Efficacy of s-type stents for the treatment of the main pancreatic duct stricture in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Stents have been used to relieve pancreatic duct stricture and upstream dilatation. However, many of these stents are straight-type stents originally manufactured for biliary use. A plastic stent that was developed for use in the pancreatic duct was used in this study and its usefulness investigated.


METHODS
The stent (s-type stent: 10 Fr in diameter) has two alternate flexions and the shape resembles the tilde mark " approximately " in appearance. After obtaining informed consent, stents were placed in 20 patients with abdominal pain caused by chronic pancreatitis and stricture of the distal main pancreatic duct. The stents were removed according to the clinical manifestations and replaced with new ones if the stricture persisted.


RESULTS
In total, 33 stents were placed in 20 patients. Pain relief was attained in 19 patients (95%). The stricture improved after one stenting in 8 patients (40%). Owing to persistent stricture, the stenting was repeated in 11 patients. The 50% stent indwelling period was 369.0 days. No proximal or distal migration of the stent occurred and there were no serious complications.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of its long durability as a stent and no migration, the s-stent is safe and useful for the management of pancreatic ductal strictures in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Ishihara
Takeshi
T
Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. Ishihara@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Yamaguchi
Taketo
T
Seza
Katsushi
K
Tadenuma
Hiroshi
H
Saisho
Hiromitsu
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents