Stopgap Measures for Obesity Prior to Surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The data on preventive measures for managing obesity prior to surgery is limited. This review highlights the role of stopgap measures for managing obesity before surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: Body weight regulation to achieve sustainable weight loss is a gradual process. Regular aerobic exercises, transformative yoga and restrained eating can contribute to a calorie deficit. Behavioural strategies aim to raise awareness, set goals, manage stress, and support adherence to healthier lifestyles. Pharmacotherapy can be adjunctive in inducing weight loss but could be better at maintaining weight. Intragastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty are restrictive procedures for patients before surgery. Obesity is a multifaceted chronic disease with adverse health consequences. There is a need to identify contributors to weight gain and treatment should target the cause of obesity. Utilize stop-gap measures and monitor progress for step-up or more intensive treatment. Structured weight loss needs lifelong commitment.

Tips and Thought Processes to Overcome Difficult Situations in Third Space Endoscopy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Third space endoscopy (TSE) offers diverse treatment options for a variety of conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and motility disorders. Accuracy and precise dissection have helped treat complex conventional surgeries with TSE. Despite over a decade of its presence, difficult situations are routinely encountered. RECENT FINDINGS: The first challenging situation is decision-making (before the procedure), the second is tackling procedure-induced pulmonary / insufflation-related adverse events and intra-operative complications (during the procedure), and the third is post-operative complications and morbidity (post-procedure). The performance of TSE procedures is not without risk. Patients should receive enough time to weigh their options, considering that attitudes toward risk impact decision-making. Continuous basic patient monitoring and the micro-movements of endoscopic and electrosurgical equipment is crucial to avoid accidental injury. Anaesthetists should be mindful of anticipated complications and closely monitor, diagnose, and treat them. Demanding situations need careful consideration, problem-solving, or persistence to overcome challenges. This brief review provides inputs on preventing and tackling difficult situations in TSE.

Endoscopic full-thickness plication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux after peroral endoscopic myotomy: a randomized sham-controlled study.

BACKGROUND : Endoscopic full-thickness plication (EFTP) has shown promising results in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but its efficacy in GERD after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is unclear. METHODS : In a prospective, randomized trial of post-POEM patients dependent on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for documented GERD, patients underwent EFTP (plication to remodel the gastroesophageal flap valve) or an endoscopic sham procedure (positioning of the EFTP device, but no stapling). The primary end point was improvement in acid exposure time (AET) < 6 % (3 months). Secondary end points included improvement in esophagitis (3 months), GERD Questionnaire (GERDQ) score (3 and 6 months), and PPI usage (6 months). RESULTS : 60 patients were randomized (30 in each group). At 3 months, a significantly higher proportion of patients achieved improvement in AET < 6 % in the EFTP group compared with the sham group (69.0 % [95 %CI 52.1-85.8] vs. 10.3 % [95 %CI 0-21.4], respectively). EFTP was statistically superior to sham (within-group analysis) in improving esophageal AET, DeMeester Score, and all reflux episodes (P < 0.001). A nonsignificant improvement in esophagitis was noted in the EFTP group (P = 0.14). Median GERDQ scores (3 months) were significantly better (P < 0.001) in the EFTP group, and the same trend continued at 6 months. A higher proportion of patients in the sham group continued to use PPIs (72.4 % [95 %CI 56.1-88.7] vs. 27.6 % [95 %CI 11.3-43.8]). There were no major adverse events in either group. CONCLUSION : EFTP improved post-POEM GERD symptoms, 24-hour pH impedance findings with normalization in one-third, and reduced PPI usage at 6 months.

