Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2010; 16(39): 4888-4891
Published online Oct 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i39.4888
Role of endoscopic ultrasound during hospitalization for acute pancreatitis
Vikram Kotwal, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Michael Levy, Santhi Swaroop Vege
Vikram Kotwal, Department of Medicine, John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
Rupjyoti Talukdar, Michael Levy, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Author contributions: Kotwal V and Talukdar R conducted the literature search and prepared the rough manuscript; Levy M and Vege SS revised the manuscript critically.
Correspondence to: Santhi Swaroop Vege, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. vege.santhi@mayo.edu
Telephone: +1-507-2842478 Fax: +1-507-2660350
Received: April 7, 2010
Revised: May 11, 2010
Accepted: May 18, 2010
Published online: October 21, 2010
Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often used to detect the cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) after the acute attack has subsided. The limited data on its role during hospitalization for AP are reviewed here. The ability of EUS to visualize the pancreas and bile duct, the sonographic appearance of the pancreas, correlation of such appearance to clinical outcomes and the impact on AP management are analyzed from studies. The most important indication for EUS appears to be for detection of suspected common bile duct and/or gall bladder stones and microlithiasis. Such an approach might avoid diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography with its known complications. The use of EUS during hospitalization for AP still appears to be infrequent but may become more frequent in future.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis, Endoscopic ultrasound, Acute biliary pancreatitis, Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, Idiopathic pancreatitis