title: Direct endoscopic necrosectomy versus step-up approach for walled-off pancreatic necrosis: comparison of clinical outcome and health care utilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is a complication of acute pancreatitis requiring intervention. Surgery is associated with considerable morbidity. Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD), initial therapy in the step-up approach, minimizes complications. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) has demonstrated safety and efficacy. We compared outcome and health care utilization of DEN versus step-up approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a matched cohort study using a prospective registry. Twelve consecutive DEN patients were matched with 12 step-up approach patients. Outcomes were clinical resolution after primary therapeutic modality, new organ failure, mortality, endocrine or exocrine insufficiency, length of stay, and health care utilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical resolution in 11 of 12 patients after DEN versus 3 of 12 step-up approach patients after PCD (P < 0.01). Nine step-up approach patients required surgery; 7 of these experienced complications. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy resulted in less new antibiotic use, pulmonary failure, endocrine insufficiency, and shorter length of stay (P < 0.05). Health care utilization was lower after DEN by 5.2:1 (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct endoscopic necrosectomy may be superior to step-up approach for WOPN with suspected or established infection. Primary PCD generally delayed definitive therapy. Given the higher efficacy, shorter length of stay, and lower health care utilization, DEN could be the first-line therapy for WOPN, with primary PCD for inaccessible or immature collections.
authors.affiliation: From the Center for Pancreatic Disease, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Darwin L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D001900:Boston; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
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