Preliminary experience with endoscopic stent placement in benign pancreatic diseases.

We treated 35 patients with endoscopic stent placement across the major or minor papilla in an attempt to relieve suspected partial obstruction to pancreatic duct drainage in patients with pancreatitis. The patients subsequently have been followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 3 years (mean, 14 months). Endoscopic stents were successfully placed across the minor papilla in 19 of 22 patients with pancreas divisum associated with acute recurrent pancreatitis (19) and severe abdominal pain (3). 17 patients had symptomatic improvement manifested by a decrease in frequency of attacks of pain and emergency admission. Stents were placed through the major papilla in 14 of 15 patients with recurrent pancreatitis related to a variety of causes. 8 of the 14 patients improved during the follow-up period, including 4 of 5 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis complicated by a segmental stricture.