Successful stenting in ductal disruption favorably impacts treatment outcomes in patients undergoing transmural drainage of peripancreatic fluid collections.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The role of pancreatic duct (PD) stenting in patients undergoing endoscopic transmural drainage of peripancreatic fluid collection (PFC) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of PD stenting on treatment success in patients undergoing endoscopic transmural drainage of PFC.

METHODS: This is a retrospective follow-up study of all patients who underwent endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasonography-guided transmural drainage of PFC during a 5-year period. Double-pigtail stents were deployed in all patients; in addition, nasocystic catheters were deployed in those with abscess/necrosis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram was attempted whenever feasible in all patients, and pancreatic stents were placed when the duct disruption could be bridged. Success was defined as an improvement in symptoms and resolution of PFC upon follow-up computed tomography at 8 weeks.

RESULTS: Of the 110 patients who underwent PFC drainage, 40 (36%) underwent simultaneous PD stenting. Treatment was successful in 95 of the 110 patients (86%). The PFC types were: pseudocyst (62%), necrosis (20%), and abscess (18%). The median duration of follow up was 9.9 months. Those who underwent PD stenting were significantly more likely to have treatment success than those who did not undergo PD stenting (97.5% vs 80%; risk ratio [RR](crude) = 1.48, P = 0.01). In the multivariable analysis, this association remained significant (RR(adjusted) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.29, P = 0.036), even after adjusting for the etiology of pancreatitis, type and location of PFC, luminal compression at endoscopy, enteral nutrition, white blood cell count, and number of endoscopic interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: Transpapillary PD stenting improves treatment outcomes in patients undergoing endoscopic transmural drainage of PFC.