Pietro Gambitta1, Anna Maffioli2, Jean Spiropoulos2, Antonio Armellino3, Maurizio Vertemati4, Paolo Aseni5. 1. Endoscopy Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; Endoscopy Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. 2. Chirurgia Generale 1, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. 3. Endoscopy Division, Ospedale San Leopoldo Mandic di Merate, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy. 4. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche "L. Sacco", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 5. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche "L. Sacco", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Emergency Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: paoloaseni@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage is the preferred approach for drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) due to the better experience and significant progress using newer stents and access devices during last decade. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the evolving experience and possible influence of new technological devices on the outcome of patients evaluated for PFCs and submitted to EUS-guided drainage during two different periods: the early period at the beginning of experience when a standardized technique was used and the late period when the increased experience of the operator, combined with different stents quality were introduced in the management of PFCs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of a cohort of 91 consecutive patients, who underwent EUS-guided drainage of symptomatic PFCs from October 2001 to September 2017. Demographic, therapeutic results, complications, and outcomes were compared between early years' group (2001-2008) and late years' group (2009-2017). RESULTS: Endoscopic treatment was successfully achieved in 55.6% (20/36) of patients in the early years' group, and in 96.4% (53/55) in the late years' group. Eighteen patients (12 in early years' and 6 in the late year's group) required additional open surgery. Procedural complications were observed in 5 patients, 4 in early years' and 1 in late years' group. Mortality was registered in two patients (2.2%), one for each group. CONCLUSIONS: During our long-term survey using EUS-guided endoscopic drainage of PFCs, significantly better outcomes in term of improved success rate and decrease complications rate were observed during the late period.
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage is the preferred approach for drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) due to the better experience and significant progress using newer stents and access devices during last decade. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the evolving experience and possible influence of new technological devices on the outcome of patients evaluated for PFCs and submitted to EUS-guided drainage during two different periods: the early period at the beginning of experience when a standardized technique was used and the late period when the increased experience of the operator, combined with different stents quality were introduced in the management of PFCs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of a cohort of 91 consecutive patients, who underwent EUS-guided drainage of symptomatic PFCs from October 2001 to September 2017. Demographic, therapeutic results, complications, and outcomes were compared between early years' group (2001-2008) and late years' group (2009-2017). RESULTS: Endoscopic treatment was successfully achieved in 55.6% (20/36) of patients in the early years' group, and in 96.4% (53/55) in the late years' group. Eighteen patients (12 in early years' and 6 in the late year's group) required additional open surgery. Procedural complications were observed in 5 patients, 4 in early years' and 1 in late years' group. Mortality was registered in two patients (2.2%), one for each group. CONCLUSIONS: During our long-term survey using EUS-guided endoscopic drainage of PFCs, significantly better outcomes in term of improved success rate and decrease complications rate were observed during the late period.