Preliminary report on a new, fully covered, metal stent designed for the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic transluminal treatment of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC) has been reported as an effective alternative approach to surgical treatment. A wide, short stent with an anti-migration system has been developed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a newly developed, fully covered, self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) customized for cystogastrostomy. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary-care academic medical centers and affiliated hospitals. PATIENTS Nine patients who underwent endoscopic treatment of PFCs (5 with pseudocysts and 4 with walled-off pancreatic necrosis). INTERVENTION Stent deployment after endoscopic US-guided puncture. Irrigation and necrosectomy were performed at the discretion of the endoscopist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Technical and clinical success rate, complications, and removability. RESULTS: The FCSEMS was inserted successfully in all cases (9/9, 100%). Clinical success was achieved in 7 of 9 cases (77.8%). No early complications associated with the procedure were observed. Late complications were observed in 2 cases (bleeding and asymptomatic migration). The FCSEMS was removed without any complications in all 6 cases where it was attempted after the procedure had been completed (100%). LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective evaluation of a small number of cases. The FCSEMS was always inserted via the transgastric route. Follow-up duration was short. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic approach that uses this new FCSEMS is feasible for the treatment of PFCs. However, further evaluation is required.