Endoscopic stenting for pain relief in chronic pancreatitis: results of a standardized protocol

Pancreatic endoscopic stenting aims to relieve abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis. Optimal treatment modalities and post-treatment effects have still to be determined. The object of this study was to investigate the results of a standardized protocol of endoscopic stenting.

Twenty-three patients with abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis and stricture of the distal main pancreatic duct were treated according to the following protocol: after balloon dilation of the stenosis, a 10F stent was placed into the main pancreatic duct and then exchanged every 2 months, the total duration of drainage being 6 months.

Use of analgesics could be discontinued in 17 patients (74%) on termination of drainage, and in 12 patients (52%) 1 year later. These results were significantly associated with reduction of main pancreatic duct diameter and resolution of stricture, but were not influenced by abstinence from alcohol and pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

Pancreatic duct stenting results in short-term clinical improvement in patients with chronic pancreatitis and proximal main pancreatic duct stricture. Persistence of advantageous clinical results is to be expected in 50% of cases and when strictures have resolved.