title: Long-term clinical outcomes after endoscopic minor papilla therapy in symptomatic patients with pancreas divisum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term outcomes of endoscopic minor papilla therapy in a spectrum of symptomatic patients with pancreas divisum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with pancreas divisum coded in a prospective database as having had minor papilla endotherapy (July 1997-May 2003, n = 145) were grouped into 3 categories: (1) acute recurrent pancreatitis, (2) chronic pancreatitis, and (3) chronic/recurrent epigastric pain. Telephone follow-up was conducted (78% of patients), including questions regarding interval co-interventions and narcotic use. Primary success was defined as clinical improvement (better or cured on a Likert scale), without needing narcotics, after 1 therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney U tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors of success.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary success rates in acute recurrent pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and chronic/recurrent epigastric pain were achieved in 53.2%, 18.2%, and 41.4%, respectively; and secondary success rates (<or=2 additional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies), 71.0%, 45.5%, and 55.2%, respectively (median follow-up, 43.0 months; range, 14-116 months). Younger age (median age, 46.5 years [no success] vs 58.0 years [success]; P < 0.0001) and chronic pancreatitis (odds ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.39; P = 0.001) independently predicted a lower chance of success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant long-term improvement can be achieved with endoscopic therapy in selected patients with pancreas divisum, although many require multiple procedures. Older patients, without chronic pancreatitis, were most likely to respond.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors: Gregory D
authors: GD
authors: Borak
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Romagnuolo
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Alsolaiman
authors: Edward W
authors: EW
authors: Holt
authors: Peter B
authors: PB
authors: Cotton
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000601:surgery; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000601:surgery; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors