[Endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts. An efficient and safe therapy in the clinical routine?]

Clinical studies have demonstrated excellent success and low complication rates of endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts. But it is not known, if these results can be reached in gastroenterological centers outside clinical studies.

We investigated the outcome of endoscopic therapy in 21 patients (15 male, 6 female, age 40 - 81) with pancreatic pseudocysts treated in our clinic between 1997 and 2002. A follow-up examination was included.

Similar to the results of reported clinical studies the initial clinical success rate was 18/21 with symptomatic recurrences in two patients. All therapy-induced complications were successfully treated conservatively.

Excellent results of endoscopic therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts can be reached in a gastroenterological center. Surgical treatment can be reserved for cases, when endoscopic therapy fails.