Gastrovesical fistula as a rare complication following endoscopic transluminal drainage of walled-off necrosis-a case report.

Background: This study highlights an unusual and previously unreported adverse event (AE) following the minimally invasive treatment of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON). The standard treatment for WON currently involves primary drainage via an ultrasound-guided endoscopic, typically transgastric, approach. This method is associated with lower mortality and morbidity rates compared to traditional surgery. However, emerging AEs from these procedures may necessitate the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Our case highlights the potential for gastrovesical fistula development as a rare AE following endoscopic drainage. Treatment for our patient prioritized individualized and non-surgical strategy, although surgical revision was also considered. Case Description: A 42-year-old male presented with a large symptomatic pancreatic WON refractory to conservative management, necessitating transgastric drainage. Despite the gradual evacuation of the WON contents, treatment was complicated by stent-related issues, including inadvertent bladder penetration. Rather than surgical correction, a collaborative approach among urology, gastroenterology, and surgery teams was employed, focusing on conservative treatment strategies. This approach successfully resolved the fistula, leading to the patient's full recovery. Conclusions: Given the increasing use of endoscopic transluminal drainage in (peri)pancreatic collections, it is crucial to be aware of all potential AEs. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of gastrovesical fistula following drainage of WON. Early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach are vital to manage this event.

Consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst and walled-off necrosis from a Chinese multiple disciplinary team expert panel.

Objective: To prepare a set of practice guidelines to standardize the entire process, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, for pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis. Methods: Thirty-six experts in the fields of digestive endoscopy, pancreatic surgery, interventional radiology, and others presented their opinions via discussions in online conferences by referring to the patient, intervention, comparison, and outcomes principles and then reviewed the evidence and statements using the Delphi method to reach a consensus. The consensus of >80% was finally achieved for the items. Results: The experts discussed and reached a consensus on 29 statements including 10 categories: (1) definition and classification, (2) imaging and endoscopic diagnosis, (3) therapeutic implications, (4) surgical therapy, (5) percutaneous catheter drainage, (6) endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, (7) EUS-guided drainage, (8) stent selection for EUS-guided drainage, (9) complication related to stents for cyst drainage, and (10) drug treatment and follow-up. Conclusion: This consensus based on the clinical experience of experts in various fields and international evidence-based medicine further standardizes the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment processes for pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis.

Global trends in opioid use for pain management in acute pancreatitis: A multicentre prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Since there is no current international consensus on the optimal approach for pain management in acute pancreatitis (AP), analgesic practices may vary across different healthcare settings. OBJECTIVE: This study explored global disparities in analgesic use, in particular opioids, during admission and at discharge in hospitalised AP patients. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the prospective PAINAP database, which included all admissions for AP between April and June 2022 with a 1-month follow-up. Demographic details, analgesic use, and clinical outcomes were recorded during admission and at discharge. Odds ratios (ORs) for opioid use during admission and at discharge were identified using multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Amongst the 1864 patients (52% males, median age 56 (interquartile range, 41-71)) across three different continents, simple analgesics were predominantly used as the primary analgesic (70%). Opioid use during admission was lowest in European centres (67%). Admission in Asian (OR, 2.53 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.59-4.04), p < 0.001), and Australian (OR, 5.81 (95% CI, 3.19-10.56), p < 0.001) centres was associated with opioid administration during admission compared with European centres. Increased pain severity, longer pre-admission pain duration, organ failure, and longer length of admission increased opioid use during admission. At discharge, Asian (OR, 2.01 (95% CI, 1.40-2.88), p < 0.001) and Australian (OR, 1.91 (95% CI, 1.28-2.85), p = 0.002) centres were associated with opioid prescription compared with European centres. Increased pain severity, longer pre-admission pain duration, acute necrotic collections, and walled-off necrosis also increased the likelihood of opioid prescription at discharge. CONCLUSION: There are substantial intercontinental differences in opioid use for AP pain. Accordingly, there is a need for international guidelines on pain management in AP.

The Experience of a Tertiary Referral Center with Endoscopic Management and Combining Percutaneous Intervention for the Treatment of Walled-Off Necrosis: A Stepwise Approach.

Background: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic management in patients with walled-off necrosis and additionally explore the results of a stepwise approach for combining percutaneous intervention in cases where endoscopic management was inadequate. Methods: We included cases of endoscopic management for walled-off necrosis between February 2019 and December 2023. Results: Endoscopic management was performed in 11 patients. The median largest dimension was 150 mm. Multiple cavities were present in four patients. Technical success was 90.9%, while clinical success with only endoscopic management was 36.3%. Clinical success could not be achieved with only endoscopic management in patients with a large diameter (≥125 mm) or multi-lobulated walled-off necrosis. Combining percutaneous intervention resulted in success for all patients. Two patients experienced major complications: one suffered from major bleeding, while the other experienced perforation, necessitating surgical intervention. The patient with perforation died due to multi-organ failure. Conclusions: Endoscopic management is recommended as the primary treatment method for walled-off necrosis due to its less invasive and higher safety profile. In cases involving large or multi-lobulated walled-off necrosis where clinical success cannot be achieved, combining percutaneous intervention is highly successful and safe. Ultimately, this approach can minimize the need for more invasive surgery.

The i-EUS consensus on the management of pancreatic fluid collections - Part 1.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), including pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON), are common complications of pancreatitis and pancreatic surgery. Historically, the treatment of these conditions has relied on surgical and radiological approaches; however, it has later shifted toward an endoscopy-based approach. With the development of dedicated lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-guided procedures have become the standard approach for PFC drainage. However, there is still limited consensus on several aspects of the multidisciplinary management of PFCs. The interventional endoscopy and ultrasound (i-EUS) group is an Italian network of clinicians and scientists with special interest in biliopancreatic interventional endoscopy, especially interventional EUS. This manuscript describes the first part of the results of a consensus conference organized by i-EUS with the aim of providing evidence-based guidance on aspects such as indications for treating PFCs, the timing of intervention, and different technical strategies for managing patients with PFCs.

Does the site, size, and number of necrotic collections affect the outcome of necrotizing pancreatitis? - a prospective analysis.

PURPOSE: In patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), the site, size, and the number of acute necrotic collections (ANC) may determine the outcome of patients. The current study aimed to correlate the nature of ANC with the adverse outcomes in ANP patients. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective study (August 2019-August 2022) recruiting patients with ANP, correlating the site, size, and number of ANC with the length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, development of organ failure and infection, need for intervention, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients (mean age: 37.3 ± 13.4 years, 85.1% males) with ANP were included in the study. The number and maximum diameter of collections significantly correlated with the length of the hospital and ICU stay and the need for intervention. Taking a cut-off size of 8 cm, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the need for intervention were 82.7% and 74.2%, respectively. ANCs located in the perinephric, paracolic, subhepatic, and epigastric regions had a significant correlation with two or more adverse outcomes. Additional points were added to the modified CT severity index (mCTSI) based on the present study's findings. The new score had significantly higher AUROC than mCTSI for predicting infection, need for intervention, ICU stay > 1 week, and mortality. CONCLUSION: The site, size, and number of EPNs have a significant correlation with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with ANP. The inclusion of these parameters, along with present scoring systems, will help further improve the prognostication of patients.

The 1st i-EUS consensus on the management of pancreatic fluid collections - Part 2.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), including pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON), are common complications of pancreatitis and pancreatic surgery. Historically, the treatment of these conditions has relied on surgical and radiological approaches. The treatment of patients with PFCs has already focused toward an endoscopy-based approach, and with the development of dedicated lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), it has almost totally shifted towards interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-guided procedures. However, there is still limited consensus on several aspects of PFCs treatment within the multidisciplinary management. The interventional endoscopy and ultrasound (i-EUS) group is an Italian network of clinicians and scientists with special interest in biliopancreatic interventional endoscopy, especially interventional EUS. This manuscript focuses on the second part of the results of a consensus conference organized by i-EUS, with the aim of providing evidence-based guidance on several intra- and post-procedural aspects of PFCs drainage, such as clinical management and follow-up.

A novel lumen-apposing metal stent for endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections: a retrospective study.

