José Celso Ardengh

Pancreatic Pseudocysts Transpapillary and Transmural Drainage

Background: Pancreatic pseudocyst endoscopic drainage has been described as a good treatment option, with morbidity and mortality rates that are lower than surgery. The aim of our study is to describe the efficacy of different forms of endoscopic drainage and estimate pseudocyst recurrence rate after short follow up period. Patients and Methods: We studied 30 patients with pancreatic pseudocyst that presented some indication for treatment: persistent abdominal pain, infection or cholestasis. Clinical evaluation was performed with a pain scale, 0 meaning absence of pain and 4 meaning continuous pain. Pseudocysts were first evaluated by abdominal CT scan, and after endoscopic retrograde pancreatography the patients were treated by transpapillary or transmural (cystduodenostomy or cystgastrostomy) drainage. Pseudocyst resolution was documented by serial CT scans. Results: 25/30 patients could be treated. Drainage was successful in 21 (70% in an ‘intention to treat’ basis). After a mean follow-up of 42±35.82 weeks, there was only 1 (4.2%) recurrence. A total of 6 complications occurred in 37 procedures (16.2%), and all but 2 were managed clinically and/or endoscopically: there was no mortality related to the procedure. Patients submitted to combined drainage needed more procedures than the other groups. There was no difference in the efficacy when we compared the three different drainage methods. Conclusions: We concluded that pancreatic pseudocyst endoscopic drainage is possible in most patients, with high success rate and low morbidity.

Management of Infected and Sterile Pancreatic Necrosis by Programmed Endoscopic Necrosectomy

Introduction: Necrosectomy is the gold standard treatment for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). A percutaneous and endoscopic approach has been accepted in selected cases. Endoscopic drainage (ED) of IPN can be performed by using transpapillary or transmural procedures, or a combination of both with or without endoscopic ultrasound. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the indications, complications, success rate, and the importance of assessment of main pancreatic duct integrity by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in patients with IPN. Methods: Records of all patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy from January 2002 to December 2007 at Rio de Janeiro Federal University Hospital were reviewed. A total of 56 patients were included. ED was performed using daily transmural and transpapillary drainage. A diagnostic pancreatogram (ERP) to search for communications between the pancreatic duct and the collection were performed in all cases and in cases where communication existed. A pre-cut needle knife was used to puncture the cyst wall, aspirate the content and then enter at the cyst cavity (contrast was injected to ensure opacification of the cyst and subsequent drainage). Sphincterotomy catheter or balloons were used to enlarge and ensure a wide cystoenterostomy. All patients were followed with computerized tomography scans or ultrasound to ensure clinical resolution. Mean follow-up was 21 months. Results: 49/56 patients could be successfully treated. ED was successful in 49 patients (87%) and in 3 (13%) it failed. Mean follow-up was 21 months. During this period, there were 2 (10.5%) pseudocyst recurrences and only 1 (5.2%) recurrence of new episodes of pancreatic necrosis, and all were managed clinically and/or endoscopically. No mortality was related to the procedure. Conclusion: ED with daily necrosectomy is a useful method to remove infected and sterile pancreatic necrosis.

New Trends in Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Tool in Differentiation of Serous Cystadenoma and Mucinous Cystic Tumor: A Prospective Study

