Long-term outcomes of therapeutic ERCP in pediatric patients with pancreas divisum presenting with acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis

Superiority of linear-array EUS over MRCP in diagnosing pancreas divisum: evidence from a multicenter retrospective study in Oriental cohorts (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common developmental anatomic variant of pancreatic duct. The published data on the accuracy of the detection of PD by means of linear-array endoscopic ultrasound (L-EUS) is limited. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of L-EUS compared with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for identifying PD.

METHODS

Patients who underwent L-EUS for pancreaticobiliary indications and subsequently received endoscopic retrograde pancreatograghy (ERP) treatment were retrospectively evaluated from January 2019 to July 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 1378 patients from 3 tertiary centers were included, of which 120 were diagnosed with PD, as confirmed with the use of ERP, yielding an endoscopic detection rate of 8.7%. L-EUS exhibited a high sensitivity of 90.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.7%-96.0%) and an overall accuracy of 99% (95% CI, 98.5%-99.5%) for the diagnosis of PD. These figures were significantly superior to those of MRCP, which showed a sensitivity of 48.4% (95% CI, 38.1%-58.6%) and an accuracy of 95.4% (95% CI, 93.5%-96.3%) (P < .001). Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for PD diagnosis was notably higher for L-EUS (95.7%) compared with MRCP (74.1%) (P < .001). Consistency testing revealed that L-EUS had an excellent kappa value of 0.934, compared with the reference standard of 0.621. Univariate logistic regression analysis identified the presence of pancreatic duct stones, chronic pancreatitis, and severe pancreatitis as potential factors leading to diagnostic failure in detecting PD with the use of L-EUS. Subsequent multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the presence of pancreatic duct stones (odds ratio [OR], 5.627; 95% CI, 1.391-22.765) and severe pancreatitis (OR, 12.818; 95% CI, 2.280-72.061) were significantly associated with increased odds of L-EUS diagnostic failure for PD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study conclusively demonstrates that L-EUS significantly outperforms MRCP in diagnosing PD. L-EUS exhibits markedly higher sensitivity and AUC values. However, its diagnostic reliability decreases in the presence of pancreatic duct stones or severe pancreatitis.

Longitudinal Quality of Life and Glycemic Outcomes of Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation in Children With Chronic Pancreatitis Followed in a Pediatric Multidisciplinary Pancreas Clinic

BACKGROUND

Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) refractory to medical and endoscopic therapies. Patients often receive the initial follow-up medical care at the surgery-performing center, but then may follow up closer to where they live. We sought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients who underwent TPIAT at a national surgical referral center and were subsequently followed at our regional subspecialty center, the Children's Hospital Colorado.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of baseline and outcomes data for the 10 pediatric patients who underwent TPIAT from 2007 to 2020 and received follow-up care at our institution.

RESULTS

All patients had a diagnosis of CP, and nine of 10 patients had an identified underlying genetic risk factor. Insulin usage was common immediately following TPIAT, but at 1 year of follow-up, five of nine patients (55.6%) were insulin-independent and nine of nine had an HbA1c below 6.5%. For the four patients on insulin 1 year after TPIAT, total daily insulin dose ranged from 0.06 to 0.71 units/kg/day. All patients who underwent mixed meal tolerance testing had a robust peak C-peptide response at 1 year. There were significant improvements in nausea, school/work absences, narcotic dependence, and pancreas-related hospital admissions 1 year after TPIAT.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients followed at our center had long-term improvements with low-insulin usage, detectable C-peptide, and improved pancreatitis-related outcomes after TPIAT. Pediatric patients who undergo TPIAT can be successfully co-managed in conjunction with the original surgery-performing center.

Biliary Disorders, Anomalies, and Malignancies in Children

Biliary abnormalities in children are uncommon, and the spectrum of biliary disorders is broader than in adult patients. Unlike in adults, biliary disorders in children are rarely neoplastic and are more commonly rhabdomyosarcoma rather than cholangiocarcinoma. Pediatric biliary disorders may be embryologic or congenital, such as anatomic gallbladder anomalies, anomalous pancreaticobiliary tracts, various cholestatic processes, congenital cystic lesions, or genetic conditions. They may also be benign, such as biliary filling anomalies, biliary motility disorders, and biliary inflammatory and infectious disorders. Distinguishing these entities with a single imaging modality is challenging. US is the primary imaging modality for initial evaluation of biliary abnormalities in children, due to its wide availability, lack of ionizing radiation, and low cost and because it requires no sedation. Other examinations such as MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine examinations may provide anatomic and functional information to narrow the diagnosis further. Hepatobiliary-specific contrast material with MRI can provide better assessment of biliary anatomy on delayed images than can traditional MRI contrast material. MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) allows visualization of the intra- and extrahepatic biliary ducts, which may not be possible with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Suspected biliary atresia requires multiple modalities for diagnosis and timely treatment. Determining the type of choledochal cyst calls for a combination of initial US and MRCP. Many benign and malignant biliary masses require biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Knowledge of the imaging appearances of different pediatric biliary abnormalities is necessary for appropriate imaging workup, providing a diagnosis or differential diagnosis, and guiding appropriate management. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Risk Factors for Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography Pancreatitis in Children With Chronic Pancreatitis and Its Prediction Using 4-Hour Postprocedure Serum Amylase and Lipase Levels

BACKGROUND

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) is seen in 3% to 16% of children undergoing therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). We evaluated the risk factors of PEP and utility of 4-hour post-ERCP amylase and lipase for early prediction of PEP in children with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty children with CP (boys 20, 14.3 [interquartile range, 9.3-16] years) who underwent 62 ERCP procedures were studied. Clinical and procedural details with outcome were noted. Serum amylase and lipase were measured before, 4 hours, and 24 hours after ERCP. Multivariate analysis was done to identify risk factors for PEP. Cutoff scores of 4-hour amylase and lipase were identified.

RESULTS

PEP occurred in 14.5% (9/62) of ERCP procedures (mild, 8; moderate, 1) with no mortality. On univariate analysis, endoscopic sphincterotomy ( P = 0.04), difficult cannulation ( P = 0.004), and prior PEP ( P = 0.036) were risk factors, while prior ERCP ( P = 0.04) was protective. Difficult cannulation (odds ratio, 5.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.329-25.592) was the independent risk factor on multivariate analysis overall and for first ERCP session alone. Amylase >3.3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and lipase of >5 times ULN at 4 hours had best sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of PEP. All cases with PEP were symptomatic by 6 hours and none had amylase/lipase <3 ULN at 4 hours. Amylase/lipase of <3 ULN at 4 hours could exclude PEP with good sensitivity (100%) and specificity (76% and 81%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

PEP occurred in 14.5% of procedures in children with CP, with difficult cannulation being the independent risk factor. Asymptomatic patients with 4-hour amylase/lipase <3 times ULN can be safely discharged.

Indications, success, and adverse event rates of pediatric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To improve knowledge on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children, we aimed to study the proportion of indications, success rate and complication of ERCP.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of all articles published up to December 2022 in the following databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was determined by the I2 statistics and the Cochrane Q test. The included data were analyzed to identify the proportion of indications, success rate and complications of ERCP in children.

RESULTS

Based on data from 52 studies with a total of 5624 participants, the most common indications for ERCP in children were biliary [48% (95% CI: 0.40 - 0.57; I2 = 98.17%, P < 0.001)] and both biliary and pancreatic [41% (95% CI: 0.33 - 0.49; I2 = 98.27%, P < 0.001)]. The success rate of ERCP was 95% (95% CI: 0.94 - 0.96; I2 = 82.53%, P < 0.001) with the overall complication rate of 7% (95% CI: 0.05 - 0.09; I2 = 82.06%, P < 0.001). The pooled estimate for the incidence of post ERCP pancreatitis was 4% (95% CI: 0.03 - 0.06; I2 = 85.46%, P < 0.001) and the bleeding was 0% (95% CI: 0.0 - 0.0; I2 = 28.21%, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

ERCP appears to be performed safely in children with a similar success rate as in the adult population.

A possible manifestation of pancreas divisum-pancreatic pseudocyst in an infant with no apparent history of pancreatitis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Pancreas divisum (PD), the most common pancreatic anomaly, is caused by the failure of pancreatic bud fusion in the embryo. Although most cases are asymptomatic, it can cause pancreatitis or epigastric pain. We report an unusual case of PD in an infant.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 9-month-old girl with no pertinent medical history. She had suffered vomiting and diarrhea for 1 week before transfer to our hospital. Her general condition was poor, and abdominal distention was noted. Blood tests revealed microcytic anemia with normal chemical markers. The parents reported no episode of pancreatitis. Ultrasonography revealed massive ascites, which was later found to be bloody. Enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging depicted a cystic lesion, approximately 2 cm in size, anterior to the second portion of the duodenum. During exploratory laparotomy, a pinhole was identified on the cyst wall, which was mistakenly identified as a duodenal perforation, and direct closure was performed. Postoperative levels of serum amylase and inflammation markers were elevated, and the amount of ascites increased, impairing oral feeding. The level of pancreatic enzymes in the ascites was high. Imaging studies were repeated, but the cause of pancreatic fistula was not identified. Conservative therapy, including administration of total parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, and octreotide, was initiated, but the situation did not improve. Three months after admission, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a thick dorsal pancreatic duct communicating with a hypoplastic ventral duct, which was indicative of PD. Contrast medium leaking from the dorsal duct near the minor ampulla revealed the presence of a pseudocyst. Stenting via the minor papilla was impossible because the minor papilla was obstructed. Instead, a stent was inserted into the ventral pancreatic duct. Endoscopic transgastric drainage of the cyst was effective, and the patient was discharged, 7 months after admission. The patient is healthy, but the gastric stent needs to be replaced regularly.

CONCLUSION

In children, PD can manifest with pancreatic pseudocyst that causes pancreatic ascites, even in the absence of pancreatitis. This may be a previously unrecognized manifestation of PD in children, and clinicians need to be aware of it.

Clinical characteristics and endoscopic treatment of pancreatitis caused by pancreaticobiliary malformation in Chinese children

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with pancreatitis caused by pancreaticobiliary malformation and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the diagnosis of the disease.

METHODS

Medical records of pediatric patients with pancreatitis related to pancreaticobiliary malformation diagnosed by ERCP and treated in our hospital between April 2008 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical manifestations, laboratory indicators, genetic testing results and imaging findings including MRCP were collected.

RESULTS

Of the 148 patients with pancreaticobiliary malformation-related pancreatitis, 90 (60.8%) had pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), 52 (35.1%) had pancreatic divisum (PD), and six (4.1%) had annular pancreas (AnnP). Compared with the PD group, patients with PBM were younger (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have jaundice (P < 0.001) and fever (P = 0.034). Genetic mutation was found in 51.6% of patients with PD, 50.0% with AnnP, and 15.0% with PBM. Diagnostic rate of PBM, PD, and AnnP using MRCP was 46.7%, 15.4%, and 100%, respectively. In total, 87.8% of patients had symptomatic improvement after endoscopic treatment. ERCP-related complications were observed in 28 out of the 260 procedures, including post-ERCP pancreatitis (7.7%), infection (2.3%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (0.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

PBM should be considered when jaundice and fever occur in pediatric patients. Genetic testing is recommended for those with PD and AnnP. The role of MRCP is limited in identifying pancreaticobiliary malformation in children. ERCP is effective and safe for the diagnosis and treatment for pediatric pancreatitis caused by pancreaticobiliary malformation.

Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Intervention in the Treatment of Symptomatic Pancreas Divisum

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the treatment of patients with symptomatic pancreas divisum (PD) and to discuss the possible risk factors of endoscopic reintervention for symptomatic PD. A total of 50 patients with symptomatic PD who underwent ERCP from January 2010 to December 2019 were finally brought into study. All patients were divided into the nonage and the adult group according to their ages. Meanwhile, all patients were also divided into the intervention and the reintervention group according to times of ERCP. The long-term outcome of each patient was collected during the follow-up by phone call. The total success rate of ERCP was 94.7% (89/93), and the effective rate of first ERCP was 58% (29/50). There were no statistical differences on the outcomes of ERCP treatment between the adult and nonage group. There were 17 patients with complete pancreas divisum and 19 patients with chronic pancreatitis in the reintervention group, which were more than 6 patients and 8 patients in the intervention group (P < 0.05). In bivariate regression analysis, chronic pancreatitis and complete pancreas divisum might be significant risk factors for endoscopic reintervention for patients with symptomatic PD (OR, 8.010, 95% CI, 1.483–43.276, P=0.016; OR, 8.869, 95% CI, 1.450–54.254, P=0.018, respectively). ERCP in treating adult and nonage patients with symptomatic PD are effective and safe. But, many patients may need endoscopic reintervention. Complete pancreas divisum and chronic pancreatitis may be risk factors of ERCP reintervention for patients with symptomatic PD.

Outpatient Pain Management in Children With Chronic Pancreatitis: A Scoping Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Although pain management is central to pediatric chronic pancreatitis (CP) care, no evidence-based guidelines exist. In this scoping systematic review, we sought promising strategies for CP pain treatment in children.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed literature on pain management in children and adults with CP, and 2 conditions with similar pain courses: juvenile idiopathic arthritis and sickle cell disease.

RESULTS

Of 8997 studies identified, 287 met inclusion criteria. There are no published studies of analgesic medications, antioxidants, dietary modification, integrative medicine, or regional nerve blocks in children with CP. In adults with CP, studies of nonopioid analgesics, pancreatic enzymes, and dietary interventions have mixed results. Retrospective studies suggest that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgical procedures, most durably total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant, improve pain for children with CP. Follow-up was short relative to a child's life. Large studies in adults also suggest benefit from endoscopic therapy and surgery, but lack conclusive evidence about optimal procedure or timing. Studies on other painful pediatric chronic illnesses revealed little generalizable to children with CP.

CONCLUSIONS

No therapy had sufficient high-quality studies to warrant untempered, evidence-based support for use in children with CP. Multicenter studies are needed to identify pain management "best practices."

Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for Pediatric Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) disease has different causes and types between children and adults, which has been increasingly diagnosed in the pediatric group. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been gradually considered as a therapeutic method in adults, while in pediatric patients, there are not many reports of its usage. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the use condition of therapeutic ERCP in the management of pediatric HPB diseases.

METHODS

This systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases to identify all relevant articles published from inception to February 2022 that evaluated therapeutic ERCP in pediatric patients with HPB diseases. The researchers included studies in which patients were less than 18 years old and underwent therapeutic ERCP procedures. A random-effects model was used to analyze the usage rate of therapeutic ERCP procedures, procedural success rates, adverse event rates, and the rate of different therapeutic procedures. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were conducted to analyze the source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 33 articles were included. After homogenization, the overall use of therapeutic interventions accounts for 77% [95% confidence interval (CI) 74-81%] of all ERCP procedures. After excluding outlier studies, the estimation success rate of the therapeutic procedure is 74% (95% CI 69-79%), and adverse event rate is 8% (95% CI 6-10%). In our study, stent placement is the most common procedure, which makes up 75% (95% CI 65-86%) of all therapeutic procedures. In addition, the usage proportion of sphincterotomy (ST), stone extraction/removal, bougienage/balloon dilation is, respectively, 46% (95% CI 39-53%), 34% (95% CI 31-38%), and 26% (95% CI 22-29%).

CONCLUSION

The ERCP procedure is gradually considered a therapeutic technique in pediatric patients, the proportion of therapeutic ERCP is 77% of total usage, which is increasing every year. Meanwhile, its success rate is relatively high. It reflects that this operation modality is promising in the treatment of HPB disorders and is gradually expanded as more branch technologies are being used. A variety of operations can be achieved through ERCP procedures, and more functions should be developed in the future.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022302911].

Etiology and outcome of acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Owing to the lack of data, we aimed to determine the etiology and outcome of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) in children in Southeast Asia.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. We included patients aged <18 years who were diagnosed with pancreatitis from 2000 to 2021.

RESULTS

Among 155 patients with pancreatitis, 21 (13.5%) were diagnosed with either ARP (n = 7) or CP (n = 14). Clinical manifestations of CP included chronic abdominal pain (n = 10, 71.4%), steatorrhea (n = 8, 57.1%), and diabetes mellitus (n = 1, 7.1%). Positive radiological findings compatible with CP were detected from an abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in 70%, 90.9%, and 92.9% of patients, respectively. Genetic, metabolic, and pancreaticobiliary causes were the major causes of ARP/CP (23.8% each) and the etiologies were unidentified in one-fifth of the patients. Patients with metabolic diseases who had AP were at-risk of developing ARP (hazards ratio [HR], 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-13.9). Children with ARP or CP were younger than those with AP (P = 0.04). Approximately two-thirds of patients with CP had growth faltering and they had more episodes of hospitalization due to acute attacks when compared to patients with ARP ( 4 [interquartile range [IQR], 3-6] vs. 3 [IQR, 2-3]; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Genetic, metabolic, and pancreaticobiliary diseases were the common etiologies of ARP and CP among children living in a developing country in Southeast Asia. The burden of CP included malnutrition and frequent hospitalization. The findings emphasize the importance of an early etiological diagnosis and monitoring for pancreatic insufficiency in ARP/CP.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound in children

