Role of endoscopy in recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis: AGA issues clinical practice guidelines

Best Practice Advice Statements

Best Practice Advice 1

After an unrevealing initial evaluation, endoscopic ultrasound is the preferred diagnostic test for unexplained acute and recurrent pancreatitis. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast and cholangiopancreatography is a reasonable complementary or alternative test to endoscopic ultrasound, based on local expertise and availability.

Best Practice Advice 2

The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in reducing the frequency of acute pancreatitis episodes in patients with pancreas divisum is controversial, but minor papilla endotherapy may be considered, particularly for those with objective signs of outflow obstruction, such as a dilated dorsal pancreatic duct and/or santorinicele. There is no role for ERCP to treat pain alone in patients with pancreas divisum.

Best Practice Advice 3

The role of ERCP for reducing the frequency of pancreatitis episodes in patients with unexplained recurrent acute pancreatitis and standard pancreatic ductal anatomy is controversial and should only be considered after a comprehensive discussion of the uncertain benefits and potentially severe procedure-related adverse events. When pursued, ERCP with biliary sphincterotomy alone may be preferable to dual sphincterotomy.

Best Practice Advice 4

Surgical intervention should be considered over endoscopic therapy for long-term treatment of patients with painful obstructive chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic intervention is a reasonable alternative to surgery for suboptimal operative candidates or those who favor a less invasive approach, assuming they are clearly informed that the best practice advice primarily favors surgery.

Best Practice Advice 5

When ERCP is pursued, small (≤5mm) main pancreatic duct stones can be treated with pancreatography and conventional stone extraction maneuvers. For larger stones, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and/or pancreatoscopy with intraductal lithotripsy may be required.

Best Practice Advice 6

When ERCP is pursued, prolonged stent therapy (6–12 months) is effective for treating symptoms and remodeling main pancreatic duct strictures. The preferred approach is to place and sequentially add multiple plastic stents in parallel (upsizing); emerging evidence suggests that fully covered self-expanding metal stents may have a role for this indication, but additional research is necessary.

Best Practice Advice 7

ERCP with stent insertion is the preferred treatment for benign biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis. FCSEMS placement is favored over multiple plastic stents whenever feasible, given similar efficacy but significantly reduced need for stent exchange procedures during the treatment course.

Best Practice Advice 8

Celiac plexus block should not be routinely performed for the management of pain due to chronic pancreatitis. The decision to proceed with celiac plexus block in selected patients with debilitating pain in whom other therapeutic measures have failed can be considered on a case-by-case basis, but only after discussion of the unclear outcomes of this intervention and its procedural risks.

"In the evaluation and management of patients with recurrent acute and chronic pancreatitis, endoscopy plays an integral role. Controversy remains on the benefit of ERCP in the management of unexplained RAP, whereas endoscopic interventions have been shown to be safe and effective for treating various complications arising from CP," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. 

"Management of treatment in these patients is challenging, requiring an individualized and multidisciplinary approach. Given the current lack of evidence, additional well-designed."

Reference:

AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Endoscopic Approach to Recurrent Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: Expert Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2022.07.079