Outcome of pancreaticojejunostomy after previous endoscopic stenting in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Objective: To assess whether previous endoscopic stenting of the pancreatic duct influences the outcome of subsequent pancreaticojejunostomy in chronic pancreatitis. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: University hospital, the Netherlands. Patients: 50 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 26 of whom had previously had stents inserted and 24 who had not. Interventions: A questionnaire was sent to each patient to evaluate long-term pain relief, readmissions during follow-up and subjective efficacy of the operation, and risk factors for recurrent pain were calculated. Main outcome measures: Postoperative morbidity, pain relief and subjective efficacy. Results: Patients with stents were operated on later (after 60 months of symptoms) than those without (17 months). 5 (19%) and 2 (8%) patients developed complications. No patient died. Personal follow-up (median 27 months) was obtained in 41 of 44 available patients (93%). 36 patients (88%) felt that they had benefited from pancreaticojejunostomy. 13 of the 21 patients with stents (62%) and 11 of the 20 patients without stents (55%) reported pain at least monthly, but of these 24 patients 21 patients (88%) had less pain than preoperatively; 11 (22%) had pain daily. 13 patients were readmitted for a relapse of pancreatitis, 3 of whom required partial pancreatectomy. Previous endoscopic stenting of the pancreatic duct was not a risk factor for recurrent pain (p = 0.61). Conclusion: Endoscopic stenting of the pancreatic duct may be done for patients with chronic pancreatitis without adverse effects on the outcome of subsequent pancreaticojejunostomy.