[Endoscopic therapy for pancreatitis in children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Interventional Endoscopy

Background:

• Pancreatitis in children can stem from diverse causes, including genetic predisposition, anatomical variations like pancreas divisum, and complications such as pseudocysts.
• Traditional surgical interventions for complicated pancreatitis may carry significant risks for pediatric patients.

Observation:

• Three pediatric cases of pancreatitis were managed using therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
• Case 1 involved familial pancreatitis treated with sphincterotomy and gallstone removal.
• Case 2, secondary to pancreas divisum, was managed with sphincterotomy and stenting.
• Case 3, severe pancreatitis with a pseudocyst, underwent drainage followed by sphincterotomy, pancreatic duct dilation, and gallstone removal.

Findings:

• Therapeutic ERCP demonstrated efficacy in addressing the underlying causes of pancreatitis in all three pediatric patients.
• Specific interventions included sphincterotomy, lithiasis extraction, stenting, and pseudocyst drainage.
• Successful outcomes suggest ERCP's utility in managing complex pediatric pancreatitis.

Implications:

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) presents a valuable, minimally invasive therapeutic alternative to surgery for complicated pediatric pancreatitis.
• These findings support the expanded use of ERCP in pediatric gastroenterology for managing challenging pancreatitis cases.
• Further research can explore long-term outcomes and refine ERCP protocols for pediatric pancreatitis.