Advances in the Management of Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The data on recent advances in managing chronic pancreatitis (CP) pain is limited. This review highlights the role of endotherapy and the advances in the overall management of pain in CP. RECENT FINDINGS: Of late, pancreatic biodegradable stents have been used in endotherapy with appreciable success. These include slow, medium, and fast degrading stents, which optimize the overall management of CP and could prevent the need for multiple procedures. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block is reserved in selected patients to treat debilitating pain. Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation in small duct disease has shown promising results. The indications for treating pain in CP with endoscopy and surgery need to be better defined. The complexity of pain control due to the incomplete understanding of pathomorphology makes the management of CP challenging. The current treatment methods are still evolving. Therapy aims to reduce pain, optimize recovery, maintain quality of life, and meet postoperative needs. Initial management includes lifestyle modification, nutrition optimization, risk factor reduction with abstinence from alcohol, cessation of tobacco and smoking. Supportive medical management involves the judicial use of analgesics, neuromodulators, antioxidants, pancreatic enzyme replacement for insufficiency, and diabetes management. Patients with intractable pain are ideal for therapeutic intervention. Being less invasive with an acceptable complication rate makes endotherapy the preferred first-line treatment. If found to be cost-effective, biodegradable stents can reduce the overall cost. Unfortunately, if patients remain symptomatic, surgery is preferred in case of failure or recurrence. For optimal results, appropriate patient selection is vital to maximizing outcomes.

Consensus guidelines on the role of cholangioscopy to diagnose indeterminate biliary stricture.

BACKGROUND: Indeterminate strictures pose a therapeutic dilemma. In recent years, cholangioscopy has evolved and the availability of cholangioscopy has increased. However, the position of cholangioscopy in the diagnostic algorithm to diagnose malignancy have not been well established. We aim to develop a consensus statement regarding the clinical role of cholangioscopy in the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures. METHODS: The international experts reviewed the evidence and modified the statements using a three-step modified Delphi method. Each statement achieves consensus when it has at least 80% agreement. RESULTS: Nine final statements were formulated. An indeterminate biliary stricture is defined as that of uncertain etiology under imaging or tissue diagnosis. When available, cholangioscopic assessment and guided biopsy during the first round of ERCP may reduce the need to perform multiple procedures. Cholangioscopy are helpful in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures by both direct visualization and targeted biopsy. The absence of disease progression for at least 6 months is supportive of non-malignant etiology. Direct per-oral cholangioscopy provides the largest accessory channel, better image definition, with image enhancement but is technically demanding. Image enhancement during cholangioscopy may increase the diagnostic sensitivity of visual impression of malignant biliary strictures. Cholangioscopic imaging characteristics including tumor vessels, papillary projection, nodular or polypoid mass, and infiltrative lesions are highly suggestive for neoplastic/malignant biliary disease. The risk of cholangioscopy related cholangitis is higher than in standard ERCP, necessitating prophylactic antibiotics and ensuring adequate biliary drainage. Per-oral cholangioscopy may not be the modality of choice in the evaluation of distal biliary strictures due to inherent technical difficulties. CONCLUSION: Evidence supports that cholangioscopy has an adjunct role to abdominal imaging and ERCP tissue acquisition in order to evaluate and diagnose indeterminate biliary strictures.

Early outcomes of peroral endoscopic myotomy with fundoplication for achalasia cardia - Is it here to stay?

BACKGROUND: Peroral endoscopic myotomy with fundoplication (POEM-F) has garnered widespread attention since it tries to achieve an appropriate antireflux procedure during the same setting. The outcomes of POEM-F are currently unexplored. METHODS: Patients who underwent POEM-F at our center were retrospectively studied to assess its safety and early outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty patients [70% male; median age 32 years (range 25-41)], with a median symptom duration of 2.1 years (range 1.5-3.7) with achalasia were included. POEM-F procedure was completed in a median of 118 min (range 90-160), with 17/20 (85%) technical success. The median hospitalization was 4 days (range 2-7). Capnothorax (n = 3), resolved spontaneously (n = 2) in 4-6 h, while in one patient (n = 1) the endoscope inadvertently entered into the thoracic cavity for which prophylactic intercostal drain was required. Capnoperitoneum was seen in 17/17 (100%) patients who underwent fundoplication, subcutaneous emphysema in 8/17 (47%) patients. At 1-month follow-up endoscopy, 5/17 (29.4%) patients had loosening of the fundal wrap, 3/17 (17.6%) patients had ulceration in fundus and in gastroesophageal junction due to underlying hemoclips. At 3 months, loosening of the fundal wrap was seen in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. A 24-h pH-metry revealed abnormal esophageal acid exposure in 7/17 (41.2%) patients, while it was normal in those patients in whom the fundal wrap was maintained. 10/17 (58.8%) patients were off proton pump inhibitors. CONCLUSION: POEM-F is technically feasible with reasonable short term success. However, the durability, early success and safety of POEM-F need reassessment in long-term studies before being applied in clinical practice.

