Catheter drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts into the stomach.

This paper reports on the technique and results of cystogastric catheter drainage, as described by Hancke, in eight patients with post-acute pseudocysts, and in one patient with acute necrotising pancreatitis. With this procedure, the catheter is passed, under gastroscopic and ultrasonographic control, percutaneously through the stomach into the pseudocyst in such a manner that the contents of the cyst drain into the stomach. Too small a residual stomach following surgery, and too small, or immature, cysts, represent the limitations of the technique. In five patients, complete, lasting emptying of the cyst was accomplished without any complications. The intervention can be carried out under local anesthesia.