Management of infected and sterile pancreatic necrosis by programmed endoscopic necrosectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Necrosectomy is the gold standard treatment for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). A percutaneous and endoscopic approach has been accepted in selected cases. Endoscopic drainage (ED) of IPN can be performed by using transpapillary or transmural procedures, or a combination of both with or without endoscopic ultrasound. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the indications, complications, success rate, and the importance of assessment of main pancreatic duct integrity by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in patients with IPN. METHODS: Records of all patients who underwent endoscopic necrosectomy from January 2002 to December 2007 at Rio de Janeiro Federal University Hospital were reviewed. A total of 56 patients were included. ED was performed using daily transmural and transpapillary drainage. A diagnostic pancreatogram (ERP) to search for communications between the pancreatic duct and the collection were performed in all cases and in cases where communication existed. A pre-cut needle knife was used to puncture the cyst wall, aspirate the content and then enter at the cyst cavity (contrast was injected to ensure opacification of the cyst and subsequent drainage). Sphincterotomy catheter or balloons were used to enlarge and ensure a wide cystoenterostomy. All patients were followed with computerized tomography scans or ultrasound to ensure clinical resolution. Mean follow-up was 21 months. RESULTS: 49/56 patients could be successfully treated. ED was successful in 49 patients (87%) and in 3 (13%) it failed. Mean follow-up was 21 months. During this period, there were 2 (10.5%) pseudocyst recurrences and only 1 (5.2%) recurrence of new episodes of pancreatic necrosis, and all were managed clinically and/or endoscopically. No mortality was related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: ED with daily necrosectomy is a useful method to remove infected and sterile pancreatic necrosis.

Pancreatic carcinomas smaller than 3.0 cm: endosonography (EUS) in diagnosis, staging and prediction of resectability.

BACKGROUND: The size of a pancreatic carcinoma determines prognosis and resection. The aim of this study was to review our clinical experience with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in diagnosing and staging pancreatic tumours <3.0 in diameter. METHODS: From February 1997 to October 2000 medical records and results of abdominal ultrasound (US), spiral computed tomography (CT) and EUS with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) were reviewed in 17 patients operated for histologically proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma measuring

Endosonography-guided celiac plexus neurolysis in the treatment of pain secondary to acute intermittent porphyria.

Acute intermittent porphyria is a metabolic error transmitted as an autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetrance. Its clinical picture includes intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with or without neurological changes. We report the case of a young woman whose pain attacks were controlled with high-dose opiates, in whom we decided to perform endosonography-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN). This is the first reported attempt with this new treatment option. There was significant clinical and nutritional improvement after treatment.

Role of EUS in the preoperative localization of insulinomas compared with spiral CT.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative radiologic localization of insulinomas often fails because of the small size of these tumors. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can localize insulinomas in up to 80% of the cases. The aim of this study was to compare EUS and computed tomography (CT) diagnostic accuracy for insulinomas. METHODS: We reviewed medical records from 12 patients (10 women) with a biochemical diagnosis of hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinism from 1 university hospital and 1 community hospital. A diagnosis of insulinoma was ultimately made in all cases and before surgery the patients underwent abdominal US, spiral CT and EUS in an attempt to precisely localize the tumor. Surgery was considered the standard for tumor localization. RESULTS: Ten tumors were benign (83.3%) and 2 were malignant (16.7%). The overall sensitivity of EUS in identifying insulinomas was 83.3% compared with 16.7% for CT. Tumors not detected by EUS had a mean size of 0.75 cm. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration was possible in only 3 patients, with a positive cytologic diagnosis in 2 (66.6%). Tumors located in the head and body of the pancreas were identified by EUS in all patients, but those located in the tail were diagnosed in only 50% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is superior to spiral CT and should replace it for the detection of pancreatic insulinomas. EUS identification depends on the site and size of the tumor.

Pancreatic pseudocysts transpapillary and transmural drainage.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocyst endoscopic drainage has been described as a good treatment option, with morbidity and mortality rates that are lower than surgery. The aim of our study is to describe the efficacy of different forms of endoscopic drainage and estimate pseudocyst recurrence rate after short follow up period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 30 patients with pancreatic pseudocyst that presented some indication for treatment: persistent abdominal pain, infection or cholestasis. Clinical evaluation was performed with a pain scale, 0 meaning absence of pain and 4 meaning continuous pain. Pseudocysts were first evaluated by abdominal CT scan, and after endoscopic retrograde pancreatography the patients were treated by transpapillary or transmural (cystduodenostomy or cystgastrostomy) drainage. Pseudocyst resolution was documented by serial CT scans. RESULTS: 25/30 patients could be treated. Drainage was successful in 21 (70% in an 'intention to treat' basis). After a mean follow-up of 42 +/- 35.82 weeks, there was only 1 (4.2%) recurrence. A total of 6 complications occurred in 37 procedures (16.2%), and all but 2 were managed clinically and/or endoscopically: there was no mortality related to the procedure. Patients submitted to combined drainage needed more procedures than the other groups. There was no difference in the efficacy when we compared the three different drainage methods. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that pancreatic pseudocyst endoscopic drainage is possible in most patients, with high success rate and low morbidity.

Echoendoscopic evaluation of botulinum toxin intrasphincteric injections in Chagas' disease achalasia.

Botulinum toxin (BT) has recently been indicated as an alternative treatment of idiopathic achalasia with a success rate of 60-70%. One-third of BT-treated cases either fail to respond or fail to sustain the response beyond 6 months. An explanation for BT therapeutic failure would be that the lower esophageal sphincter muscular layer (LES) may be missed as injection is delivered 'blindly'. We aimed to evaluate the percentage of exact endoscopically 'blind' LES punctures using echoendoscopy after the injection of BT for the treatment of Chagas' achalasia (CA). Five patients with CA (mean age 53 years) were randomized to receive 1.2 ml of BT or the same amount of saline injected endoscopically. Echoendoscopy was performed immediately after puncture. Patients were evaluated by the clinical score of dysphagia, radiological examination, upper endoscopy and esophageal manometry and followed up for 6 months. All puncture sites were identified: 17 out of 20 (85%) in the muscle layer and 3 out of 20 (15%) in the submucosa. The three patients in the treatment group showed clinical improvement (average clinical score fell from 14 to 2 after 7 days, and remained at 4 after 6 months of follow-up). The mean pressure of the LES dropped by 29%. Neither patient in the placebo group showed clinical improvement, and the mean pressure of the LES increased by 35%. Endoscopic 'blind' injection of BT into the LES through endoscopy for the management of achalasia is a safe and reproducible technique and has a high percentage of exactness.

Transcolonoscopic extraperitoneal cecostomy. A new therapeutic and technical proposal.

The authors propose a new technique of decompression of the colon consisting in percutaneous cecostomy with previous extraperitonization of the cecum under colonoscopic orientation. The technique permits decompression of the entire colon through the insertion of a ceco-anal multiperforated Levine tube on withdrawing the colonoscope. It is a new therapeutic choice for the treatment of the Ogilvie syndrome, toxic megacolon and other morbid entities, which may permit the performance of the procedure and require decompression of the colon, which proved to be extremely effective in the treatment of a patient with the Ogilvie syndrome.