title: Pancreatic Duct Changes in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis Treated With Polyethylene and Sof-Flex Material Stents: A Blinded Comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pancreatic stenting is used to improve painful, obstructive chronic pancreatitis. Data suggest that polyethylene stents (PESs) cause stent-associated changes (SACs). Whether a stent composed of more flexible material (Sof-Flex stent [SFS]) is associated with less SAC is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a retrospective study of patients who underwent pancreatic duct stenting of at least 1 PES and 1 SFS on separate examinations and had a follow-up pancreatogram at the time of stent removal. The main outcome measurements were assessed for SAC on follow-up pancreatogram and interpreted by 2 radiologists blinded to the clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stent-associated changes were noted with 28% (13/47) of SFS and with 25% (13/52) of PES (P = 0.65). For 10F stent subgroups, SACs were seen with 25% (6/24) of the SFS compared with 50% (2/4) in the PES. Thirty percent (7/23) of the 8.5F SFS subgroup had SACs versus 29% (2/7) in the PES group (P = 0.887) for 8.5F + 10F combined comparison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients who have had polyethylene or SFSs of varying sizes, approximately 1 in 4 have SACs. Despite the use of a softer stent material for therapeutic stenting, the rate of SACs in the 8.5F and 10F subgroups seems similar between the 2 materials and design.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, and †Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samuelson
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeligman
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russ
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Raj J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D020959:Polyethylene; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020959:Polyethylene