Systematic pancreatic stenting after endoscopic snare papillectomy may reduce the risk of postinterventional pancreatitis

Background: Pancreatitis is the most feared complication of endoscopic papillectomy (EP). Prevention by pancreatic duct stenting following EP has been advocated but not proven by a randomized trial. The purpose of the present retrospective review is to compare a period of systematic stenting with the period before in which stents were placed selectively. Methods: A total of 107 patients undergoing EP from February 1999 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. After an initial period with selective stenting (dilated duct, previous pancreatitis) between 1999 and 2002 (n = 24, group 1), stents were placed routinely after EP unless pancreas divisum was diagnosed (2002-2009; n = 83, group 2) to reduce postpapillectomy acute pancreatitis (PAP). PAP rates defined by Consensus Criteria were compared in the two periods. Results: Five patients in group 1 were selected to receive a pancreatic stent (21 %); in group 2 stenting was successful in 75 of 78 patients (success rate 96 %) without pancreas divisum (n = 5). Overall, PAP occurred in 11 % of patients. PAP rate was significantly reduced after introduction of systematic pancreatic stenting (5 vs 25 %; p = 0.01) and occurred less often in stented than in nonstented patients: (5 % (4/80) vs 27 % (6/22), p = 0.0019). PAP also occurred in one of five patients with pancreas divisum. Selective stenting of patients also was an independent risk factor for PAP (OR 13, p = 0.001) in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Attempts at systematic stenting after EP pancreatic stenting appears to prevent PAP. Results should be corroborated by a randomized trial.