Percutaneous pancreatic pseudocyst drainage: a combined sonographic-endoscopic procedure

Certain pancreas-pseudocysts can be effectively drained either transgastrically or transduodenally using endoscopic procedures. Applicable methods include repeated fine needle punctures, insertion of a drainage tube or the percutaneous pseudocyst-drainage according to Hancke. The percutaneous sonographic pancreas-pseudocyst drainage represents an alternative or an adjunct to the classical surgical cyst drainage employing a cysto-jejunostomy or cysto-gastrostomy. The indications are analog to the surgical cysto-enterostomy, whereas the optimal method for each individual patient should be decided by interdisciplinary consultation. The following report presents 21 case studies of pancreas-pseudocysts which were treated conservatively using ultrasonographical procedures.