Endoscopic stent therapy in advanced chronic pancreatitis: relationships between ductal changes, clinical response, and stent patency.
OBJECTIVE
Pancreatic duct stenting is now recognized as a treatment option for a number of pancreatic disorders. Although stent-induced ductal changes may result, there is little information regarding the frequency of these stent-induced changes in chronic pancreatitis and their relationship to stent occlusion and clinical response. Our objectives were to evaluate pancreatic ductal changes after endoscopic stenting in patients with preexisting radiographic evidence of chronic pancreatitis and to evaluate the relationships between ductal changes, pain response, and stent patency.


METHODS
Twenty-five consecutive patients had 40 stent placement episodes. Main pancreatic duct diameter, pancreatitis grade, preexisting obstructive lesions, and stent-induced strictures were recorded. Pain response and stent patency were correlated with main pancreatic duct caliber change using chi(2) analysis.


RESULTS
In 28 (70%) of 40 episodes, main pancreatic duct caliber increased or was unchanged after stenting; pain improved in 20 (71%) of 28. Pain improved in six (50%) of 12 patients with smaller ducts after stenting. Stent patency was documented upon retrieval in 34 episodes; most stents were occluded. Stent-induced strictures developed in 18% of 40 stent episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Main pancreatic duct caliber after endoscopic stenting was not a good indicator of pain response or stent patency; main pancreatic duct was often larger, and even with stent occlusion, patients' symptoms were frequently improved. Stent-induced strictures were infrequent, compared with values previously reported in the literature.
Department of Radiology Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Pancreaticobiliary Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35249, USA.
Desiree E
DE
Morgan
J Kevin
JK
Smith
Kidaday
K
Hawkins
C Mel
CM
Wilcox
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents