Development of a bent-type tube stent for simultaneous drainage of bile and pancreatic juice.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic lithotomy is a useful medical procedure for treating choledocholithiasis. Although this procedure is commonly performed, complications such as pancreatitis and cholangitis are recognized as major and serious problems. The obstruction of bile and pancreatic juice flow caused by papillary edema or spasm is thought to be responsible for such complications. We have developed a new bent-type tube stent that can drain bile and pancreatic juice simultaneously.


METHODS
From June to November 2001, temporary implantation of the new bent-type tube stent was performed in four patients (two women, two men; mean age, 73.3 years) with choledocholithiasis, for the drainage of bile and pancreatic juice simultaneously after endoscopic lithotomy by endoscopic sphincterotomy or endoscopic balloon sphincter dilatation.


RESULTS
Immediately after the implantation of the new type of tube stent, bile and pancreatic juice flow from the respective ducts was recognized under endoscopic observation. Neither pancreatitis nor cholangitis occurred after these procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
This procedure may be a helpful means to prevent pancreatitis and cholangitis after endoscopic lithotomy.
Abe
Reishi
R
Department of Gastroenterology, Iwate Prefectural Iwai Hospital, 13 Maeta, Yamanome, Ichinoseki, Iwate 021-8533, Japan.
Shimosegawa
Tooru
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001646:Bile; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010189:Pancreatic Juice; D015607:Stents