Management of gallstone pancreatitis: cholecystectomy or ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy

BACKGROUND: Currently, cholecystectomy is recommended for patients with gallstone-induced pancreatitis. ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) within 24 to 48 hours is also suggested for the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine outcome after cholecystectomy versus ES alone in patients with gallstone pancreatitis. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients with gallstone pancreatitis were included in this prospective observational study. Inclusion criteria were typical abdominal pain; serum amylase level 3 times or greater than normal; and gallbladder stones and a dilated bile duct, with or without stones, by US, CT, or ERCP. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (Group A) underwent cholecystectomy after initial evaluation including ERCP in 43 (53%) and ERCP with ES in 38 (47%). The remaining 34 (Group B) underwent successful ERCP with ES alone. Mean follow-up was 33 months for Group A and 34 months for Group B. Recurrent gallstone pancreatitis was noted in 2 patients (2.4%) in Group A (bile duct stone in 2, sludge and papillary stenosis in 1), and in 1 patient (2.9%) in Group B. Ten patients in Group B had follow-up US of the gallbladder that showed disappearance of stones in 3. During follow-up, there was no significant difference in the rates of biliary complications (Group A, 3.6% vs. Group B, 11.6%; p = 0.19) or serious complications (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis) (Group A, 3.6% vs. Group B, 5.8%). Also, there was no significant difference in procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of pancreatitis after ERCP with ES alone for gallstone pancreatitis is rare. In patients who have undergone ES alone, cholecystectomy should be considered only if there are overt manifestations of gallbladder disease (e.g., biliary pain, cholecystitis, cystic duct obstruction) and not for prevention of recurrent gallstone pancreatitis. Because treatment by ES alone may be associated with a higher risk of biliary complications during follow-up compared with cholecystectomy, these patients may require close surveillance.     

Pancreas divisum and recurrent pancreatitis: long-term results of minor papilla sphincterotomy

Background and aims: Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common congenital variant of the pancreatic ductal system and a potential cause of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP). Endoscopic therapy is a therapeutic option for symptomatic PD, but there is limited data on long-term results. We aimed to assess the effect of minor papilla endoscopic sphincterotomy (MiES) in the setting of ARP in patients with PD.

Methods: Consecutive patients treated by MiES were included. Clinical data, including gender, age, smoking and drinking habits, number of episodes of acute pancreatitis (AP) as well as technical data pertaining to the endoscopic therapy were reviewed. Patients available for follow-up were contacted to assess the long-term impact of MiES using the Patient’s Global Impression of Change (PGIC) questionnaire.

Results: A total of 138 patients with PD including 77 patients with ARP underwent MiES; 48 patients were available for long-term follow-up using the PGIC score, with a mean follow-up period of 9.7 years. Procedure-related adverse events developed in 10 cases (12.9%): 5 post-MiES delayed bleeding and 5 mild pancreatitis. MiES was clinically successful in 35 patients (72.9%) who did not experience any more episodes of AP. Improvement in quality of life (PGIC ≥6) occurred in 41/48 patients (85.4%). On multivariate analysis, stenosis of the MiES was the only predictive factor for increased risk of recurrent pancreatitis after initial therapy.

Conclusion: MiES resulted an efficient treatment for ARP in patients with PD with clinical benefit, patient satisfaction and improved quality of life even at long-term follow-up.     

Role of ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute pancreatitis.

When assessing the indications for interventional endoscopy, obstructive and non-obstructive causes of acute pancreatitis should be distinguished. In non-obstructive (e.g. alcoholic) pancreatitis, no data are available proving any benefit for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincterotomy. In obstructive (e.g. biliary) pancreatitis, the pathogenetic role of gallstones is controversial. The vast majority of gallstones initiating biliary pancreatitis pass spontaneously through the papilla of Vater into the duodenum without causing cholangitis or obstructive jaundice. Three prospective randomized published studies have attempted to answer the question of whether urgent removal of the stone improves the prognosis of patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. From these studies it can be concluded that the use of ERCP in acute biliary pancreatitis should depend on biliary symptoms: in cases of obstructive jaundice or cholangitis, bile duct stones should be removed as soon as possible; in patients without biliary complications, emergency ERCP is neither beneficial nor cost-effective; if retained stones (without biliary complications) are suspected, they can be removed electively.     

