Experience of combined endoscopic percutaneous stenting with ultrasound guidance for drainage of pancreatic pseudocycts

The therapeutic options for treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts are numerous. We report our experience of combined endoscopic and ultrasound guided percutaneous stenting for pancreatic pseudocysts. Data were prospectively collected for 20 consecutive patients. All patients had undergone a standard technique of combined endoscopic and ultrasound guided percutaneous placement of double J stents, between a pancreatic pseudocyst and the stomach. Patients age ranged between 25 and 84 years. Thirteen of the pseudocysts were due to acute pancreatitis and 7 were due to chronic pancreatitis. The duration of the combined procedure was mean 50 min (range 30-95 min). The length of hospital stay was mean 5 days (range 2-77 days. Only two patients suffered postoperative complications; one was re-admitted 2 weeks following stenting with acute cholecystitis, the other suffering a perforated duodenal ulcer 3 weeks after stenting. There were two failures early in the series, both due to stent migration, these stents were of a small size, (4.7 French). Following this the stent size was increased to at least 7 French, no further failures occurred. There was no operative mortality for the series. Follow-up ranged between 6 months and 5 years. We conclude that a combined percutaneous and endoscopic cyst-gastrostomy stent is a safe and effective treatment for patients with suitably placed pseudocysts.     

Conservative treatment as an option in the management of pancreatic pseudocyst

BACKGROUND: Management of pancreatic pseudocysts is associated with considerable morbidity (15-25%). Traditionally, pancreatic pseudocysts have been drained because of the perceived risks of complications including infection, rupture or haemorrhage. We have adopted a more conservative approach with drainage only for uncontrolled pain or gastric outlet obstruction. This study reports our experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 36 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts were treated over an 11-year period in one district general hospital serving a population of 310,000. This study group comprised of 19 men and 17 women with a median age of 55 years (range, 10-88 years). Twenty-two patients had a preceding attack of acute pancreatitis whilst 12 patients had clinical and radiological evidence of chronic pancreatitis. The aetiology comprised of gallstones (16), alcohol (5), trauma (2), tumour (2), hyperlipidaemia (1) and idiopathic (10). RESULTS: All patients were initially managed conservatively and intervention, either by radiological-assisted external drainage or cyst-enteric drainage (by surgery or endoscopy), was only performed for persisting symptoms or complications. Patients treated conservatively had 6 monthly follow-up abdominal ultrasound scans (USS) for 1 year. Fourteen of the 36 patients (39%) were successfully managed conservatively, whilst 22 patients required intervention either by percutaneous radiological drainage (12), by endoscopic cystogastrostomy (1) or by open surgical cyst-enteric anastomosis (9). Median size of the pancreatic pseudocysts in the 14 patients managed conservatively (7 cm) was nearly similar to that of the 22 patients requiring intervention (8 cm). The most common indications for invasive intervention in the 22 patients were persistent pain (16), gastric outlet obstruction (4), jaundice (1) and dyspepsia with weight loss (1). Although one patient required surgery for persistent pain, no other patients required urgent or scheduled surgery for complications of untreated pancreatic pseudocysts. Two of the 12 patients treated by percutaneous radiological drainage had recurrence of pancreatic pseudocysts requiring surgery. Two patients developed an intra-abdominal abscess following cyst-enteric drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts and one patient had a pulmonary embolism. On the mean follow-up of 37.3 months, one patient with alcoholic pancreatitis died 5 months after surgical cyst-enteric bypass. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that many patients with pancreatic pseudocysts can be managed conservatively if presenting symptoms can be controlled.     

Duct drainage alone is sufficient in the operative management of pancreatic pseudocyst in patients with chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE: To test a hypothesis that definitive management of pseudocyst associated with chronic pancreatitis is predicated on addressing pancreatic ductal anatomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The authors have previously confirmed the impact of pancreatic ductal anatomic abnormalities on the success of percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst. The authors have further defined a system to categorize the pancreatic ductal abnormalities that can be seen with pancreatic pseudocyst. The authors have published, as have others, the usefulness of defining ductal anatomy when managing pancreatic pseudocysts associated with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Beginning in 1985, all patients with pseudocyst who were candidates for intervention (operative, percutaneous, or endoscopic) have undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). An associated diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis was established by means of ERCP findings. Patients were candidates for longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (LPJ) if they had a pancreatic ductal diameter greater than 7 mm. In a nonrandomized fashion, patients were managed with either combined simultaneous LPJ and pseudocyst drainage or with LPJ alone. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-three patients with pseudocyst have been evaluated. Among these there have been 103 patients with chronic pancreatitis and main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation (>7 mm). Among these 103 patients, 56 underwent combined LPJ/pseudocyst drainage and 47 had LPJ alone. Compared to combined LPJ/pseudocyst drainage, the patients undergoing LPJ alone had a shorter operative time, slightly less transfusion requirement, slightly reduced length of hospital stay, and slightly reduced complication rate. Long-term pain relief was achieved in 90%, and pseudocyst recurrence was less than 1%. Rates of each of these long-term outcomes were nearly incidental among the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ductal drainage alone (LPJ) is sufficient in patients with chronic pancreatitis (MPD > 7 mm) and an associated pseudocyst. Simultaneous drainage of pseudocyst is not necessary.     

Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts in children

Background/Purpose

Symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts have traditionally been managed with surgical, percutaneous, and, more recently, endoscopic drainage. Although the role of the latter is well defined in the adult population, its utility in children needs to be clarified. The authors reviewed their experience with endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst (EDPP).

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted, and relevant demographic and clinical data were obtained for all patients with pancreatic pseudocysts managed with endoscopic drainage in the period from 1997 through 2001, inclusive.

Results

Three children had successful endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts. They were 9, 13, and 14 years old, and were all boys. The etiology of the pancreatitis was idiopathic related to anomalous pancreatic divisum ducts in the first 2 and azathioprine induced in the latter. The first 2 patients had endoscopic transpapillary drainage, whereas the third had an endoscopic cystduodenostomy. All patients had complete resolution of the pseudocyst clinically and radiologically after follow-up periods of 3, 31, and 21 months, respectively. The first needed a subsequent pancreaticojejunostomy for persistent symptoms related to chronic pancreatitis. A successful endoscopic drainage of a posttraumatic pancreatic pseudocyst has previously been reported from our institution.

Conclusions

This experience would indicate that endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst is an effective and relatively safe option of managing this problem in children.     

Laparoscopic pancreatic cystogastrostomy

The purpose of the review was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic pancreatic cystogastrostomy for operative drainage of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts. A retrospective review of all patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreatic cystogastrostomy between June 1997 and July 2001 was performed. Data regarding etiology of pancreatitis, size of pseudocyst, operative time, complications, and pseudocyst recurrence were collected and reported as median values with ranges. Laparoscopic pancreatic cystogastrostomy was attempted in 6 patients. Pseudocyst etiology included gallstone pancreatitis (3), alcohol-induced pancreatitis (2), and post-ERCP pancreatitis (1). The cystogastrostomy was successfully performed laparoscopically in 5 of 6 patients. However, the procedure was converted to open after creation of the cystgastrostomy in 1 of these patients. There were no complications in the cases completed laparoscopically and no deaths in the entire group. No pseudocyst recurrences were observed with a median followup of 44 months (range 4-59 months). Laparoscopic pancreatic cystgastrostomy is a feasible surgical treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts with a resultant low pseudocyst recurrence rate, length of stay, and low morbidity and mortality.     

