Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory process characterized by irreversible morphological changes in the pancreas. Pain is the predominant symptom observed during the course of CP. The etiopathogenesis of pain in CP is multifactorial and includes ductal hypertension due to obstruction of the pancreatic duct (PD), neuropathic causes, and extrapancreatic complications of CP like pseudocyst and distal biliary obstruction. A sizeable proportion of patients with CP are amenable to endoscopic treatment. The mainstay of endotherapy includes decompression of PD with one or more plastic stents in those with stricture, and fragmentation of PD calculi using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Nearly two-thirds of the patients achieve pain relief in the long term with endotherapy. Upfront assessment for the suitability of endotherapy is paramount to achieve the best outcomes. The predictors of poor response to endotherapy include multifocal disease, like those with multifocal strictures or multiple calculi throughout the pancreas, or a combination of both PD strictures and stones. With the emerging use of covered metal stents, the outcomes are likely to improve in cases with refractory PD strictures as well as CP-related distal biliary obstruction. The optimum stent design and indwell time of metal stents in cases with refractory PD strictures need further evaluation. Endoscopic ultrasonography has emerged as a complementary endoscopic modality in the management of CP as well as associated complications like pseudocysts, refractory pain, and vascular complications.

Keywords: chronic pancreatitis; endoscopy; extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy; stent; stricture.