[Pancreatic duct stenting in acute severe pancreatitis]

To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic retrograde stenting of the pancreatic duct for acute severe pancreatitis.

We analyzed 94 patients with acute severe pancreatitis who underwent surgery (n=87, 92.6%) and endoscopic retrograde pancreatic stenting (n=28, 29.8%). The first group included 15 patients (16%) after pancreatic duct stenting in aseptic phase of acute pancreatitis. The second group enrolled 13 patients (13.8%) who underwent pancreatic duct stenting in the phase of sequestration and infection. The third group consisted of 66 patients (70.2%) after open surgery without pancreatic duct stenting.

In the 1^st group, we recanalized the necrosis zone up to distal pancreas via stenting. Infection was detected in 14 out of 15 patients. Surgical treatment was performed in 13 patients (13.8%). In the second group, pancreatic duct stenting was carried out in the phase of infected pancreatitis. We applied stenting to block the area of duct destruction or restore outflow in case of distal defect. No infection was observed in 1 out of 13 patients. Pancreatic duct stenting was not performed in 66 patients of the third group. Surgical treatment was performed in 59 patients (62.8%). In general, 11 of 94 patients (11.7%) were free from infection.

Better postoperative outcomes were observed in patients with damage to pancreatic duct, pancreatic drainage through percutaneous drains installed at the first stage of treatment. Early pancreatic duct stenting did not lead to significant improvement in treatment outcomes.