Endoscopic pancreatic duct drainage and stenting for acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cyst and abscess

Background/Purpose Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts using transpapillary and transmural approaches has been reported. In this study, endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) and pancreatic stenting were performed in patients with pseudocyst and abscess associated with acute pancreatitis, and the usefulness and problems of the procedures were investigated. Methods After endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was done, ENPD and/or pancreatic stenting were performed in 13 patients with pancreatitis and pseudocyst or abscess that communicated with the main pancreatic duct. Results ENPD was performed in seven patients, and was effective in all five patients with cysts: the cysts disappeared or shrank. However, the condition in the two patients with abscess was unchanged, and percutaneous drainage was performed. Stenting was carried out in six patients, and the cyst disappeared or pancreatitis was improved in all six. The stent was removed from two patients, but no recurrence has been noted so far. Conclusions ENPD and stenting are effective therapeutic choices for acute and chronic pancreatitis and pseudocysts, and they are superior to percutaneous drainage to avoid pancreatic fistula, but they may not be effective for pancreatic abscess. Selection of therapeutic methods corresponding to individual cases is important.     

Simultaneous treatment of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst

Records from 87 consecutive patients undergoing lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (LPJ) for chronic pancreatitis were reviewed to determine the incidence of pseudocyst and the safety of combined pancreatic duct and pseudocyst drainage. Twelve patients had undergone previous pancreatic pseudocyst drainage; four of them also had pancreatic pseudocysts present at the time of LPJ. In addition, 22 patients had pseudocysts identified preoperatively and/or confirmed at operation. The overall incidence of pseudocyst was 39%. Twenty-six patients (group 1) underwent pancreaticojejunostomy combined with pseudocyst drainage. Sixty-one patients (group 2) underwent pancreaticojejunostomy only. Operative morbidity and mortality results (19% and 8%, respectively, in group 1; 18% and 2%, respectively, in group 2) were similar. Patient outcome was also similar in the two groups (81% and 84% of patients obtained pain relief in groups 1 and 2, respectively). There were no pseudocyst recurrences in either group. Thus, there is a high incidence (39%) of pancreatic pseudocyst in patients undergoing LPJ for chronic pancreatitis. Combined drainage of the pancreatic duct and pseudocyst is safe and effective.     

Carcinoma masquerading as a pancreatic pseudocyst on ultrasound

Ultrasound has proven invaluable in detecting and evaluating pancreatic pseudocysts, and it is now a standard test to rule out complications of pancreatitis. In reviewing the authors' experience with 122 patients treated surgically for a pancreatic pseudocyst, five patients were identified in whom an ultrasound demonstrated a pseudocyst that was associated with an unexpected cancer at the time of operation. A sixth patient, with a pseudocyst documented by ultrasound, died prior to surgery and was found at autopsy to have metastatic common bile duct carcinoma. There was little difference in presenting symptoms, age, frequency of alcoholism, or physical findings compared with patients with pseudocysts secondary to pancreatitis. In two patients, pseudocysts were found in the tail of the pancreas at operation, in addition to carcinoma. In the other three patients, no pseudocyst was found; however, a subcapsular splenic hematoma was present in one. Five patients had metastatic disease, three from pancreatic adenocarcinoma, one from islet cell carcinoma, and one from a common bile duct carcinoma. One patient with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma confined to the head underwent a Whipple procedure and has no evidence of disease 6 months later. Malignancy may cause or coexist with pancreatic pseudocysts. Ultrasound is often not helpful in distinguishing pseudocysts associated with malignancy from those associated with pancreatitis. Biopsy should be performed to rule out malignancy when operating for pancreatic pseudocysts.     

