Effects of pancreatic stent number on the management of recurrent chronic pancreatitis in children and adolescents

Objective To investigate the effects of changing the pancreatic stent number based on the last procedure on the prognosis of children and adolescents with recurrent chronic pancreatitis. Methods Data of 11 pediatric patients (3-16 years old) with chronic pancreatitis, undergoing ERCP for at least twice were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether the number of stents changed in the second procedure, patients were divided into the control group(more than once and no change in the number), and the changing group(more than once and change in the stent number in the second procedure). The hospitalization and surgery percentage and number of hospitalizations due to abdominal pain in follow-up period were compared to study whether number change of stents was efficient to cure pediatric patients with chronic pancreatitis. Results Eleven pediatric patients undergoing at least 2 ERCP procedures were recruited into our group. The hospitalization percentages were 140%(n=7) and 33.3%(n=2) in the control group(n=5) and the changing group (n=6) respectively(P<0.001). The number of hospitalizations due to abdominal pain was 1.5 and 0.8 in the control group and the changing group respectively (P<0.001). The percentage of patient hospitalizations due to abdominal pain significantly reduced in the changing group (P=0.003). Conclusion Increase in pancreatic stent number in the second procedure in pediatric patients can decrease hospital admissions related to the pancreatitis. Key words: Pancreatitis, chronic; Stents; Cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde; Adolescent