Complicated hepatic hydatid cyst and acute pancreatitis. Value of ERCP and treatment with endoscopic sphincterotomy

We present the case of a 29 year-old cholecystectomized woman with hepatic hydatid cysts who was admitted for acute pancreatitis. Echography and abdominal CAT revealed three thydatid cysts-the one in the right liver lobe being complicated-as well as pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) confirmed the suspected diagnosis of intrabiliary hydatid cyst rupture. An endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed, posterior evolution being asymptomatic, thus permitting the postponing of surgery.     

Acute cholangitis after endoscopic sphincterotomy: Complications of expectant treatment

Two elderly patients who had endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for their common duct stones developed acute cholangitis and, one of them also developed acute pancreatitis after the procedure. Despite the presence of an adequate sphincterotomy which allows subsequent spontaneous stone elimination, transient ductal obstruction during stone migration through the sectioned papilla is probably accountable for their complications. From the present reported experience, it is clear that expectant treatment of common duct stone after EST can be associated with definite hazards. Immediate biliary decompression with either active instrumental extraction or, when not feasible, insertion of nasobiliary catheter, should be performed to prevent these complications in selected patients.     

Recurrence of acute gallstone pancreatitis and relationship with cholecystectomy or endoscopic sphincterotomy

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of recurrence of gallstone pancreatitis, its clinical features, and the presence of prognostic factors of recurrence. METHODS: From January 1, 2000 to August 31, 2003, 233 patients admitted with acute gallstone pancreatitis (AGP) were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into two groups: recurrent and nonrecurrent group. Clinical, analytical, radiological, prognostic parameters, and severity (Atlanta criteria) were assessed, along with the performance of cholecystectomy or endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). Clinical features of recurrence were analyzed. Univariate (chi(2), Student's t-test) and multivariate tests were performed. Statistical significance was assumed if p < 0.05. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-six attacks were identified. Forty-two patients (18.2%) recurred, suffering 53 recurrent attacks, which took place within 30 days in 23.3%. Patients who did not undergo surgery after the first attack had 31-fold risk of recurrence (OR = 31.5%, CI = 95%[7.22-137.84], p < 0.001). In patients not operated, recurrence was more frequent if ES was not performed (37.04%vs 0%, p= 0.019). Among patients with surgical risk, none who recurred underwent ES, compared with 27.9% of those who did not recur. Patients in the nonrecurrent group underwent cholecystectomy within the first 30 days or ES more frequently (31.2%vs 7.3%, p= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of gallstone pancreatitis is a frequent event. Delay of cholecystectomy implies an increased risk of recurrence. ES could be an acceptable option to prevent recurrence in patients who are not candidates for surgery or who do not desire to undergo cholecystectomy.     

急性胰腺炎早期ERCP及内镜治疗66例

目的探讨急性胰腺炎患者早期ＥＲＣＰ及内镜治疗应用的价值及安全性．方法急性胰腺炎患者作早期（１ｄ～７ｄ内）ＥＲＣＰ及内镜治疗（ＥＲＣＰ组，６６例），并以同期保守治疗的急性胰腺炎患者６０例作对照（对照组），观察两组患者血清淀粉酶恢复时间，腹痛缓解时间、住院天数、住院费用及并发症发生情况．结果ＥＲＣＰ组中，３６例为胆道疾病患者，４例为胰管结石，４例为胰腺分裂症，３例为乳头旁巨大憩室，１７例ＥＲＣＰ未见异常．作内镜下治疗３３例，其中ＥＰＴ及取石术１７例，４例作了副乳头切开及扩张术，１２例作了鼻胆管引流术．ＥＲＣＰ组腹痛缓解天数及平均住院天数分别为１１５ｄ±３６ｄ及２１７ｄ±５０ｄ，明显短于对照组（１５４ｄ±７８ｄ及３３０ｄ±６８ｄ，Ｐ＜００１）．血清淀粉酶恢复时间及住院费用两组相差不显著．两组均未发生严重并发症．结论急性胰腺炎早期ＥＲＣＰ及内镜治疗经济安全、有效，可缩短腹痛缓解时间及住院天数，作者认为对胆源性胰腺炎应尽早行ＥＲＣＰ及内镜治疗．     

Prediction of recurrent choledocholithiasis by quantitative cholescintigraphy in patients after endoscopic sphincterotomy

Background—Endoscopic sphincterotomy(EST) is widely used for the removal of stones from the bile duct, butstones recur in about one fifth of patients.
Aims—To investigate hepatic clearance byquantitative cholescintigraphy (QC) in patients after EST and todiscern the relationship between biliary emptying and stone recurrence.
Methods—One hundred and forty nine patients whohad EST and clearance of the bile duct for choledocholithiasis wereselected. All patients were confirmed to have complete EST by sphincter of Oddi manometry and underwent QC soon after normalisation of liverfunction. Regular clinical follow up was performed for each patient.
Results—During a mean 36 month follow up, 22 (14.8%) patients developed recurrent stones in the bileduct. Irrespective of the status of the gall bladder, patients withrecurrent stones had a slower hepatic clearance of radioisotope duringQC compared with patients without stone recurrence, but only thedifferences in cholecystectomised patients had statisticalsignificance. After carrying out multivariate analysis, one parameterof QC, percentage clearance of maximal count at 45 minutes, was foundto be the only significant factor for stone recurrence. All recurrentstones in the common bile duct were successfully removed at endoscopy.
Conclusion—Slower hepatic clearance as shown by QCis an important factor responsible for stone recurrence after sphincter ablation.

Keywords:hepatic clearance; recurrent choledocholithiasis; quantitative cholescintigraphy; endoscopic sphincterotomy

     

复发性特发性胰腺炎内镜治疗的临床分析

目的 探讨复发性特发性胰腺炎(RIP)的病因及其内镜治疗的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2005年4月至2011年4月诊断为RIP的58例患者资料.所有患者均行ERCP,术前怀疑Oddi括约肌功能障碍者行Oddi括约肌测压.根据临床表现和ERCP结果判断病因并制订个体化的内镜治疗措施,术后随访观察腹痛及胰腺炎发作情况.结果 58例患者中男性29例,女性29例,胰腺炎发作次数为3 ～ 10余次.病因为胆管微结石29例,Oddi括约肌功能障碍19例(胰腺型16例,混合型3例),胰胆管汇流异常4例,ERCP无明显异常者6例.行单纯胆管括约肌切开33例,胰胆管括约肌共同切开8例,单纯胰管括约肌切开17例,括约肌切开后同时胰管支架置入术24例.58例患者获得随访41例,随访时间3～67个月(平均33个月).随访期间9例(22.0％)患者胰腺炎复发.内镜治疗RIP有效率为78％(32/41).结论 胆管微结石和Oddi括约肌功能障碍是RIP的主要病因,饮酒是其主要诱因.ERCP及其介入治疗疗效确切.     

Hereditary pancreatitis: clinical presentation,ERCP findings,and outcome of endoscopic therapy

BACKGROUND: Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the onset of recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis in childhood and frequent progression to chronic pancreatitis. There are limited data on the role of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP in patients with HP. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical presentation and findings on pancreatography and to evaluate the role of endoscopic and surgical intervention in patients with HP. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with HP were referred for ERCP at two centers in the midwest United States. Medical records and pancreatograms were reviewed. RESULTS: Pancreatography was abnormal in all patients. The majority (70%) had severe (Cambridge Grade III) changes of chronic pancreatitis. Nineteen (70%) patients underwent endoscopic therapy and 8 (30%) surgical intervention. After endoscopic therapy (mean follow-up 32 months), 50% were symptom free, 38% had moderate improvement, and 12% had no or transient improvement in symptoms. After surgery (mean follow-up 32 months), 38% were symptom-free, 25% had moderate improvement, and 12% had transient improvement in symptoms. Two patients treated surgically died of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In the short-term, improving drainage of the pancreatic ductal system by endoscopic means effectively relieves pain and reduces the number of attacks of pancreatitis in the majority of patients with HP.