Endoscopic management of pancreatic fluid collections

Abstract

Pancreatitis, both acute and chronic, can lead on to various types of fluid collections that include pseudocysts, organized or walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), and pancreatic abscess and these have been traditionally treated by surgery. The advancement in the endoscopic technology and instruments including the availability of therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has opened up an era of minimally invasive, safe and effective endoscopic drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC). Endoscopic drainage is to be done only in symptomatic patients and it can be accomplished either through the transpapillary, transmural, or using a combination of these two routes. The decision to use one approach over the other depends on the size of the PFC, its proximity to the stomach or duodenum, presence of solid necrotic debris and the ability to enter the pancreatic duct and/or reach the area of disruption. EUS guided drainage should be considered in patients with non-bulging fluid collections, high pretest probability of bleeding, prior failed transmural entry using non-EUS guided technique and, collections inaccessible by standard technique like those located at the tail end of the pancreas.