Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis

Treatment of chronic pancreatitis has been exclusively surgical for a long time. Recently, endoscopic therapy has become widely used as a primary therapeutic option. Initially performed for drainage of pancreatic cysts and pseudocysts, endoscopic treatments were adapted to biliary and pancreatic ducts stenosis. Pancreatic sphincterotomy which allows access to pancreatic ducts was firstly reported. Secondly, endoscopic methods of stenting, dilatation, and stones extraction of the bile ducts were applied to pancreatic ducts. Nevertheless, new improvements were necessary： failures of pancreatic stone extraction justified the development of extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy; dilatation of pancreatic stenosis was improved by forage with a new device; moreover endosonography allowed guidance for celiac block, gastro-cystostomy, duodeno-cystostomy and pancreatico-gastrostomy. Although endoscopic treatments are more and more frequently accepted, indications are still debated.     

内镜综合治疗慢性胰腺炎

目的探讨内镜在慢性胰腺炎治疗中的临床应用价值方法回顾性分析经内镜治疗的37例慢性胰腺炎患者的临床资料,总结治疗的体会。结果37例均经内镜下胰胆管造影明确诊断,患者均有不同程度的胰管扩张,其中胰管狭窄21例,伴有钙化9例,行乳头括约肌切开术37例,胰管括约肌切开术18例,网篮、球囊取胰石6例,胰管内支架引流17例,鼻胰管引流5例。37例中34例治疗后腹痛消失。结论内镜治疗慢性胰腺炎是较安全、有效的,而内镜下多种治疗方法的综合应用明显改善了传统慢性胰腺炎治疗的现状,提高了治疗水平。     

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Endoscopic therapies, originally utilized for problems in the biliary tree, have been adapted for use in the pancreas. Despite widespread adoption and implementation of these techniques, there are few controlled studies comparing pancreatic endotherapy with either surgery or traditional medical treatment. This review attempts to summarize current endoscopic practice in treating the ductal obstructions and leaks associated with chronic pancreatitis and place these techniques into perspective with respect to alternative management strategies.     

青少年慢性胰腺炎的内镜介入治疗

目的探讨内镜介入治疗青少年慢性胰腺炎的方法和临床疗效。方法以2002年亚太共识报告中提出的共识意见为慢性胰腺炎诊断标准，回顾分析1997年1月到2006年8月间经内镜介入治疗的青少年慢性胰腺炎患者临床资料，内镜治疗方法等，并随访其疗效。结果36例青少年慢性胰腺炎患者，共行ERCP77次，其中1例2次插管失败，1例胰管置入术未成功，2例失访；成功进行内镜介入治疗和随访的32例患者中，内镜治疗后完全缓解和部分缓解者共26例（81．2％），4例最终行手术治疗；ERCP术后并发症发生率为26．7％（20／75），均经短期药物治疗后好转，无出血、穿孔、死亡病例。结论内镜在治疗青少年慢性胰腺炎方面的初步疗效确切，可作为青少年慢性胰腺炎的一线治疗方法。     

Endoscopic treatment for biliary stricture secondary to chronic pancreatitis

The causes of benign biliary stricture include chronic pancreatitis, primary/immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis and complications of surgical procedures. Biliary stricture due to fibrosis as a result of inflammation is sometimes encountered in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Frey's procedure, which can provide pancreatic duct drainage with decompression of biliary stricture, can be an initial treatment for chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic and bile duct strictures with upstream dilation. When patients are high-risk surgical candidates or hesitate to undergo surgery, endoscopic treatment appears to be a potential second-line therapy. Placement of multiple plastic stents is currently considered to be the best choice as endoscopic treatment for biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis. Temporary placement with a fully covered metal stent has become an attractive option due to the lesser number of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sessions and its large diameter. Further clinical trials comparing multiple placement of plastic stents with placement of a covered metal stent for biliary stricture secondary to chronic pancreatitis are awaited.     

Endoscopic diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopy entered the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases in 1972 as the first endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography and during subsequent decades it markedly extended its field of action to comprise also endoscopic therapy of the pancreas. At present it represents together with abdominal sonography, computed tomography, endosonography, and nuclear magnetic resonance the basic spectrum of morphological examination methods of the pancreas. The disadvantage of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography is the invasive character of this method associated with complications. In chronic pancreatitis this method can be used in particular to evaluate the extent of morphological changes--i.e. classification of chronic pancreatitis, whereby the most frequently used one is the Cambridge classification. The method, contrary to other morphological imaging methods can diagnose variants and malformations of the pancreatic efferent system, it cannot however, with the exception of chronic obstructive pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis in pancreas divisum detect the cause of chronic pancreatitis and is also of very limited informative value in the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and carcinoma of the pancreas. Endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography cannot be implemented after some surgical operations of the pancreas.     

Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a common gastrointestinal illness, which affects the quality of life with substantial morbidity and mortality. The management includes medical, endoscopic and surgical approaches with the need for interaction between various specialties, calling for a concerted multidisciplinary approach. However, at the time of this publication, guidelines to establish care of these patients are lacking. This review provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the studies summarizing the various treatment options available, including medical, surgical and endoscopic options. In addition, technological advances such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogrophy, endoscopic shock wave lithotripsy and endoscopic ultrasound can now be offered with reasonable success for pancreatic decompression, stricture dilatation with stent placement, stone fragmentation, pseudocyst drainage, and other endoscopic interventions such as celiac plexus block for pain relief. We emphasize the endoscopic op-tions in this review, and attempt to extract the most up to date information from the current literature. The treatment of CP and its complications are discussed extensively. Complications such as biliary strictures. pancreatic pseudocysts, and chronic pain are common issues that arise as long-term complications of CP. These often require endoscopic or surgical management and possibly a combination of approaches, however choosing amongst the various therapeutic and palliative modalities while weighing the risks and benefits, makes the management of CP challenging. Treatment goals should be not just to control symptoms but also to prevent disease progression. Our aim in this paper is to advocate and emphasize an evidence based approach for the management of CP and associated long term complications.     

Endoscopic therapy of chronic pancreatitis

We present an overview of endoscopic therapies for chronic pancreatitis (CP) and its associated conditions. It is evident that endoscopy can be a definite therapy for pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic ascites and pancreatic duct (PD) disruption. Endoscopic therapy has also been useful in the short-term and medium therapy of common bile duct strictures due to CP, the best results being obtained if there are no calcifications in the head of the pancreas. Although most experts agree that obstruction to the outflow of pancreatic juice and the resulting increased pressure within the main PD is one of the major factors contributing to pain and that endoscopic therapy has been proven effective to remove stones as well as to dilate PD strictures and place stents across the PD, there is no convincing evidence from randomized trials that the patient's dominant symptom of CP, i.e. pain, is resolved in an appropriate and long-term fashion. We believe that there are other factors which are important in the etiology of chronic pain such as pancreatic inflammation and peripancreatic fibrosis with resulting nerve entrapment around the gland. The reader is reminded that endoscopic therapy is associated with significant and important complications, therefore appropriate patient selection and patient information are of paramount importance. Nevertheless, it is important to consider that one advantage of endoscopic management of CP is that it is less invasive as compared with surgery, often effective for years, does not hinder further surgery, and can be repeated. Finally we want to emphasize that there are many valid surgical, radiological and endoscopic techniques to treat the complications of CP. Therefore, the approach to CP and its complications should be by a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, endoscopists and pain specialists.     

Endoscopic treatment of pancreatic stones in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term results of endoscopic pancreatic stone removal in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Methods: We retrospectively included 53 patients with chronic pancreatitis, in whom an attempt was made at endoscopic stone removal between 1984 and 1993. Patients presented with pain (30) or an exacerbation of pancreatitis (23). A sphincterotomy was performed in 41 patients. A nasopancreatic drain was left in situ for saline flushing in 6 patients. A pancreatic stent was inserted beyond the stones in 28 patients. Fragmentation of stones was performed by mechanical lithotripsy in 4 patients or by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in 8 patients. Results: All patients had pancreatic stones (multiple 33, single 20) with proximal dilatation of the pancreatic duct. Median follow-up was 33 months (range 4 to 131). Stone removal was successful in 42 patients (79%) (complete 39, partial 3) with relief of symptoms in 38 of 42 (90%). The remaining 4 patients had pancreatic surgery. Stone removal failed in 11 patients and 3 of 11 patients had symptomatic improvement. The remaining 8 patients needed either pancreatic surgery (4) or continued conservative treatment (4). Thirteen of the 53 patients (25%) had recurrent stones, which could be removed endoscopically in 10 of 13. Procedure-related complications occurred in 5 of 53 patients (9%). Mortality was 0%. Seven of the 28 stented patients (25%) had stent-related complications. Conclusions: Endoscopic treatment of pancreatic stones is a valid approach in patients with pancreatic lithiasis with an acceptable risk profile. (Gastrointest Endosc 1996;43:556-60.)     