Laparoscopic endogastric pseudocyst gastrostomy: a report of three cases

The transgastric pseudocyst-gastrostomy is the standard approach for internal drainage of persistent and large retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts that complicate acute necrotizing pancreatitis. We report on the application of a laparoscopic endogastric approach for drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts and discuss the merits of this technique as well as of the other previously described minimally invasive approaches for the management of pancreatic pseudocysts. Between January 2001 and August 2001, three female patients presented with large symptomatic pseudocysts 3-10 months after an episode of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Internal drainage was effected by a laparoscopic endogastric pseudocyst gastrostomy, and the necrotic pancreas was debrided. There were no conversions and no postoperative complications. The median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3-5). All patients remain asymptomatic, and resolution of the pseudocyst was radiologically evident at a median follow-up of 6 months (range, 4-11). The laparoscopic endogastric pseudocyst gastrostomy appears to be a safe and effective minimally invasive approach for internal drainage of large retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts and facilitates debridement of the necrotic pancreas.     

Timing of surgical drainage for pancreatic pseudocyst. Clinical and chemical criteria.

Traditional concepts of managing pancreatic pseudocysts have changed with the advent of computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasound scanning, but new misconceptions related to spontaneous resolution have replaced some old ones. This report shows a difference in natural history and treatment requirements when pseudocysts are associated with acute versus chronic pancreatitis. There were 42 consecutive patients with pseudocysts treated over 5 years. Thirty-one were known alcoholics, two had gallstone pancreatitis, and nine had idiopathic pancreatitis. An attack of acute pancreatitis was identifiable within 2 months preceding in 22 patients, but there were only chronic symptoms in 20. Spontaneous resolution of the pseudocyst occurred in three patients (7%), all of whom had recent acute idiopathic pancreatitis, normal serum amylase levels, and pancreatograms showing normal pancreatic ducts freely communicating with the pseudocyst. Factors associated with failure to resolve included known chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic duct changes of chronic pancreatitis, persistence greater than 6 weeks, and thick walls (when seen) on scan. Nearly all (18/19) patients with known chronic pancreatitis had successful internal drainage of the pseudocysts immediately upon admission, whereas 6/20 patients with antecedent acute pancreatitis were found to require external drainage at the time surgery was eventually elected. Isoamylase analysis, performed on serum from 19 patients by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, detected the abnormal pancreatic isoamylase pattern described as "old amylase" in 15. When old amylase was present in the serum, internal drainage was always possible (14/14). In four of five patients whose serum contained no detectable old amylase, internal drainage was not possible regardless of the length of prior observation. There were four nonfatal complications arising from an acute pseudocyst during the wait for maturity. It is concluded that prolonged waiting is expensive and unnecessary for pseudocysts in chronic pancreatitis when there has been no recent acute attack. However, pseudocysts developing after identifiable acute pancreatitis should be observed in the safety of a hospital for up to 6 weeks to allow for either spontaneous resolution or maturation of the cyst wall. The appearance of old amylase in the serum suggests that the pseudocyst wall has achieved sufficient maturity to allow safe internal anastomosis.     

Percutaneous cystogastrostomy in patients with pancreatic pseudocysts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of percutaneous cystogastrostomy for pancreatic pseudocysts secondary to acute or chronic pancreatitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study with prospective follow-up. SETTING: University hospital, Sweden. PATIENTS: 16 patients with symptomatic pseudocysts (10 men and 6 women, mean age 56 (36-78) years) treated during the period 1993-1999. INTERVENTION: Pseudocystogastrostomy was created under local anaesthesia and fluoroscopic control by percutaneous insertion of a double pigtail catheter. RESULTS: The underlying diagnosis was acute pancreatitis in 10 and chronic pancreatitis in 6 patients. 13 patients had one pseudocyst and 4 had 2 or more with a median diameter of 11 (5-20) cm. The procedure was successful in all but 2 patients, who were operated on. 2 patients experienced pain after the intervention that did not require specific treatment, otherwise no complications were noted. Median hospital stay was 2 days (range 1-60). The median follow-up was 45 (1-94) months. All but 2 patients had successful drainage during follow-up with resolution or regression of the pseudocyst and relief of symptoms (pain and abdominal discomfort). CONCLUSION: Pancreatic pseudocysts were treated by percutaneous cystogastrostomy with good results. Percutaneous cystogastrostomy is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that gives good results at long-term follow-up as well as in the short-term.     

超声内镜引导下经胃引流治疗早期胰腺假性囊肿23例

目的 探讨超声内镜引导下经胃引流治疗早期胰腺假性囊肿的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2003至2008年在超声内镜引导下早期经胃穿刺置管引流进行治疗的23例巨大胰腺假性囊肿患者的临床资料.结果 假性囊肿位于胰头部3例,胰体部11例,胰尾部9例,囊肿平均直径11 cm(8～18 cm),均为单发囊性,所有病例在超声内镜引导下经胃引流治疗胰腺假性囊肿,假性囊肿发现至穿刺手术间隔17～65d,平均31 d.2例术后发生囊肿感染,1例改用外引流,另1例改用手术内引流治疗治愈;3例出现消化道出血,保守治疗后治愈.2～3个月后CT复查,6例患者假性囊肿完全消失,余15例患者囊肿明显缩小,所有患者腹胀、腹痛症状缓解.随访1年,无溃疡、出血、囊腔感染等并发症发生.结论 超声引导下早期经胃穿刺置管引流治疗胰腺假性囊肿是安全、有效的.     

Cystocolostomy as an unusual approach to recurrent pancreatic pseudocyst in a Ugandan male with dense hepatogastroduodenal adhesions: A case report

Introduction and importancePancreatic pseudocyst is one of the most frequent late complications of acute pancreatitis with increasing prevalence in chronic pancreatitis. Other causes include abdominal trauma, biliary tract disease, and other idiopathic causes. 85% resolve spontaneously within 4–6 weeks. Interventions are required for persistently symptomatic, large and complicated pancreatic pseudocysts. Cystocolostomy is a rarely reported pancreatic pseudocyst drainage option.Case presentation20-year-old male with large recurrent pancreatic pseudocyst following trauma underwent 2 exploratory laparotomies from a peripheral hospital, before referral to Lubaga hospital. Ultrasound-guided cyst drainage was performed. He was readmitted two weeks later with features of cyst recurrence. Re-laparotomy was done and the stomach, duodenum and proximal jejunum were inaccessible due to extensive dense non-obstructive adhesions. Therefore, we performed a transverse cystocolostomy. Patient improved and was discharged on 5th post-operative day. Review was unremarkable at 6 weeks and 3 months post-surgery.Clinical discussionCurrent management of pancreatic pseudocyst is percutaneous, endoscopic or laparoscopic drainage. However in cases of large recurrent cysts despite the above interventions, open surgery still has a role. Cystogastrostomy, cystoduodenostomy or cystojejunostomy are the commonly performed drainage options. These 3 options were not possible in this patient due to dense adhesions, hence we performed a transverse cystocolostomy with no post-operative complications. Possible complications from the procedure might include recurrent pancreatitis, pancreatic abscess and stool leak into the pancreatic duct.ConclusionIn cases of inaccessibility to the stomach, duodenum and jejunum due to non-obstructing dense adhesions, a pancreatic cystocolostomy can be performed with equally good outcomes.     

Personal experience with the endoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Long-term results and analysis of prognostic factors

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and utility of endoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Prognostic factors for the outcome of endoscopic drainage were assessed in a prospective analysis. METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive symptomatic patients were included in the study. Transmural drainage was used in 30 patients and transpapillary drainage in 19 patients. RESULTS: Successful drainage was achieved in 27/30 (90%) of patients after transmural drainage and in 16/19 (84.2%) patients after transpapillary drainage. Twelve (24.5%) patients had complications; 2 patients had bleeding, 2 had mild pancreatitis, 8 had cyst infection, in relation to the presence of necrosis (5 patients) or stent clogging (3 patients). Nine patients (20.9%) had recurrence of pseudocyst. Endoscopic drainage was a definitive treatment in 37 out of 49 (75.5%) patients (median follow-up: 25.9 months). Presence of necrosis was the only significant prognostic factor for infectious complication. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic drainage provides a successful and safe minimally invasive approach to the management of pancreatic pseudocysts.     

