Marc Barthet

Endoscopic transpapillary drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts

BACKGROUND Endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts has been reported mainly in small series. METHODS The results of endoscopic transpapillary cyst drainage (ETCD) were evaluated prospectively in 30 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts. RESULTS There were 24 men and 6 women with an average age of 45 years (SD 16). Twenty-eight had chronic pancreatitis (25 with alcoholic pancreatitis). Transpapillary cystopancreatic stents, with the tip into the cyst cavity, were inserted in 12 patients. Pancreatic stents with the tip as close as possible from the cyst cavity were inserted in the remaining 18 patients. Ten patients underwent an additional endoscopic cystenterostomy. The average duration of stenting was 4.4 months (range 15 days to 12 months). Patients were followed up for 15 months (range 2 to 60 months). All pseudocysts communicated with the pancreatic ductal system. The size of the pseudocysts ranged from 15 to 120 mm (average 50 mm). Pseudocysts were mainly located in the head of the pancreas (17 cases). Four minor complications occurred. There were no deaths. Twenty-six patients had pseudocyst resolution by ETCD, but 7 ultimately required surgery, 3 for early recurrence and 4 for failure of initial therapy. CONCLUSION ETCD appears to be a safe and efficient modality for the drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts communicating with the pancreatic ductal system.

Chronic pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease: true or coincidental association?

OBJECTIVE:Several cases of pancreatitis have been described during the course of Crohns disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC), but many of them were related to either biliary lithiasis or drug intake. We tried to evaluate the clinical and morphological features of so-called idiopathic pancreatitis associated with inflammatory bowel disease and to define their pathological characteristics.METHODS:Chronic idiopathic pancreatitis was diagnosed on the basis of abnormal pancreatograms suggestive of chronic pancreatitis associated with or without impaired exocrine pancreatic function, or pathological examination in patients undergoing pancreatic resection. We found 6 patients presenting with features of chronic idiopathic pancreatitis and UC and 2 patients with CD seen between 1981 and 1996 in three hospital centers of the south of France. A review of the literature has identified 6 cases of pancreatitis associated with UC and 14 cases of pancreatitis associated with CD based on the above criteria.RESULTS:Hyperamylasemia was not a sensitive test since it was present in 44% and 64% of patients with UC or CD. In UC, pancreatitis was a prior manifestation in 58% of patients. In contrast, the pancreatitis appeared after the onset of CD in 56% of the cases. In patients with UC, pancreatitis were associated with severe disease revealed by pancolitis (42%) and subsequent surgery. Bile duct involvement was more frequent in patients with UC than with CD (58%vs 12%) mostly in the absence of sclerosing cholangitis (16%vs 6%). Weight loss and pancreatic duct stenosis were also more frequent in UC than in CD (41%vs 12% and 50%vs 23%, respectively). Pathological specimens were analyzed in 5 patients and demonstrated the presence of inter- and intralobular fibrosis with marked acinar regression in 3 and the presence of granulomas in 2 patients, both with CD.CONCLUSIONS:Pancreatitis is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease. Chronic pancreatitis associated with UC differs from that observed in CD by the presence of more frequent bile duct involvement, weight loss, and pancreatic duct stenosis, possibly giving a pseudo-tumor pattern.

Self-expandable metal stents for obstructing colonic and extracolonic cancer: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline

This Guideline is an official statement of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). This Guideline was also reviewed and endorsed by the Governing Board of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was adopted to define the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. ESGE guidelines represent a consensus of best practice based on the available evidence at the time of preparation. They may not apply in all situations and should be interpreted in the light of specific clinical situations and resource availability. Further controlled clinical studies may be needed to clarify aspects of these statements, and revision may be necessary as new data appear. Clinical consideration may justify a course of action at variance to these recommendations. ESGE guidelines are intended to be an educational device to provide information that may assist endoscopists in providing care to patients. They are not rules and should not be construed as establishing a legal standard of care or as encouraging, advocating, requiring, or discouraging any particular treatment

Diagnosis and management of iatrogenic endoscopic perforations: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Position Statement.