Recovery of endoscopy services in the era of COVID-19: recommendations from an international Delphi consensus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on provision of endoscopy services globally as staff and real estate were repurposed. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, a cohesive international approach is needed, and guidance on how to resume endoscopy services safely to avoid unintended harm from diagnostic delays. The aim of these guidelines is to provide consensus recommendations that clinicians can use to facilitate the swift and safe resumption of endoscopy services. An evidence-based literature review was carried out on the various strategies used globally to manage endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and control infection. A modified Delphi process involving international endoscopy experts was used to agree on the consensus statements. A threshold of 80% agreement was used to establish consensus for each statement. 27 of 30 statements achieved consensus after two rounds of voting by 34 experts. The statements were categorised as pre-endoscopy, during endoscopy and postendoscopy addressing relevant areas of practice, such as screening, personal protective equipment, appropriate environments for endoscopy and infection control precautions, particularly in areas of high disease prevalence. Recommendations for testing of patients and for healthcare workers, appropriate locations of donning and doffing areas and social distancing measures before endoscopy are unique and not dealt with by any other guidelines. This international consensus using a modified Delphi method to produce a series of best practice recommendations to aid the safe resumption of endoscopy services globally in the era of COVID-19.

Using single-operator cholangioscopy for endoscopic evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures: results from a large multinational registry.

BACKGROUND: Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) of indeterminate biliary strictures aims to achieve a diagnosis through visual examination and/or by obtaining targeted biopsies under direct visualization. In this large, prospective, multinational, real-life experience of POCS-guided evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures, we evaluated the performance of POCS in this difficult-to-manage patient population. METHODS: This prospective registry enrolled patients, with indeterminate biliary strictures across 20 centers in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The primary end points were the ability to visualize the lesion, obtain histological sampling when intended, and an assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of POCS for malignant strictures. Patients were followed for 6 months after POCS or until a definitive malignant diagnosis was made, whichever occurred first. RESULTS: 289 patients underwent 290 POCS procedures with intent to biopsy in 182 cases. The stricture/filling defect was successfully visualized in 286/290 (98.6 %), providing a visual diagnostic impression in 253/290 (87.2 %) and obtaining adequate biopsies in 169/182 (92.9 %). Procedure-related adverse events occurred in 5/289 patients (1.7 %). POCS influenced patient management principally by elucidating filling defects or the causes of bile duct stricture or dilation. The visual impression of malignancy showed 86.7 % sensitivity, 71.2 % specificity, 65.8 % positive and 89.4 % negative predictive value, and 77.2 % overall accuracy compared with final diagnosis. Histological POCS-guided samples showed 75.3 % sensitivity, 100 % specificity, 100 % positive and 77.1 % negative predictive value, and 86.5 % overall accuracy. CONCLUSION: In this large, real-life, prospective series, POCS was demonstrated to be an effective and safe intervention guiding the management of patients with indeterminate biliary strictures.

Six-year retrospective analysis of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic ductal interventions at a tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic ductal intervention (EUS-PDI) serves as a rescue therapy in patients with failure of retrograde access to the pancreatic duct (PD) at the time of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). We review our experience of this procedure. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent EUS-PDI for an unsuccessful ERP and altered anatomy. RESULTS: A total of 44 (65.9% male) patients underwent EUS-PDI with a mean age of 43.5 years, (range: 23-67). Transgastric rendezvous technique was carried out in 23/44 (52.3%), transgastric pancreaticogastrostomy in 18/44 (40.9%) and transduodenal pancreaticobulbostomy in 3/44 (6.8%). Overall technical and clinical success was seen in 88.6% (39/44) and 81.8% (36/44), respectively. Technical success of transgastric rendezvous was 95.6% and that of transgastric pancreaticogastrostomy was 77.8%. Two of seven patients with failure to access the PD had successfully undergone EUS-PD stenting at subsequent attempt. Ten immediate adverse events (AE) were noted which included abdominal pain (n = 4), pancreatitis (n = 2), fever (n = 2), minor bleeding (n = 1), and stripping of wire (n = 1). Delayed AE included stent blockage in 12/39 (30.8%) and spontaneous stent migration in 5/39 (12.8%) which were managed with stent exchange at follow up. The rendezvous technique was associated with fewer AE than transgastric pancreaticogastrostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ultrasonography-PDI is an effective treatment modality and salvage therapy in patients with unsuccessful ERP. Technical and clinical success seen with this study is comparable to studies conducted across the world. EUS-PDI needs to show cost-effectiveness in future studies.

Feasibility and outcomes of anti-reflux mucosectomy for proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease: First Indian study (with video).

BACKGROUND: Anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARMS) is a newfangled minimally invasive technique, with successful outcomes for the management of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). We present our initial experience (success rate) and safety profile for this procedure. METHODS: Consecutive patients with daily dependence on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for GER were prospectively enrolled from September 2016 to August 2019 and underwent ARMS using a cap assisted endoscopic mucosal resection. Severity was assessed by gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire. Gastroscopy and 24-h pH-metry was done pre and post procedure. Patient characteristics, PPI requirement, adverse events and follow-up were documented. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients [44 (71%) male] underwent successful ARMS with a mean age (SD) of 36 (9.9) years. Technical success was achieved in 100 % of patients. Intraoperative bleeding was noted in 62 (100%) patients, endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved. At follow-up dysphagia was seen in 5 (8%) patients which needed a single session of endoscopic dilation. At 2 months, mean (SD) DeMeester score normalized in 45 (72.5%) patients from 76.8 (18.3) to 14.3 (6.1) (P < 0.001). PPI could be stopped in 43 (69.4%) patients. The mean (SD) GERD-Q score reduced from 10.6 (1.9) to 3.4 (1.5) (P < 0.001). However, in 12 (19.3%) patients low dose of PPIs was continued, while 7 (11.3%) patients continued full dose. Thirty-eight (61.3%) patients telephonically reported symptomatic improvement and were off PPIs at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-reflux mucosectomy is safe and effective for treatment of GER. The long term outcomes are favorable, response is durable and promising at our center. Appropriate patient selection still remains primal to the overall success of ARMS.

An Indian Experience of Endoscopic Treatment of Obesity by Using a Novel Technique of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (Accordion Procedure).

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic Sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a novel minimally invasive endoscopic restrictive bariatric procedure. We studied the safety, effectiveness, 6-month weight loss outcomes of ESG. METHODS: We prospectively collected data for patients undergoing ESG at a tertiary care referral center. Laboratory investigations were performed preoperatively, and at 6 months post-operatively. Anthropometric measurements were noted pre and post-operatively at a frequency of 3 months for a 6-month follow-up. Patients with BMI ≥28 kg/m2 who were ready for multidisciplinary follow up for at least 6 months were part of the study. Weight was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months' post procedure, and percent of total weight loss (%TWL) and percent of extra weight loss (% EWL) was calculated. Adverse events and new-onset symptoms were recorded. RESULTS: This prospective study included 58 patients, [55(94.8%)females] who underwent ESG (Jun 2018 - July 2019) using the Over Stitch device (Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., Austin, Texas, US). Mean age was 42.1 years (range 23-53) and mean BMI (kg/m2) was 37.88 (range 28.4-42.9). A median of 5 plications (range 4-6) were used to provide a tubular restriction to the gastric cavity. Mean procedural time (min) was 55 (Range 45 - 86). The mean (±SD) weight reduced significantly from baseline of 98.3±20.4 to 81.8±19.1 at 6 months (p<0.001). The mean BMI reduced significantly from baseline of 37.88±5.76 to 31.37±5.23 at 6months (p<0.001). The mean % of TWL was 8.8 (5.6-16.1), 12.6(10.4-19.1) and 17.1 (11.2-24.1) at 1, 3 and 6 months respectively. The % of EWL was 21.3(12.3-34.3), 30.5(17.7-45.6) and 42.8 (24.5-61.9) at 1, 3 and 6 months respectively. No major complications developed, and patients were discharged on postoperative day 2 (+4 days). Nausea 29 (50%) and moderate to severe abdominal pain 14 (24.1%) were the most common adverse events, treated conservatively. Stitch loosening was noted in 1(1.7%) patient at third month who underwent resuturing. CONCLUSIONS: ESG appears safe and effective in treating obesity at our center. Mindfulness to reduction in %TWL, %EWL and BMI are critical in evaluating the initial success of ESG. Long term follow-up is required to assess for its sustained effect. Further research into dietary and behavioral modifications with ESG is warranted.

