Temporary cystogastrostomy with self-expanding metallic stents for pancreatic necrosis.

Conventional endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts has its limitations when the content of the collection is nonfluid. This leads to obstruction of placed flap stents; it requires the placement of an irrigation catheter and repeated implantation of several stents. Herein we describe the temporary use of a special self-expanding partially covered metal mesh stent, which was designed to keep the pancreaticogastrostomy open for drainage of walled-off necrosis and for further endoscopic necrosectomies. The stent has a diameter of 20-25 mm and a length of 50 mm and was placed following the first transgastric removal of necrotic masses. After a treatment period of 7-11 days involving 2-3 endoscopic procedures we achieved clinical success, defined as complete removal of necrotic masses, in all cases without major complications.