Background and Objectives: Previous studies showed that lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) provides a feasible route to perform direct endoscopic necrosectomy. However, the high risk of bleeding and migration induced by the placement of LAMS attracted attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel LAMS. Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled patients with symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) to perform EUS-guided drainage with a LAMS in our hospital. Evaluation variables included technical success rate, clinical success rate, and adverse events. Results: Thirty-two patients with a mean age of 41.38 ± 10.72 years (53.1% males) were included in our study, and the mean size of PFC was 10.06 ± 3.03 cm. Technical success rate and clinical success rate reached 96.9% and 93.8%, respectively. Stent migration occurred in 1 patient (3.1%), and no stent-induced bleeding occurred. The outcomes of using LAMS in 10 patients with pancreatic pseudocyst and 22 patients with walled-off necrosis were comparable. Compared with pancreatic pseudocyst, walled-off necrosis needed more direct endoscopic necrosectomy times to achieve resolution (P = 0.024). Conclusions: Our study showed that the novel LAMS is effective and safe for endoscopic drainage of PFCs with a relatively low rate of adverse events. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm the present findings.

Successful Treatment of Bilocular Walled-off Necrosis with Transmural Naso-cyst Continuous Irrigation: A Case Report.

Recently, transmural naso-cyst continuous irrigation (TNCCI) has been reported as an effective and safe treatment for walled-off necrosis (WON). We herein report a case of bilocular WON that was successfully treated with TNCCI. The patient was a 60-year-old man. The patient underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided cyst drainage of the main cavity and subcavity using a single transluminal gateway transcystic multiple drainage technique, which was ineffective. Subsequently, a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) was placed in the main cavity and TNCCI was successfully performed in the subcavity. TNCCI with LAMS was effective in treating bilocular WON.

Single Center Experience of Eus-Guided Cystogastrostomy and Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent (LAMS) Positioning in Children with Pancreatic Fluid Collections: A Case Series.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are a well-known complication of pancreatitis. PFCs operative management includes percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical drainage. Even if in adult patients, endoscopic drainage is a well-established treatment, few data are available in pediatric setting. We report our single-center experience of EUS-guided cystogastrostomy and lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) positioning in children with PFCs; this, at the best of our knowledge, has never been reported before. All consecutive children with PFCs between April 2020 and November 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. PFCs were preoperatively evaluated with MRI or CT scan. All the procedures were performed under general anesthesia. A LAMS Hot-AxiosTM 10 × 15 mm was placed in all patients. We evaluated technical feasibility and clinical outcomes, including complications and recurrence rates. Follow-up included clinical observation, blood tests and US. EUS-guided cystogastrostomy was performed in 3 children (2 males; median age 13.2 years). Median maximum cyst diameter was 14.7 cm (range 10-22 cm). Technical and clinical success rates were 100%. No intra or post-operative complications occurred. Our experience suggests that this can be considered a safe and feasible treatment of PCFs even in the pediatric population, as long as the procedure is performed by an expert Endoscopist in a pediatric tertiary-level Center.

Controversies in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided management of walled-off necrosis.

Walled-off necrosis (WON) develops as local complications after acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Although less invasive interventions such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided drainage and endoscopic necrosectomy are selected over surgical interventions, delayed and step-up interventions are still preferred to avoid procedure-related adverse events. However, there is a controversy about the appropriate timing of drainage and subsequent necrosectomy. The advent of large-caliber lumen-apposing metal stents has also brought about potential advantages of proactive interventions, which still needs investigation in future trials. When step-up interventions of necrosectomy and additional drainage are necessary, a structured or protocoled approach for WON has been reported to improve safety and effectiveness of endoscopic and/or percutaneous treatment, but has not been standardized yet. Finally, long-term outcomes such as recurrence of WON, pancreatic endocrine, and exocrine function are increasingly investigated in association with disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome. In this review we discuss current evidence and controversy on EUS-guided management of WON.

Practical approach to acute pancreatitis: from diagnosis to the management of complications.

The purpose of this review is to provide a practical guide for the clinical care of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) from the management of the early phases of disease to the treatment of local complications. AP is one of the most frequent causes of gastroenterological admission in emergency departments. It is characterized by a dynamic and unpredictable course and in its most severe forms, is associated with organ dysfunction and/or local complications, requiring intensive care with significant morbidity and mortality. Initial therapy includes adequate fluid resuscitation, nutrition, analgesia, and when necessary critical care support. In recent years, the development of minimally invasive tailored treatments for local complications, such as endoscopic drainage, has improved patients' acceptance and outcomes. Despite this, the management of AP remains a challenge for clinicians. The present review was conducted by the authors, who formulated specific questions addressing the most critical and current aspects of the clinical course of AP with the aim of providing key messages.

