[Personal experience with the endoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Long-term results and analysis of prognostic factors].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the safety and utility of endoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Prognostic factors for the outcome of endoscopic drainage were assessed in a prospective analysis.


METHODS
Forty-nine consecutive symptomatic patients were included in the study. Transmural drainage was used in 30 patients and transpapillary drainage in 19 patients.


RESULTS
Successful drainage was achieved in 27/30 (90%) of patients after transmural drainage and in 16/19 (84.2%) patients after transpapillary drainage. Twelve (24.5%) patients had complications; 2 patients had bleeding, 2 had mild pancreatitis, 8 had cyst infection, in relation to the presence of necrosis (5 patients) or stent clogging (3 patients). Nine patients (20.9%) had recurrence of pseudocyst. Endoscopic drainage was a definitive treatment in 37 out of 49 (75.5%) patients (median follow-up: 25.9 months). Presence of necrosis was the only significant prognostic factor for infectious complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic drainage provides a successful and safe minimally invasive approach to the management of pancreatic pseudocysts.
De Palma
G D
GD
Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Tecnologie Avanzate, Università degli Studi Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Galloro
G
G
Puzziello
A
A
Masone
S
S
Diamantis
G
G
Persico
G
G
D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors