Percutaneous treatment for symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts: Long-term results in a single center

The aim of the study was to present and evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in the treatment of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts (PPC).

We performed a retrospective analysis of 128 patients with 140 PPC treated by PCD from 01/01/1989 to 12/31/2008. All procedures were performed under ultrasound control. Surgical treatment was planned only in patients with failed PCD. The patients were followed up monthly with sonography for 12 months. The primary outcome was conversion rate to surgery. Secondary outcomes were disappearance of PPC, requirement for additional treatment, length of hospital stay, and catheter dwell time.

During the follow-up, 42 of the 140 cysts (30%) recurred. 19/42 cysts were small and they were followed up without intervention and 23/42 cysts required further intervention. These patients were offered a second attempt but 5 patients declined it and they chose to undergo surgery. The remaining 18 patients underwent second PCD and 10 of them developed recurrence. All of them underwent third PCD and 6 of the 10 patients developed recurrences. Four and 2 of them necessitated surgery and follow-up, respectively. In total, 9 of the 128 patients (7%) underwent surgery during the study period. Medians (interquartile ranges) of hospital stay and catheter dwell time were 19 (14-23) and 23 (15-43) days, respectively. There were no complications related to the procedure.

PCD is a safe and effective management for PPC, with low recurrence rates and complication rate and it can eliminate the need for surgery in majority of patients with PPC.