Minimally invasive approaches to the management of pancreatic pseudocysts: review of the literature

Although one third or more of pancreatic pseudocysts might resolve spontaneously, interventional therapy is required for most. Several minimally invasive management approaches are now available, including percutaneous drainage under radiologic control, endoscopic transpapillary or transmural drainage, and laparoscopic internal drainage. This paper reviews the methodology, applications, advantages, shortcomings, and results of these management approaches. A computerized search was made of the MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE, and EMBASE databases using the search words pancreatic and pseudocysts and all relevant articles in English Language or with English abstracts were retrieved. In addition, cross-references from the identified articles were reviewed. Percutaneous drainage is best applied to pseudocysts complicated with secondary infection and in critically ill patients or those unfit for surgery. Radiologic drainage, however, risks the introduction of secondary infection and the formation of an external pancreatic fistula, and is associated with high recurrence rates. Endoscopic transpapillary drainage is beneficial for pseudocysts that communicate with the pancreatic duct and when a dependent drainage could be established. Endoscopic transmural (transgastric or transduodenal) drainage offers good results in the management of suitably located pseudocysts that complicate chronic pancreatitis, but is associated with high rates of failure to drain, secondary infection, and recurrence when pseudocysts that complicate acute necrotizing pancreatitis are approached. Laparoscopic pseudocyst gastrostomy or pseudocyst jejunostomy achieves adequate internal drainage, facilitates concomitant debridement of necrotic tissue within acute pseudocysts, and achieves good results with minimal morbidity. A randomized controlled trial that compares laparoscopic and endoscopic drainage techniques of retrogastric pseudocysts of chronic pancreatitis is required.     

Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with pancreatic pseudocyst associated with resolving acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Experience with patients with pancreatic pseudocysts has led the authors to the hypothesis that preoperative evaluation of the pancreatic and bile ducts by ERCP will define those patients who may be inadequately treated by pseudocyst drainage alone without attention to associated pancreatic and biliary ductal abnormalities. In patients with certain ductal abnormalities, the pseudocyst operation was combined with a definitive operative drainage of the pancreatic duct and/or of the biliary tree where appropriate. A prospective evaluation of routine preoperative ERCP was undertaken over a 36-month period in all patients scheduled for operative treatment of pseudocyst of the pancreas. From an initial group of 44 patients with pseudocysts, three patients who had spontaneous regression of the pseudocyst were excluded. ERCP was successful in 39 of the remaining 41 patients. Among 41 operated patients, 24 were admitted with a diagnosis of pseudocyst that arose after an episode of acute pancreatitis, and 17 had chronic pancreatitis with pseudocyst. Nine patients, initially assumed to have acute pancreatitis, were recognized to have chronic pancreatitis on the basis of ERCP findings. Communication with the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was demonstrated in 18 of 41 pseudocysts, and the rate of communication was similar in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis. Dilatation of the MPD was seen in 23 of 41 patients and was associated with chronic pancreatitis in 21. Dilatation of the common bile duct was found in 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis. The operative plan was altered by ERCP findings in 24 of 41 patients; 22 of the 24 patients had chronic pancreatitis. There were no complications of ERCP. These data suggest that ERCP should be performed in all patients with pseudocysts to establish correct diagnosis and to allow optimal choice of operation.     