This Position Paper is an official statement of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). It addresses the diagnosis and management of iatrogenic perforation occurring during diagnostic or therapeutic digestive endoscopic procedures. Main recommendations 1 ESGE recommends that each center implements a written policy regarding the management of iatrogenic perforation, including the definition of procedures that carry a high risk of this complication. This policy should be shared with the radiologists and surgeons at each center. 2 In the case of an endoscopically identified perforation, ESGE recommends that the endoscopist reports: its size and location with a picture; endoscopic treatment that might have been possible; whether carbon dioxide or air was used for insufflation; and the standard report information. 3 ESGE recommends that symptoms or signs suggestive of iatrogenic perforation after an endoscopic procedure should be carefully evaluated and documented, possibly with a computed tomography (CT) scan, in order to prevent any diagnostic delay. 4 ESGE recommends that endoscopic closure should be considered depending on the type of perforation, its size, and the endoscopist expertise available at the center. A switch to carbon dioxide insufflation, the diversion of luminal content, and decompression of tension pneumoperitoneum or tension pneumothorax should also be done. 5 After closure of an iatrogenic perforation using an endoscopic method, ESGE recommends that further management should be based on the estimated success of the endoscopic closure and on the general clinical condition of the patient. In the case of no or failed endoscopic closure of the iatrogenic perforation, and in patients whose clinical condition is deteriorating, hospitalization and surgical consultation are recommended.

Clinical usefulness of a treatment algorithm for pancreatic pseudocysts

BACKGROUND Endoscopic procedures have become a first-line approach to the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to determine the results of a therapeutic algorithm including EUS-assisted drainage, transpapillary drainage, and conventional endoscopic drainage in terms of (1) feasibility and efficacy of the endoscopic procedure and (2) morbidity. DESIGN Prospective study with a treatment algorithm drawn up before the endoscopic procedure, including either conventional endoscopic transmural drainage (CTMD), conventional transpapillary drainage (CTPD), or EUS-guided transmural drainage (EUS-GTD). PATIENTS A total of 50 patients, including 15 women and 35 men with a mean age of 51 years, were included in this prospective study. RESULTS The mean size of the pseudocysts was 8.2 cm (range 3-12 cm). A total of 29 pseudocysts did not bulge into the digestive wall (58%); 24 (48%) neither bulged nor communicated with the pancreatic duct. EUS-GTD was performed on 28 patients (56%), CTMD on 13 patients (26%), and CTPD on 8 patients (16%), and endoscopic procedures failed in 1 patient. Technical feasibility was 98% (49/50), and clinical success was achieved in 90% of the cases and disappearance of the pseudocysts in 96% of the cases without significant differences among the 3 groups. The morbidity rate was 18% (9 cases). Five superinfections occurred in the EUS-GTD group and 1 in the CTMD group. One death occurred from late bleeding in the CTMD group. LIMITATION Randomization of patients in this prospective study was not possible because of the different characteristics of the pseudocysts. CONCLUSION With this algorithm, clinical success was achieved in 45 (90%) of the cases and disappearance of the pseudocysts in 48 (96%) of the cases with a reasonable morbidity rate. In half of the cases, EUS is required for treating pancreatic pseudocyst.

An endoscopic strategy for management of anastomotic complications from bariatric surgery: a prospective study

BACKGROUND Treatment of anastomotic fistulas after bariatric surgery is difficult, and they are often associated with additional surgery, sepsis, and prolonged non-oral feeding. OBJECTIVE To assess a new, totally endoscopic strategy to manage anastomotic fistulas. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS This study involved 27 consecutive patients from July 2007 to December 2009. INTERVENTION This strategy involved successive procedures for endoscopic drainage of the residual cavity, diversion of the fistula with a stent, and then closure of the residual orifice with surgical clips or sealant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Technical success, mortality and morbidity, migration of the stent. RESULTS Multiple or complex fistulas were present in 16 cases (59%). Endoscopic drainage (nasal-fistula drain or necrosectomy) was used in 19 cases (70%). Diversion by a covered colorectal stent was used in 22 patients (81%). To close the residual or initial opening, wound clips and glue (cyanoacrylate) were used in 15 cases (55%). Neither mortality nor severe morbidity occurred. Migration of the stent occurred in 13 cases (59%) and was treated by replacement with either a longer stent or with 2 nested stents. The mean time until resolution of fistula was 86 days from the start of endoscopic management, with a mean of 4.4 endoscopies per patient. LIMITATIONS Moderate sample size, nonrandomized study. CONCLUSION An entirely endoscopic approach to the management of anastomosing fistulas that develop after bariatric surgery--using sequential drainage, sutures, and diversion by stents--achieved resolution of the fistulas with minimal morbidity.

Results of a prospective randomised multicentre controlled trial comparing a new 2-L ascorbic acid plus polyethylene glycol and electrolyte solution vs. sodium phosphate solution in patients undergoing elective colonoscopy

Background  Elective colonoscopy is used increasingly to screen at risk patients for colonic malignancy. Bowel preparation quality is a critical factor for successful screening. Preparations used include high doses of potent laxatives, e.g. sodium phosphate solution or high volume polyethylene glycol. Because of constraints and limited patient acceptability, there remains a need for a more acceptable bowel preparation with at least equivalent cleansing to existing preparations.

