Clinical study of the endoscopic pancreatic stent in patients with chronic pancreatitis

We reported clinical benifits of endoscopic pancreatic stent, using 11 patients with chronic pancreatitis. All the subjects had abdominal and/or back pain and had stenosis of main pancreatic duct (MPD) in head of pancreas. We inserted stent into MPD via major papilla in 7 cases and via minor papilla in 4 cases. The diameter of used stent were 7, 8.5 and 11.5 Fr respectively. Average follow-up term after stenting are 11.7 months. Clinical symptoms were improved in all cases. Result of the exocrine function test was improved particular in 2 cases with the decreased diameter of the MPD more than 4 mm after stenting. Pancreatic endocrine function showed no change in all cases. Stent was patent in all cases for the following term. In conclusion, the pancreatic stent in patients with chronic pancreatitis showing stenosis of MPD are expected to improve clinical symptoms and to be safe endoscopic therapy.