Endoscopic treatment of pseudocysts and abscess in acute pancreatitis

We report on 4 cases of necrotic pseudocysts complicating acute pancreatitis, treated by endoscopic cystostomy (3 cystogastrostomies, 1 cystoduodenostomy). Acute pancreatitis was secondary to biliary stones in 2 cases, post-surgical in one case and post-ERCP in the last case. Endoscopic treatment was performed because of recurrence of pseudocysts after percutaneous drainage guided by ultrasonography or CT scan. In 3 cases, pseudocysts were infected (pancreatic abscesses) and in 2 patients, surgery was contraindicated (severe respiratory and multiple organ failure). The outcome was uneventful in all the 4 cases and pseudocysts disappeared in a few days or weeks in 3 patients. The fourth patient underwent a complementary surgical cystogastrostomy. Endoscopic cystostomy appears to be a safe and efficient technique when performed in pseudocysts located close to the digestive wall and responsible for bulging visible during upper GI endoscopy.