 22, 27.2 p. 100). Treatment, preferentially surgical, should be proposed only to patients with idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis before constitution of chronic non reversible pancreatitis.     

Endoscopic pancreatic drainage in chronic pancreatitis

A nasopancreatic drain, pancreatic duct endoprostheses, and pancreatic stone extraction were used to treat 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Thirty patients were treated endoscopically. Endoscopic treatment via the minor papilla in 2 patients with pancreas divisum was not performed. Three patients had subsequent surgery because of complications; one of them died. Seventeen patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis improved, with 15 patients asymptomatic during a follow-up of 2 to 69 months (median, 11). Seven of 10 patients with chronic pain improved, with 6 patients pain-free during a follow-up of 10 to 34 months (median, 11). In 7 patients, pancreatic pseudocysts could be drained endoscopically by positioning an endoprosthesis into the cyst or by performing a cystoduodenostomy. Six patients had concomitant placement of a biliary endoprosthesis to treat common bile duct strictures within the pancreatic head. One of 32 treated patients died as a result of a complication. We consider endoscopic therapy a viable alternative to surgery in select patients with chronic pancreatitis.     

Clinical significance of the minor duodenal papilla and accessory pancreatic duct

The accessory pancreatic duct (APD) is the main drainage duct of the dorsal pancreatic bud in the embryo, entering the duodenum at the minor duodenal papilla (MIP). As development progresses, the duct of the dorsal bud undergoes varying degrees of atrophy at the duodenal end. In cases of patent APD, smooth-muscle fiber bundles derived from the duodenal proper muscular tunics surround the APD. The APD shows long and short patterns on pancreatography, and ductal fusion in the two types appears to differ embryologically. Patency of the APD in control cases, as determined by dye-injection endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, was 43%. Patency of the APD may depend on duct caliber, course, and terminal shape of the APD. A patent APD may prevent acute pancreatitis by reducing the pressure in the main pancreatic duct. Pancreas divisum is a common anatomical anomaly in which the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts do not unite embryologically. As the majority of exocrine flow is routed through the MIP in individuals with pancreas divisum, interrelationships between poor function of the MIP and increased flow of pancreatic juice caused by alcohol or diet may increase dorsal pancreatic duct pressure and lead to the development of pancreatitis. Wire-guided minor sphincterotomy, followed by dorsal duct stenting, is recommended for acute recurrent pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum.     

Endoscopic therapy in patients with pancreas divisum and acute pancreatitis: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Endoscopic endoprosthesis (stent) placement across the minor papilla has been shown to be beneficial in reducing abdominal pain and episodes of pancreatitis in a small group of patients with pancreas divisum and acute recurrent pancreatitis. In a randomized, controlled clinical trial, 19 patients with pancreas divisum and at least 2 documented episodes of pancreatitis were randomized to either dorsal duct stent placement (10 patients--5 women and 5 men) or controls (9 patients--6 women and 3 men). All other causes of pancreatitis were excluded. Patients were followed at 4-month intervals for evaluation and/or stent exchange during a 1-year period. The following criteria were evaluated during follow-up: number of hospitalizations or emergency room visits, the number of documented episodes of pancreatitis, and gradation of the patient's overall general feeling based on a visual analog scale. Mean follow-up times in the stent and control groups were 28.6 and 31.5 months, respectively (p greater than 0.05, NS). No patients in the stent group required hospitalization or emergency room visits for abdominal pain only during and following the treatment period. However, in the control group there were five hospitalizations and two emergency room visits for abdominal pain during a similar period (p less than 0.05). Pancreatitis was documented with an elevated amylase twice the normal range, one time in the stent group and seven times in the control group (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endoscopic Treatment in Pancreas Divisum

Objectives: We have reviewed the results of endo-scopic stunting with and without sphincterotnmy at the minor papilla in 34 patients with pancreas divisum and pain or pancreatitis. Methods: Symptoms before and after the procedure were scored and compared, as was the patient's estimate of the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Results: A statistically significant improvement in pain score was found in patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis and in patients with chronic pancreatitis, but not in a small group of patients suffering pain without pancreatitis. The overall effectiveness was found to be 78%, 60%, and 40%, respectively, for these three groups. Complications of treatment were common, but usually mild. There were no evident differences in outcomes between patients who did or did not undergo sphinctcrotomy of the minor papilla. Conclusions: This study confirms that there is a subgroup of patients with symptomatic pancreas divisum who improve with en-doscopic treatment. Correctly identifying these individuals remains a challenge.     

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.     

ERCP在不明原因复发性急性胰腺炎诊治中的作用

目的探讨ERCP在不明原因复发性急性胰腺炎(RAP)诊治中的作用。方法收集15例不明原因RAP患者。其中男5例,女10例,年龄25～65岁,中位年龄38岁,病程1～2年,发病次数2～5次。10例在急性发作期,5例在发作间期行ERCP诊治。结果15例患者经ERCP明确病因者6例(3例胆管微结石,1例胆总管末端小囊肿,1例胰管小结石,1例胰管蛋白栓子),可疑病因者6例(乳头旁憩室2例,十二指肠乳头炎4例),未明确病因者3例。根据ERCP检查结果,9例行乳头括约肌切开术(EST),6例行胰管括约肌切开术。术后随访2年,15例患者均未复发胰腺炎。ERCP和EST术后2例出现一过性高淀粉酶血症,无其他并发症。结论ERCP对不明原因RAP有明确病因和指导治疗的作用。     

Santorinicele as a Cause of Chronic Pancreatic Pain

The role pancreas divisum plays in recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatic pain remains controversial. When pancreatic disease does occur secondary to pancreas divisum, the pathogenesis is thought to the stenosis of the accessory duct with a resulting increase inductal pressure.
A case is reported in which stenosis of the accessory papilla orifice is thought to be responsible for cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the duct of Santorini in a patient with pancreas divisum. This resulted in chronic pancreatic pain that resolved after sphincterotomy of the accessory papilla.