Editorial
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2007; 13(45): 5971-5978
Published online Dec 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i45.5971
Endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement for inflammatory pancreatic diseases
Pier Alberto Testoni
Pier Alberto Testoni, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan 20132, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Pier Alberto Testoni, MD, Head, Division of Gastroenterology & Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vita-Salute San Raffaele Unversity - Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, Milan 20132, Italy. testoni.pieralberto@hsr.it
Telephone: +39-2-26432756 Fax: +39-2-26433491
Received: December 1, 2006
Revised: September 12, 2007
Accepted: October 21, 2007
Published online: December 7, 2007
Abstract

The role of endoscopic therapy in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuously evolving; at present most pathological conditions of the pancreas are successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), or both. Endoscopic placement of stents has played and still plays a major role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreas divisum, main pancreatic duct injuries, pancreatic fistulae, complications of acute pancreatitis, recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, and in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. These stents are currently routinely placed to reduce intraductal hypertension, bypass obstructing stones, restore lumen patency in cases with dominant, symptomatic strictures, seal main pancreatic duct disruption, drain pseudocysts or fluid collections, treat symptomatic major or minor papilla sphincter stenosis, and prevent procedure-induced acute pancreatitis. The present review aims at updating and discussing techniques, indications, and results of endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pancreas.

Keywords: Chronic pancreatitis; Pancreas divisum; Pancreatic pseudocyst; Pancreatic fistulas; Idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis; Main pancreatic duct stenting; Pancreatic dorsal duct stenting