EUS-guided drainage is more successful in pancreatic pseudocysts compared with abscesses

To compare the results for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage of clear fluid pancreatic pseudocysts with the results for abscess drainage.

All patients referred for endoscopic drainage of a fluid collection were prospectively included. The outcome was recorded.

Altogether 26 pseudocysts or abscesses were treated in 25 (6 female) patients. One endoscopist performed the procedures. Non-infected pseudocysts were present in 15 patients and 10 patients had infected fluid collections. The cyst size ranged between 28 cm × 13 cm and 5 cm × 5 cm. The EUS drainage was successful in 94% of the pseudocysts and in 80% of the abscesses (P = 0.04). The complication rate in pseudocysts was 6% and in abscesses was 30% (P = 0.02). Recurrence of a pseudocyst occurred in one patient (4%) after 6 mo; the patient was successfully retreated.

EUS-guided drainage of pseudocysts is associated with a higher success rate and a lower complication rate compared with abscess drainage.