The role of pancreatic stenting in obstructive ductal disorders other than pancreas divisum.

Pancreatic ductal strictures may lead to pancreatitis, with associated pain and nausea. Very little literature is available regarding stent placement for this problem; the efficacy of stenting, expected stent viability, and safety of the procedure require further study. In this series, 21 patients with pancreatic ductal strictures underwent a total of 42 ERCPs with pancreatic stent placement. Eighty-six percent of patients experienced significant improvement in their symptom score after at least 1 session; however, relief was usually not evident until day 7. Stent viability averaged 26.9 days, but it was significantly longer for patients with pancreatic cancer. Overall, pancreatic ductal stenting can relieve symptoms of pain and nausea, but relief is usually short-lived. It may be useful only for short-term therapeutic trials and to provide temporary relief in highly selected cases.