Background/Aims: Pancreatic cystic lesions are increasingly being recognized. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method that brings the greatest amount of information about the morphologic features of pancreatic cystic lesions. To establish if diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) can be used as a tool to differentiate mucinous from nonmucinous lesions. Methods: Fifty-six patients with pancreatic cystic lesions (benign, n = 46; malignant, n = 10) were prospectively evaluated with DW-MRI in order to differentiate mucinous from nonmucinous lesions. Final diagnosis was obtained by follow-up (n = 31), surgery (n = 16) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (n = 9). Serous cystadenoma was identified in 32 (57%) patients. Results: The threshold value established for the differentiation of mucinous from nonmucinous lesions was 2,230.06 s/mm2 for ADC of 700. DWI-MRI behavior between mucinous and nonmucinous groups revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to be 80, 98, 92, 93 and 93%, respectively (p < 0.01, power of sample = 1.0). In the comparison of the diffusion behavior between mucinous (n = 13) and serous (n = 32) lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 100, 97, 92, 100 and 98%, respectively (p < 0.01, power of sample = 1.0). The results of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration were similar to those of DW-MRI. Conclusions: DW-MRI can be included as part of the array of tools to differentiate mucinous from nonmucinous lesions and can help in the management of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Microlithiasis of the gallbladder: role of endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVESnCauses may be found in most cases of acute pancreatitis, however no etiology is found by clinical, biological and imaging investigations in 30% of these cases. Our objective was to evaluate results from endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of gallbladder microlithiasis in patients with unexplained (idiopathic) acute pancreatitis.nnnMETHODSnThirty-six consecutive non-alcoholic patients with diagnoses of acute pancreatitis were studied over a five-year period. None of them showed signs of gallstones on transabdominal ultrasound or tomography. We performed EUS within one week of diagnosing acute pancreatitis. Diagnosis of gallbladder microlithiasis on EUS was based upon findings of hyperechoic signals of 0.5-3.0 mm, with or without acoustic shadowing. All patients (36 cases) underwent cholecystectomy, in accordance with indication from the attending physician or based upon EUS diagnosis.nnnRESULTSnTwenty-seven patients (75%) had microlithiasis confirmed by histology and nine did not (25%). EUS findings were positive in twenty-five. Two patients had acute cholecystitis diagnosed at EUS that was confirmed by surgical and histological findings. In two patients, EUS showed cholesterolosis and pathological analysis disclosed stones not detected by EUS. EUS diagnosed microlithiasis in four cases not confirmed by surgical treatment. In our study, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values to identify gallbladder microlithiasis (with 95% confidence interval) were 92.6% (74.2-98.7%), 55.6% (22.7-84.7%), 86.2% (67.4-95.5%) and 71.4% (30.3-94.9%), respectively. Overall EUS accuracy was 83.2%.nnnCONCLUSIONSnEUS is a very reliable procedure to diagnose gallbladder microlithiasis and should be used for the management of patients with unexplained acute pancreatitis. This procedure should be part of advanced endoscopic evaluation.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Endoscopic Treatment of Post-traumatic Pancreatic Pseudocysts

Objective: Surgery is the treatment of choice for traumatic pseudocyst. Minimally invasive management of these collections has been used. The aim was to analyze the outcome after endoscopic treatment and the integrity of the main pancreatic duct caused by abdominal trauma. Methods: A total of 51 patients with traumatic pseudocyst who underwent endoscopic therapy were studied. All were symptomatic with a persistent collection for more than 6 weeks. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography allowed characterization according to Takishima classification (1, 2, and 3), in which guided therapy was divided into transpapillary drainage (Takishima 2 and 3 without bulging), transmural (type 1), or combined (type 2 or 3 with bulging). Results: Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was obtained in 47 (90%) of 51 patients. Drainage was transmural in 13, combined in 24, and transpapillary in 10. The success and recurrence rates of endoscopic treatment were 94% and 8%, respectively. There were 9 complications but no procedure-related deaths. Patients with penetrating trauma had more recurrences (P = 0.01) and risk for development of infection (P = 0.045) than those with blunt trauma. Conclusions: Endoscopic treatment of traumatic pancreatic collection is safe and effective and can be considered a first-choice alternative to surgical treatment. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and Takishima classification are useful in determining the best endoscopic approach.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging indicates the severity of acute pancreatitis

PurposeTo test the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to differentiate between different degrees of severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).MethodThirty-six patients who underwent DW-MRI and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were divided into patients with mild AP (mAP, nxa0=xa015), patients with necrotizing AP (nAP, nxa0=xa08), and patients with a normal pancreas (nP, nxa0=xa015; controls). The pancreas was divided into head, body, and tail, and each segment was classified according to image features: pattern 1, normal; pattern 2, mild inflammation; and pattern 3, necrosis. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured in each segment and correlated with clinical diagnoses.ResultsA total of 108 segments was assessed (three segments per patient). Segments classified as pattern 1 in the nP and mAP groups showed similar ADC values (Pxa0=xa00.29). ADC values calculated for the pancreatic segments grouped according to the different image patterns (1–3) were significantly different (Pxa0<xa00.001). Comparisons revealed significant differences in signal intensity between all three patterns (Pxa0<xa00.05).ConclusionsDW-MRI was a compatible and safe image option to differentiate tissue image patterns in patients with mAP, nAP, and nP, mainly in those with contraindications to contrast-enhanced MRI (which is classically required for determining the presence of necrosis) or computed tomography. ADC measures allowed precise differentiation between patterns 1, 2, and 3.