Estimation of the prevalence and incidence of chronic pancreatitis and its complications: A prospective survey in adults attending gastroenterologists in France

UNLABELLED Incidence and prevalence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) are poorly known and prospective nationwide epidemiologic estimation has never been performed. AIMS To estimate prospectively national incidence and prevalence of patients attending gastroenterologists for CP in France. PATIENTS AND METHODS Study was proposed to all of the French gastroenterologists (N=3215) of whom 753 accepted to participate (24% private, 40% hospital and 36% both). Were included all patients suffering from proved or suspected CP, from 04-2003 to 07-2003. Certain diagnostic criteria were pancreatic calcifications, ductal or histological abnormalities. For all of non-responder gastroenterologists, a tracking system was used (mail or by phone). RESULTS A total of 456 gastroenterologists returned at least 1 case on 1748 patients. Median patient age was 51 years; sex-ratio was 5.07. Median duration between the first CP sign and the inclusion was 41 months. CP cause was alcoholism (84%), hereditary (1%), cystic fibrosis (1%), idiopathic (9%), other (6%). CP diagnosis was certain in 77%: calcifications (85%), ductal abnormalities (57%), and histology (8%). CP symptoms were: chronic abdominal pain (53%), acute pancreatitis episodes (67%), pseudocysts (40%), bi-liary tract compression (21%), diabetes mellitus (32%), pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (36%). Maximal annual incidence was 4,646 (crude annual incidence: 7.7 per 100,000; 12.9 in male; 2.6 in female) and prevalence was 15,832 cases (crude prevalence: 26.4 per 100,000; 43.8 in male; 9.0 in female). CONCLUSION New CP patients attending gastroenterologists are about 5,000 a year. CP prevalence is about 16,000 patients (in France: 60,400,000 inhabitants). Frequency of main complications is close to hospital series, confirming that results issued from these centers are not or a few biased.

Intraductal papillary or mucinous tumors (IPMT) of the pancreas: Report of a case series and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES:Despite a better understanding of these co intraductal papillary or mucinous tumors (IPMT) of the pancreas still present difficulty relating to the predictive factors of malignancy and the risk of relapse after surgical resection. The aim of this study was to report on our experience and to compare it to previously published cases.METHODS:We studied retrospectively 26 patients (mean age 60.3 yr) presenting with IPMT. Of the 26 patients, 19 had surgical resection and seven did not. The main clinical feature was acute pancreatitis occurring in 38% of the patients. Segmental pancreatectomy was performed in all the cases. At pathological assessment of resection margins, tumor resection was considered as complete in 17 cases. Margins exhibited benign mucinous involvement, and resection was considered to be incomplete in one multifocal case and in one case with diffuse spread of the tumor.RESULTS:A total of 11 tumors were benign and five were malignant. Carcinomas were invasive in four cases (two invading the pancreatic parenchyma, one the duodenum, and one the peripancreatic nodes) and in situ in one case. Malignancy was not diagnosed preoperatively except when invasion was evident (duodenal spread). Although main pancreatic duct type and obstructive jaundice appeared as suggestive features for the risk of malignancy, no reliable preoperative predictive factors for malignancy could be identified as regarding to clinical parameters, biological examinations, carcinoembryonic antigen or CA19-9 levels in serum or in pure pancreatic juice, imaging, and cytological methods. Within 40.8 months mean follow-up after surgery (range 2–96 months), three patients (16%), two with malignant and one with benign tumor, had tumor relapse after respectively 7, 27, and 14 months. Margins were positive without malignant features in the two malignant cases and negative in the other case. Tumor relapse was malignant with diffuse spreading in the three cases, and the patients died within 34 months after surgical resection.CONCLUSIONS:Our series and the review of the literature indicate that preoperative indicators of malignancy in IPMT are still lacking. Concerning resection margins, complete tumor resection is usually possible by segmental pancreatectomy. Malignant relapses are not exceptional. Incomplete resection and diffuse or multifocal tumor represent poor prognostic factors. Total pancreatectomy should be considered in such cases.

Endoscopic management of GI fistulae with the over-the-scope clip system (with video).

1. Brugge WR, Lewandrowski K, Lee-Lewandrowski E, et al. Diagnosis of pancreatic cystic neoplasms: a report of the cooperative pancreatic cyst study. Gastroenterology 2004;126:1330-6. 2. Raval JS, Zeh HJ, Moser AJ, et al. Pancreatic lymphoepithelial cysts express CEA and can contain mucous cells: potential pitfalls in the preoperative diagnosis. Mod Pathol 2010;23:1467-76. 3. Morris-Stiff G, Lentz G, Chalikonda S, et al. Pancreatic cyst aspiration analysis for cystic neoplasms: mucin or carcinoembryonic antigen--which is