内镜治疗慢性胰腺炎的探讨

目的 探讨内镜治疗慢性阻塞性胰腺炎疗效及并发症。方法 经内镜治疗２９例慢性胰腺炎中胰管括约肌切开术２７例（１９例为７内镜治疗前处置）,副乳头切开８例,乳头括约肌切开术５例,网篮邓胰石９例,胰管内引流７例,鼻胰管引流３例,辅助探条或球囊扩张共１４例。１３例治疗前、后检测胰腺内分泌功能。结果 ２９例中２６例（８９．７％）治疗后腹痛消失或明显减轻,９例胰腺结石患者中６例取出胰石;７例胰管内引流管未阻塞。     

Endoscopic ultrasound in chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopic ultrasound has continuously gained importance and has proven to be of clinical value in patients with chronic pancreatitis. In addition, the much lower complication rate when compared to ERCP has to be recognised. Some authors have indicated that endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of chronic pancreatitis is the imaging method of choice, depending on both ductal and parenchymal criteria, but there are still some limitations. The two major limitations of EUS preventing it being the "gold standard" in patients with chronic pancreatitis are the lack of standard criteria to be used, and adequate education. Endoscopic ultrasound is difficult to learn and therefore teaching has to be standardised. A general acceptance of the staging of chronic pancreatitis using a catalogue based on criteria compatible to the Cambridge classification is required. Difficulties in evaluating parenchymal criteria with the exception of "indicative" calcifications, depend on the differentiation of the normal ageing process from sequelae of acute pancreatic, ethyl-toxic fibrosis and early stages of chronic pancreatitis. In addition, the differentiation of hypoechoic and cystic lesions as inflammatory changes or neoplastic tumours is still difficult; complementary imaging methods also have low sensitivity in this area. In conclusion, there is no doubt that endoscopic ultrasound has proven to be of value using an interdisciplinary approach in the evaluation and therapy of pseudocysts, peripancreatic necrosis, and pancreatic and bile duct obstruction.     

慢性胰腺炎的内镜治疗

慢性胰腺炎治疗目的为解除胰管梗阻、缓解疼痛、防止复发，并争取改善胰腺外分泌功能。过去传统的治疗方法主要有内科长期药物维持治疗及外科减压手术等，但疗效均欠佳。目前内镜治疗在一定程度上可替代手术治疗，成为治疗慢性胰腺炎的首选方案。     

慢性胰腺炎的内镜治疗

慢性胰腺炎治疗目的为解除胰管梗阻、缓解疼痛、防止复发,并争取改善胰腺外分泌功能.过去传统的治疗方法主要有内科长期药物维持治疗及外科减压手术等,但疗效均欠佳.目前内镜治疗在一定程度上可替代手术治疗,成为治疗慢性胰腺炎的首选方案.     

Endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation and treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was developed in the 1970s specifically for the purpose of improved imaging of the pancreas. The close proximity of the pancreas to the gastric and duodenal lumen allows EUS to obtain high-resolution images, unobstructed by overlying bowel gas. EUS has fewer complications than endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and can detect features of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in the pancreatic parenchyma and duct that are not visible to any other imaging modality. Because of this high sensitivity, questions have arisen whether EUS is oversensitive, especially to 'early" CP. Without a definitive gold standard against which to measure EUS (or ERCP and function testing), it is currently not possible to know the true accuracy of these modalities for early CP. There is now an extensive body of literature suggesting that these early changes detected by EUS correlate with histologic changes of CP, and may predict response to pancreatic therapy. EUS is uniquely suited to performing endoscopic cyst drainage for pancreatic pseudocysts and for controlling the pain of CP by EUS-directed celiac plexus block. For endoscopic cystenterostomy, EUS allows the endoscopist to localize the cyst, determine if the cyst is drainable, and guide a needle and stent into the cyst in a single step. Several major questions remain. Can EUS features of CP guide other forms of therapy for CP such as enzyme replacement, sphincter of Oddi therapy, and stent therapy? Can the detection of early CP by EUS, and subsequent therapy, delay or prevent the onset of more severe CP? Can EUS detect early forms for dysplasia and malignancy in patients who are at high risk for pancreatic carcinoma? Do changes of "early" CP detected by EUS progress to more classic changes (calicification) over time?     

Endoscopic pancreatic drainage in chronic pancreatitis

A nasopancreatic drain, pancreatic duct endoprostheses, and pancreatic stone extraction were used to treat 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Thirty patients were treated endoscopically. Endoscopic treatment via the minor papilla in 2 patients with pancreas divisum was not performed. Three patients had subsequent surgery because of complications; one of them died. Seventeen patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis improved, with 15 patients asymptomatic during a follow-up of 2 to 69 months (median, 11). Seven of 10 patients with chronic pain improved, with 6 patients pain-free during a follow-up of 10 to 34 months (median, 11). In 7 patients, pancreatic pseudocysts could be drained endoscopically by positioning an endoprosthesis into the cyst or by performing a cystoduodenostomy. Six patients had concomitant placement of a biliary endoprosthesis to treat common bile duct strictures within the pancreatic head. One of 32 treated patients died as a result of a complication. We consider endoscopic therapy a viable alternative to surgery in select patients with chronic pancreatitis.