Step-up approach for the treatment of infected necrotising pancreatitis: real life data from a single-centre experience with long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: About 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis develop a necrotising form with a worse prognosis due to frequent appearance of organ failure(s) and/or infection of necrosis. Aims of the present study was to evaluate the "step up" approach treatment of infected necrosis in terms of: feasibility, success in resolving infection, morbidity of procedures, risk factors associated with death and long-term sequels. METHODS: In this observational retrospective monocentric study in the real life, necrotizing acute pancreatitis at the stage of infected walled-off necrosis were treated as follow: first step with drainage (radiologic and/or endoscopic-ultrasound-guided with lumen apposing metal stent); in case of failure, minimally invasive necrosectomy sessions(s) by endoscopy through the stent and/or via retroperitoneal surgery (step 2); If necessary open surgery as a third step. Efficacy was assessed upon to a composite clinical-biological criterion: resolution of organ failure(s), decrease of at least two of clinico-biological criteria among fever, CRP serum level, and leucocytes count). RESULTS: Forty-one consecutive patients were treated. The step-up strategy: (i) was feasible in 100% of cases; (ii) allowed the infection to be resolved in 33 patients (80.5%); (iii) Morbidity was mild and rapidly resolutive; (iv) the mortality rate at 6 months was of 19.5% (significant factors: SIRS and one or more organ failure(s) at admission, fungal infection, size of the largest collection ≥ 16 cm). During the follow-up (median 72 months): 27% of patients developed an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, 45% developed or worsened a previous diabetes, 24% had pancreatic fistula and one parietal hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Beside a very good feasibility, the step-up approach for treatment of infected necrotizing pancreatitis in the real life displays a clinico-biological efficacy in 80% of cases with acceptable morbidity, mortality and long-term sequels regarding the severity of the disease.

Massive infected pancreatic necrosis in an 8-year-old: Endoscopic management.

Pancreatitis is a condition much more commonly found in adults, but when diagnosed in the pediatric population, is often due to medications, congenital pathology, and critical illness. This patient had previously undergone treatment with 6-mercaptopurine and presented with pancreatitis that eventually worsened to a walled-off necrotic collection with paracolic extensions reaching the pelvis. Given clinical worsening with development of shock, procedural options for source control were weighed with gastroenterology, pediatric surgery, and interventional radiology, before pancreatic necrosectomy was determined to be the treatment of choice, given the adjacency of the collection to the stomach. A total of three separate endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy procedures were performed and the patient s clinical status improved greatly, with vast improvement later seen on outpatient imaging. This successful treatment course argues for the efficacy of pancreatic necrosectomy even in very large walled off collections, and most importantly, lead to a positive outcome in this young patient.

The Importance of Early Detection and Minimally Invasive Treatment of Pseudoaneurysms Due to Chronic Pancreatitis: Case Report.

The occurrence of the pseudoaneurysm of visceral arteries in the field of chronic pancreatitis is a very rare complication that represents a life-threatening condition. The higher frequency of this complication is in the necrotic form of pancreatic inflammation, especially in patients with formed peripancreatic necrotic collections. The degradation of the arterial wall leads to bleeding and transforms these necrotic collections into a pseudoaneurysm. Urgent endovascular angioembolization is the first choice in the therapeutic approach as a valid minimally invasive solution with very satisfactory immediate and long-term outcomes. This successfully avoids open surgery, which is associated with a high mortality rate in these patients, especially in acute-on-chronic pancreatitis.

History of the Interventional Pancreaticobiliary Endoscopy.

With the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and linear endoscopic ultrasound, interventional pancreaticobiliary (PB) endoscopy has had an enormous impact in the management of pancreatic and biliary diseases. Continuous efforts to improve various devices and techniques have revolutionized these treatment modalities as viable alternatives to surgery. In recent years, trends toward combining endoscopic techniques with other modalities, such as laparoscopic and radiological interventions, for complex PB diseases have emerged using a multidisciplinary approach. Ongoing research and clinical experience will lead to refinements in interventional PB endoscopic techniques and subsequently improve outcomes and reduce complication rates.