Results of cystoduodenostomy for treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cystoduodenostomy, the cases of 117 patients operated on for pancreatic pseudocysts during the last 14 years have been reviewed. Eleven patients were treated with cystoduodenostomy. They included ten men and one woman whose ages ranged from 26 to 56 years (mean 41 years). The etiology of pancreatitis was alcohol abuse in nine patients, alcohol abuse and gallstones in one, and trauma in one. Three patients had another cyst located within the body or tail of the pancreas which was identified preoperatively by ultrasound. Each patient underwent transduodenal cystoduodenostomy and three had a concomitant cystogastrostomy for a second pseudocyst. There was no operative mortality. Morbidity included postoperative pancreatitis in one patient, a wound infection and pancreatic fistula in one, and excessive bleeding from the cyst in one. There were no injuries to the common bile duct. Upon follow-up, which ranges from 6 months to 8 years, none of the patients has had a persistent or recurrent pseudocyst. This has been confirmed by ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT scan) in nine patients. Transduodenal cystoduodenostomy is a safe, reliable means of internal drainage for mature pseudocysts that are located in the head of the pancreas adjacent to the duodenum. Preoperative evaluation of the pancreas to rule out multiple pseudocysts and intraoperative care to avoid injury to the common bile duct are important factors in obtaining these good results.     

Endoscopic transgastric drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst with the use of Nd:YAG laser

Pancreatic pseudocysts have been successfully managed with endoscopic drainage recently. This report describes a case of endoscopic transgastric drainage using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and an Nd:YAG laser. EUS was used to detect an optimal puncture site of the pseudocyst and to reduce the risk of bleeding and perforation. An Nd:YAG laser was used to minimize the risk of bleeding and to penetrate the thick wall of the pseudocyst. After transgastric cystgastrostomy was performed, an internal stent was placed between the pseudocyst and the stomach. There were no complications associated with endoscopic interventions. Complete resolution of the pseudocyst was observed. Endoscopic transgastric drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts is a recommended approach for selected patients with pancreatic pseudocysts that are uncomplicated and are located adjacent to the stomach. Safe and effective drainage can be achieved without hemorrhage and perforation with the use of EUS, an Nd:YAG laser, and a stent. Furthermore, the Nd:YAG laser facilitated passage through a markedly indurated pseudocyst wall and it seemed to be an effective instrument, especially for pseudocysts with a thick wall.     

AN AUDIT OF PANCREATIC PSEUDOCYST MANAGEMENT AND THE ROLE OF ENDOSCOPIC PANCREATOGRAPHY

Background : A rational algorithm for the management of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts is necessary with the increasing availability of radiological, surgical and endoscopic methods of treatment. Methods : A retrospective audit of the management and outcome of all patients who presented with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts to the Auckland Hospital over a 9-year period (1988–96) was made. Results : There were 44 patients (28 men, 16 women; median age 50; range 18–81) in this series. Initial management was not based on pseudocyst size, duration, location, wall thickness, the patients' symptoms and comorbidity, or the aetiology of pancreatitis. Of the 27 patients who had initial conservative management, 15 pseudocysts (56%) completely resolved. Of the 17 patients who were initially or subsequently treated with percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD), 10 pseudocysts (59%) completely resolved without additional treatment. Of the 13 patients initially or subsequently treated by surgery, all but one completely resolved after the first procedure. Two patients were successfully treated with endoscopic pancreatic stent placement. Complications arose in eight patients treated with PCD (47%) and four patients treated with surgery (31%). There was no mortality. The decision for active treatment was not preceded by delineation of the pancreatic duct by ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) in 60% of patients. Conclusions : More than one-third of all patients with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts can be managed conservatively. Surgery yields excellent results but PCD has a high failure rate in patients with an underlying pancreatic duct stricture. A rational management algorithm is presented, based on pre-intervention ERCP, which should improve patient selection and outcome.     

Pancreatico-pleural fistula in chronic pancreatitis

Seven patients presented with a pancreatic pleural fistula in the context of chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis was made by analysis of the pleural effusion and by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography which opacified the fistula in six cases. Surgical procedure (five resections, one Roux-en-Y drainage and one resection associated with Roux-en-Y drainage) was guided by the morphology of the pancreatic duct and the presence of pseudocysts. All patients were successfully treated by surgery.