José Flávio E. Coelho

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.

Single-Step EUS-Guided Endoscopic Treatment for Sterile Pancreatic Collections: A Single-Center Experience

Background and Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is useful for the treatment of sterile pancreatic fluid collections (PFC), either by means of transmural drainage or by complete aspiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-step EUS-guided endoscopic approaches for treatment of sterile PFC. Patients and Methods: During a 3-year period, 77 consecutive patients with symptomatic, persistent sterile PFC were evaluated and treated with the linear EUS. We excluded patients with grossly purulent collections, chronic pseudocyst and those whose cytology diagnostic was neoplastic cyst of pancreas. 44 patients received a single 10-Fr plastic straight stent under EUS or fluoroscopic control (group I) and 33 of these underwent a single-step complete aspiration with a 19-gauge needle (group II). Results: The mean size of the sterile PFC was 48 mm in group I and 28 mm in group II (p < 0.001). Overall, endoscopic treatment was successful in 70 (90.9%) patients. The mean volume aspirated was 25 (18–65) ml. The total number of procedures was 50 in group I and 41 punctures in group II. After a mean follow-up of 64 ± 15.6 weeks there were 6 complications (13.6%): 2 recurrences (referred to surgery), 2 developing abscesses (submitted a new EUS-guided endoscopic drainage with success), 1 perforation that died (2.2%), and 1 case of bleeding (sent to surgery) in group I. In group II there were only 6 (18.1%) recurrences (submitted a new EUS-guided aspiration). None of the patients undergoing single-step aspiration developed infections, perforation or hemorrhage. Conclusion: The recurrence of pancreatic pseudocysts after endoscopic treatment was similar, either by means of plastic stents or by complete single-step aspiration.

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.

Pancreatite aguda sem etiologia aparente: a microlitíase deve ser pesquisada?

In a large number of patients, with episodes of acute pancreatitis the etiology is not identified, even after initial clinical history, detailed physical examination, laboratory tests and biochemical exams and an transabdominal ultrasound. This patient are considered with a unexplained acute pancreatitis. In this cases the treatment is restricted to improvement of symptoms. These patients after treated tend to have new episodes with the risk of raising the rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the identification of a cause and its prompt treatment prevent at recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. This review aims to draw attention to how best diagnostic approach when the light of evidence-based medicine, to search for causes of difficult identification with microlithiasis, occult stones, the anatomical variations of biliary and pancreatic duct and in addition to sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.