Endoscopic Drainage of Pancreatic Fluid Collections.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are commonly encountered complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis. With the advancement of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) techniques and devices, EUS-directed transmural drainage of symptomatic or infected PFCs has become the standard of care. Traditionally, plastic stents have been used for drainage, although lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) are now favored by most endoscopists due to ease of use and reduced procedure time. While safety has been repeatedly demonstrated, follow-up care for these patients is critical as delayed adverse events of indwelling drains are known to occur.

Pancreatic Walled-Off Necrosis: Cross-Sectional Imaging Depiction of Debris Predicts the Success of Endoscopic Drainage Using Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents.

INTRODUCTION: The use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural stent placement for pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON) drainage is widespread. This study retrospectively analyzed imaging parameters predicting the outcomes of WON endoscopic drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS). METHODS: This study analyzed the data of 115 patients who underwent EUS-guided debridement using LAMS from 2011 to 2015. Pre-intervention CT or MRI was used to analyze the total volume of WON, percentage of debris, multilocularity, and density. Success measures included technical success, the number of endoscopic sessions, the requirement of percutaneous drainage, long-term success, and recurrence. RESULTS: The primary cause of pancreatitis was gallstones (50.4%), followed by alcohol (27.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (11.3%), idiopathic (8.7%), and autoimmune (1.7%). The mean WON size was 674 mL. All patients underwent endoscopic necrosectomy, averaging 3.1 sessions. Stent placement was successful in 96.5% of cases. Procedural complications were observed in 13 patients (11.3%) and 6 patients (5.2%) who needed additional percutaneous drainage. No patients reported recurrent WON posttreatment. Univariate analysis indicated a significant correlation between debris percentage and the need for additional drainage and long-term success (p < 0.001). The number of endoscopic sessions correlated significantly with debris percentage (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pre-procedural imaging, particularly debris percentage within WON, significantly predicts the number of endoscopic sessions, the need for further percutaneous drainage, and overall long-term success.

Early Endoscopic Interventions for Pancreatic Necrosis: Indications, Technique, and Outcomes.

Endoscopic transmural drainage is usually performed for symptomatic well-encapsulated walled-off necrosis (WON) that usually develops in the delayed phase (> 4 weeks after disease onset) of acute necrotising pancreatitis (ANP). Endoscopic drainage is usually not advocated in the early (< 4 weeks after disease onset) stage of illness because of the risk of complications due to an incompletely formed encapsulating wall and poor demarcation of viable from necrotic tissue. However, emerging data from expert tertiary care centres over the last few years shows that the early endoscopic transluminal drainage approach is effective and safe. The development of lumen-apposing metal stents and better accessories for endoscopic necrosectomy has fuelled the expansion of indications of endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis. However, early endoscopic drainage is associated with higher rates of adverse events; therefore, careful patient selection is paramount. This article will review the current indications, techniques and outcomes of early endoscopic transluminal drainage in pancreatic necrotic collections.

Multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of electrocautery-enhanced lumen-apposing metal stents for the internal drainage of pancreatic fluid collections.

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) including pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) and walled-off necrosis (WON) are complications after acute pancreatitis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) placement to manage PFCs. Between June 2019 and May 2023, patients with symptomatic PFCs who underwent EUS-guided electrocautery-enhanced LAMS drainage were enrolled retrospectively from eight tertiary centers in Taiwan. In total, 33 [14 (42.42%) PP and 19 (57.58%) WON] patients were enrolled. Gallstones (27.27%) and abdominal pain (72.73%) were the most common etiology and indication for drainage. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 96.97%, respectively, and the mean procedure time was 30.55 (± 16.17) min. Complications included one (3.03%) case of self-limited bleeding; there were no cases of mortality. Seven (21.21%) patients had recurrence. Patients with disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) had a higher recurrence rate than those without (71.43% vs. 38.46%, p = 0.05). After replacing LAMSs with transmural double-pigtail plastic stents (DPSs) in the DPDS patients, the DPS migration rate was higher in the patients with recurrence (100% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.04). In conclusion, drainage of symptomatic PFCs with EUS-guided electrocautery-enhanced LAMS appears to be efficient and safe. Replacing LAMSs with DPSs in DPDS patients was associated with a lower recurrence rate.