Outcomes of Endoscopic Papillectomy After an Insulated Plastic Pancreatic Stent Placement: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and aim: Insulated plastic pancreatic stent placement before endoscopic papillectomy (EP) was introduced to prevent post-EP pancreatic stenting difficulties, avoid stent transection during EP, and ensure a safe hemostatic procedure in cases of post-EP bleeding by securing the pancreatic orifice. This study aimed to evaluate the technical efficacy and long-term outcomes of this procedure.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 84 patients who underwent EP for ampullary adenomas between August 2006 and December 2020 was conducted using a 5-Fr polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-insulated handmade pancreatic stent.

Results: EP after pancreatic stenting was successfully performed in 73/84 patients (86.9%). En bloc resection was performed in 59/73 patients (80.8%), and complete resection was achieved in 63/73 patients (86.3%). No stent transection was observed. Delayed bleeding was encountered in seven (9.6%) and 24 (32.9%) patients based on consensus guidelines and extended definitions, respectively. The incidence of pancreatitis was less frequent in the pre-EP pancreatic stenting group than in the post-EP pancreatic stenting group but statistically nonsignificant and underpowered (6.8 vs. 18.2%; p = 0.227, 95% confidence interval 0.046-4.030). In complete resection cases, tumor recurrence was encountered in six patients (8.2%) with surveillance for a median of 24 months. In the long term, one case (1.4%) of cholangitis and four cases (5.5%) of papillary structures developed.

Conclusions: Insulated PTFE plastic stent placement before EP may serve as an alternative to conventional EP, considering the feasibility of pancreatic stent placement, en bloc resectability, incidence of post-EP pancreatitis, and long-term oncological prognosis.