Endoscopic biliary drainage in chronic pancreatitis.

Between April 1982 and March 1988, 25 patients with chronic pancreatitis presented with biliary stenosis and significant cholestasis. They were treated by endoprosthesis placement. Nineteen patients had jaundice, and, initially, seven had cholangitis (including three with hepatic abscesses). ERCP was successful in all 25 patients. Cholangitis, cholestasis, and jaundice resolved in all cases after stent placement. Two patients died in the 2 months after treatment. Complete follow-up (mean duration, 14 months, range 7 to 42 months) was available for 19 of the 23 remaining patients. Migration of the stent occurred in 10 patients and stent blockage in 8 patients, with relapsing cholestasis (N = 12), cholangitis (N = 4), or without symptoms (N = 2). Only three of these patients are now asymptomatic without a stent in place after 12 to 72 months. In all of the other cases, stents have been replaced or patients have been treated by surgery. We conclude that endoscopic biliary drainage is an effective treatment for resolving cholangitis or jaundice in patients with chronic pancreatitis and biliary stenosis, but that the results of definitive endoscopic drainage for these patients are less satisfactory because resolution of the stricture after removal of the stent is rarely obtained.