Operative technical tricks and 12-month outcomes of diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy (D-POEM) in patients with symptomatic esophageal diverticula.

BACKGROUND: Submucosal tunneling diverticular septotomy by diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy (D-POEM) has emerged as an alternative to surgery for symptomatic esophageal diverticula, but its medium to long-term outcomes are currently unexplored. METHODS: D-POEM for patients with symptomatic esophageal diverticula was prospectively studied to assess its safety and the 12-month outcomes. RESULTS: 25 patients (72 % male; median age 61 years [range 48 - 88]) with a Zenker's diverticulum (n = 20) or epiphrenic diverticulum (n = 5) were included. Major indications were dysphagia, recurrent bronchoaspiration, and foreign body sensation in 20 patients (80 %), with a mean symptom duration of 2.5 years (range 1 - : 4). Complete submucosal tunneling septotomy was achieved in a mean of 36 minutes (range 25 - : 45), with 100 % technical success. The median hospitalization was 5 days (range 4 - : 10). The mean (standard deviation) Eckardt Score improved significantly from 13.2 (1.0) at baseline to 3.2 (1.4) at 12 months (P < 0.001) with clinical success in 19/22 patients (86 %) and no long-term adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: D-POEM appears safe and durable in patients with esophageal diverticula. Further multicenter studies with a larger patient cohort are warranted.

Cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy for difficult bile duct stone clearance in a single session of ERCP: results from a large multinational registry demonstrate high success rates.

BACKGROUND: Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) can be useful for difficult bile duct stone clearance. Large prospective multinational data on POCS-guided lithotripsy for clearing difficult bile duct stones in a single session of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are missing. METHODS: Patients with difficult bile duct stones (defined as one or more of: largest stone diameter ≥ 15 mm, failed prior attempt at stone clearance, impacted, multiple, hepatic duct location, or located above a stricture) were enrolled at 17 centers in 10 countries. The principal endpoint was stone clearance in a single ERCP procedure using POCS. RESULTS : 156 patients underwent 174 sessions of POCS-guided electrohydraulic or laser lithotripsy. Stone clearance had failed in a previous ERCP using traditional techniques in 124/156 patients (80 %), while 32 /156 patients (21 %) were referred directly to POCS-guided therapy based on preprocedural assessment of the difficulty of stone clearance. In 101/156 patients (65 %), there were impacted stones. POCS-guided stone clearance was achieved in a single POCS procedure in 125 /156 patients (80 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 73 % - 86 %), and was significantly more likely for stones ≤ 30 mm compared with > 30 mm (odds ratio 7.9, 95 %CI 2.4 - 26.2; P = 0.002). Serious adverse events occurred in 3/156 patients (1.9 %, 95 %CI 0.4 % - 5.5 %), and included pancreatitis, perforation due to laser lithotripsy, and cholangitis (n = 1 each), all resolved within 1 week. CONCLUSION: POCS-guided lithotripsy is highly effective for clearance of difficult bile duct stones in a single procedure and successfully salvages most prior treatment failures. It may also be considered first-line therapy for patients with difficult choledocholithiasis to avoid serial procedures.