Identificação dos insulinomas pela ecoendoscopia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare EUS and the others diagnostics tests in the correct localization of insulinomas. METHODS: We prospectively investigated 30 patients with endoscopic ultrasound with a clinical diagnosis of insulinomas prior to surgical exploration. They were submitted to abdominal ultrasonography, spiral computed tomography and four patients were submitted to magnetic ressonance before EUS. Surgery was the gold standard for tumor localization. RESULTS: Twenty-six tumors were benign (86.6%) and four were malign (13.4%). The median size tumors detected by EUS was 1.5 cm. The overall sensitivity of EUS in identifying insulinomas was 86.6% compared to 33% for CT, 40% to MRI and 90.9% to IUS. In 12 patients we were able to perform EUS-guided fine needle aspiration. Insulinoma was diagnosed in ten cytological specimens (83.3%). Tumors located in the head and body of the pancreas were seen by EUS in all patients, respectively but those located in the tail were diagnosed only in 55.5% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: EUS has a high sensibility in the identification and localization of pancreatic insulinomas and should replace traditional methods of image when clinical suspicion is high.

Impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration on incidental pancreatic cysts. A prospective study

Abstract Objective. Widespread use of imaging procedures has promoted a higher identification of incidental pancreatic cysts (IPCs). However, little is known as to whether endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) could change the management strategy of patients having IPCs. This study has aimed to evaluate the management impact of EUS-FNA on IPCs. Material and methods. Patients with pancreatic cysts (PCs) who were referred to EUS-FNA were recruited prospectively. The referring physicians were questioned about the management strategy for these patients before and after EUS-FNA. The impact of EUS-FNA on management was then evaluated. Results. A total of 302 PC patients were recruited. Of these, 159 (52.6%) patients had asymptomatic IPCs. The average size was 2.3 cm (range: 0.2–7.1 cm), and 110 patients having smaller than 3 cm sized cysts. Lesions were located in the pancreatic head in 96 (61%) cases, and most patients (94%) had only a single cyst. The final diagnoses, obtained by EUS-FNA (91) and surgery (68), were 93 (58%) benign lesions, 36 (23%) cysts with malignant potential, 14 (9%) noninvasive malignancies, 10 (6%) malignant precursor lesions (PanIN), and 6 (4%) invasive malignancies. Management strategy changed significantly after EUS-FNA in 114 (71.7%) patients: 43% of the cases were referred to surgery, 44% of the patients were discharged from surveillance, and 13% of the cases were given further periodical imaging tests. Conclusion. EUS-FNA has a management impact in almost 72% of IPCs, with a major influence on the management strategy, either discharge rather than surgical resection or surgery rather than additional follow up.

Conservative management of esophageal perforation following obesity surgery

CONTEXTnLaparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) is one of the several surgical techniques for treating patients with morbid obesity. Erosion and perforation in the gastric chamber caused by LASGB are rare complications that have already been described. There have not yet been any reports of perforation of the middle esophagus during this procedure.nnnCASE REPORTnThe authors describe the case of a patient who presented the complication of very extensive perforation of the middle third of the esophagus following LASGB. This was successfully managed using conservative treatment.

Estudo prospectivo e comparativo do escovado obtido pela CPER à ecoendoscopia associada à punção aspirativa com agulha fina (EE-PAAF) no diagnóstico diferencial das estenoses biliares

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and to compare the diagnostic yield of ERCP brush cytology (ERCP) and EUS-FNA in patients with biliary strictures and evaluates the agreement between general pathologists (GP) and expert GI pathologists (GIP) in the final diagnosis of biliary strictures. METHODS: Patients with biliary strictures documented by ERCP were included. Brush cytology was performed and during EUS, only visible mass lesions or localized bile duct wall thickening were aspirated. The gold standard method for diagnosis was surgical histology and/or follow-up. Tissue sampling results were: malignant, suspicious, atypical, insufficiently or benign. Specimens were interpreted by GP and GIP, blinded for prior tests results. RESULTS: 46 patients were included. Final diagnosis was malignancy in 37 (26 pancreatic - 11 biliary) and benign in 9 (8 chronic pancreatitis - 1 common bile duct inflammatory stricture). Sensitivity and accuracy for ERCP brush cytology were 43.2% and 52.2% for GP and 51.4% and 58.7% for GIP. Sensitivity and accuracy for EUS-FNA were 52.8% and 58.5%, respectively for GP and 69.4% e 73.2% for GIP. In comparison, the combination of brush cytology and EUS-FNA demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy for both GP (64.9% and 69.6%, respectively) and GIP (83.8% and 84.8%, respectively) and improved agreement with final diagnosis for both (mostly for GIP). CONCLUSION: Both, ERCP brush cytology and EUS-FNA has a similar yield for the diagnosis of biliary strictures. However, the combination of these methods results in an improved diagnostic accuracy. In addition, GIP might be expected to interpret specimens with greater accuracy than GP.