Abstract

Background
/Aims: Endoscopic pancreatic ductal drainage may help alleviate the pain from chronic pancreatitis, but stricture dilatation may be technically difficult. Dilatation of high grade strictures of the pancreatic ducts with using dilating or balloon catheters may result in failure. We evaluated the efficacy of using the Soehendra stent retriever as a dilator. Methods: Fourteen patients with pancreatic stricture had dilation performed with a Soehendra stent retriever. Each patient had sphincterotomy, guidewire placement and stent retriever dilatation. Results: All procedures were successful and none of the patients had complications. Symptom relief was observed after dilation in all patients. There was no complication associated with the use of the stent retriever. None of the patients have relapsed for 6 months. Conclusions: The Soehendra stent retriever is safe and effective as a dilating device for the pancreatic strictures that are resistant to conventional dilation. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2006;32:27⁣32)

• Keywords: Chronic pancreatitis, Pancreatic duct stricture, Soehendra stent retriever