Antireflux mucosectomy for managing reflux symptoms in an obese patient post laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective treatment modality for obesity. Commonest delayed complication post LSG is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GER). The prevalence of GER among obese patients is higher than normal individuals. Such patients need long term Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or antireflux procedures to manage reflux. Antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS) uses techniques of endoscopic mucosal resection to treat reflux for PPI refractory GER. However, it can be technically challenging to perform ARMS with a restricted stomach in patients who have undergone LSG. A 40-year-old female, hypertensive who had previously undergone LSG was treated for GER by a multidimensional approach with ARMS utilizing hypotensive anesthesia. The patient underwent the procedure successfully without any complication. She was discharged and at follow up visit, her reflux symptoms had improved and endoscopy was unremarkable. We describe this unusual case which was treated effectively with ARMS.

Feasibility of a complete pancreatobiliary linear endoscopic ultrasound examination from the stomach.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Linear endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) evaluation of the pancreaticobiliary system usually requires scanning from both the stomach and the duodenum. The feasibility of assessing the complete pancreaticobiliary system from the stomach alone has not been studied. We aimed to conceptualize a system-based approach (the railroad approach) for linear pancreaticobiliary EUS (PB-EUS) and evaluate whether the pancreaticobiliary anatomy could be assessed from the stomach alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three maneuvers were conceptualized and evaluated (the alpha maneuver in the stomach, and sigma and xi maneuvers in the duodenum). The maneuvers were prospectively evaluated in 100 consecutive patients requiring PB-EUS.  RESULTS: The median procedure time for the three maneuvers was significantly higher than that for the alpha maneuver alone (12 vs. 6 minutes; P ≤ 0.001). The visualization rate of the hilum and common hepatic duct was significantly higher from the stomach than from the duodenum (100 % vs. 83.5 %; P ≤ 0.001), while rates for the head of the pancreas (100 % vs 100 %) and uncinate process (100 % vs 100 %) did not differ. The suprapancreatic common bile duct (CBD; 92 % vs 100 %; P = 0.006), retropancreatic CBD (95 % vs 100 %; P = 0.06), and pancreatic duct in the head (94 % vs 100 %; P = 0.03) were not completely visualized from the stomach, because of pancreatic calcification or shadow from the ligaments. The EUS diagnosis made from the stomach and duodenum did not differ after excluding body and tail lesions (pancreatic head neoplasms, 100 % vs 100 %; CBD stone, 100 % vs 84.6 %; pancreatic cysts in the head, 83.3 % vs 83.3 %, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Adequate anatomical and diagnostic information on the pancreaticobiliary system may be acquired by EUS scanning from the stomach alone and with a shorter procedure time.

Early removal of biflanged metal stents in the management of pancreatic walled-off necrosis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Dedicated stents placed under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance have shown promise for the management of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON). A long duration of stent placement may increase the risk of adverse events. We prospectively evaluated the effects of (i) early removal of biflanged metal stents (BFMSs) and (ii) additional stenting of the pancreatic duct with plastic stents in patients with ductal leaks, on the risk of WON recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Symptomatic patients with pancreatic WON underwent EUS-guided BFMS placement, followed by necrosectomy, when required, from Day 3. A 5 Fr plastic stent was placed in patients with ductal leak. BFMS was removed when the WON cavity had collapsed completely. Patients were followed up at 3-month intervals. RESULTS: BFMS placement was successful in all 88 patients. A total of 64 patients (72.7 %) underwent necrosectomy (median 3 sessions). All BFMSs were removed at a median of 3.5 weeks (range 3 - 17 weeks). Ductal disconnection and leak occurred in 53/87 (60.9 %) and 61/87 (70.1 %) patients, respectively. A 5 Fr stent was placed in 56/61 patients (91.8 %) with ductal leak. Overall, 22 patients (25.0 %) had adverse events (17 mild, 1 moderate, 3 severe, 1 fatal). Recurrence was noted in 8/88 (9.1 %) at a median follow-up of 22 months. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with ductal disconnection than in those without (13.2 % vs. 2.9 %; P = 0.08), and was similar in patients with vs. without pancreatic duct stenting (7.1 % vs. 12.9 %; P = 0.44). Seven recurrences (87.5 %) partially regressed on follow-up and did not require therapy; in one case, drainage with a plastic stent was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term BFMS placement is an effective therapy for pancreatic WON. The majority of recurrences developed in patients with ductal disconnection and did not require therapy. Additional pancreatic duct stents probably do not influence the recurrence rate.