Endoscopic dissection of refractory pancreatic duct stricture via accessory pancreatic duct approach for concurrent treatment of anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction in aging patients

BACKGROUND: Although endoscopic management of pancreatic strictures by dilation and stenting is well established, some high-grade strictures are refractory to conventional methods. Here, we report a novel technique via accessory pancreatic duct (APD) approach to simultaneously release chronic pancreatitis-associated pancreatic stricture and correct anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (APBJ). Due to APBJ and stricture of proximal main pancreatic duct, the APD turned out to be compensatory expansion. The stiff stenosis was dissected along the axial of APD using needle-knife electrocautery or holmium laser ablation, and then the supporting stent was placed into the pancreatic body duct. By doing so, the outflow channels of pancreatic and biliary ducts were exquisitely separated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients aged 69 and 71 years underwent stricture dissection and stent insertion for fluent drainage of pancreatic juice. The postoperative course was marked by complete abdominal pain relief and normal blood amylase recovery. In the first patient, wire-guided needle-knife electrocautery under fluoroscopic control was applied to release refractory stricture. The second patient was treated by SpyGlass pancreatoscopy-guided holmium laser ablation to lift pancreatic stricture. RESULTS: Plastic stents in APD were removed at 3 months after surgery, and magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months showed strictly normal aspect of the pancreatic duct. CONCLUSION: Although both cases were successful without severe complications, we recommend this approach only for selected patients with short refractory pancreatic strictures due to chronic pancreatitis. In order to prevent severe complications (bleeding, perforation or pancreatitis), direct-view endoscopy-guided electrotomy needs to be developed.