Long-term results of pancreatic stents in chronic pancreatitis☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this retrospective study, we included all patients with (1) chronic pancreatitis and persistent pain, (2) dominant strictures and proximal dilation of the pancreatic duct, and (3) an attempt to insert a pancreatic stent between 1982 and 1993. Approximately 19,000 ERCPs were performed during this interval.
The total number of patients was 51 (35 men and 16 women with a median age of 45 years [range 8 to 78 years]). Patients were diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis for a period ranging between
Evaluation and follow-up
The median period of follow-up after stent insertion in the period between 1982 and 1993 was 34 months (range 6 to 128). Fig. 3 shows the clinical outcome and follow-up of pancreatic stenting in 49 patients. During stenting, 40 of the 49 patients had clinical improvement. Of these 40 patients, 20 were completely asymptomatic. Nine of the 49 patients had no clinical
DISCUSSION
Patients with chronic pancreatitis and pain are usually treated with analgesics, oral pancreatic enzyme therapy, abstinence from alcohol, a low-fat diet, and small-volume meals, but these measures are often only partially successful in relieving pain. Enthusiasm for the application of pancreatic drainage procedures should be tempered by the knowledge that the cause of pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis may be multifactorial. Some investigators have advocated avoiding invasive measures
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mrs. G.E.E. van Noppen.
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Cited by (0)
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From the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Department of Gastroenterology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Reprint requests: Marianne E. Smits, MD, Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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