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is fundamental to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in pediatric gastroenterology. In the decades since endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease were introduced into clinical practice, there has been increasing interest in these procedures, and practice guidelines and position papers that clearly define the role of ERCP and EUS in children have been published. Based on the distinction of endoscopy between children and adults, this review focuses on the current state of ERCP and EUS procedures in children, including the types of endoscopes used in children, general anesthesia and radiation exposure, biliary and pancreatic indications, considerations of education and training for ERCP and EUS procedures in children, and expectations for development of endoscopes for children.

Safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the pediatric population: a multicenter study

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this retrospective multicenter study were to assess the technical success and adverse events of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures in children in French and Belgian centers.

METHODS

All children aged 1 day to 17 years who underwent ERCP between January 2008 and March 2019 in 15 tertiary care hospitals were retrospectively included.

RESULTS

271 children underwent 470 ERCP procedures. Clinical long-term follow-up was available for 72 % of our patients (340/470 procedures). The median age at intervention was 10.9 years. ERCP was therapeutic in 90 % (423/470) and diagnostic in cases of neonatal cholestasis in 10 % of the patients. The most common biliary indication was choledocholithiasis; the most common pancreatic indication was chronic pancreatitis. Biliary cannulation was successful in 92 % of cases (270/294); pancreatic cannulation in 96 % of cases (169/176); and planned therapeutic procedures in 92 % of cases (388/423). The overall complication rate was 19 % (65/340). The most common complication was post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in 12 % of cases (40/340) and sepsis in 5 % (18/340). On univariate analyses, pancreatic stent removal was protective against PEP (odds ratio [OR] 0.1, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.01 - 0.75; P = 0.03), and sepsis was associated with history of liver transplantation (OR 7.27, 95 %CI 1.7 - 31.05; P = 0.01). Five patients had post-ERCP hemorrhage and two had intestinal perforation. All complications were managed with supportive medical care. There was no procedure-related mortality.

CONCLUSION

Our cohort demonstrates that ERCP can be performed safely with high success rates in many pancreaticobiliary diseases of children. The rate of adverse events was similar to that in previous reports.

Clinical Outcomes Following Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Children With Pancreas Divisum

OBJECTIVES

Pancreas divisum (PD) is a risk factor in children for the development of acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with minor papilla endoscopic sphincterotomy (mPES) may be of clinical benefit, however, the clinical outcomes from endotherapy remain unclear. We sought to review the outcomes and safety of therapeutic ERCP in children with PD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart of children with PD who underwent an ERCP between February 2012 and December 2018. Pertinent patient, clinical and procedure information was collected including procedure-related adverse events. A follow-up questionnaire of the parent was conducted to determine the clinical impact from endotherapy.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight ERCPs were performed in 27 patients (14 boys; mean age: 9.7 years, range 2-19) with PD. All patients underwent a successful mPES. A genetic variant was identified in 19/26 (73%) tested patients. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was the only observed adverse event; 21% (12/58). Median follow-up interval from first ERCP intervention to questionnaire completion was 31.5 months (range: 4--72 months). Of the 20 questionnaire responders, 13 reported clinical improvement from endotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of children from our PD cohort possessed at least 1 genetic variant. Most questionnaire responders had a favorable response to endotherapy. PEP rate was comparable with that of prior reports in adult patients.

Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Children With Symptomatic Pancreas Divisum

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been increasingly performed in children with symptomatic pancreas divisum (PD). Aim: To investigate the safety and efficacy of ERCP in the treatment of children with symptomatic PD. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on children with PD who were treated with ERCP at Shanghai Children's Medical Center between June 2015 and May 2020. Pertinent patient, clinical and procedural data were collected to assess the therapeutic effects and identify the risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Results: Overall, 114 ERCPs were performed in 46 children with PD. With a median follow-up of 28.5 months (12-71 months), 40 (87.0%) children achieved clinical remission, the median number of acute pancreatitis episodes decreased from four times per year pre-operatively to once per year post-operatively (P < 0.001), and the nutritional score improved post-operatively (P = 0.004). The incidence of PEP was 7.9%, and female sex, stone extraction, and gene mutations were identified as possible risk factors for PEP on univariate analysis. However, there was no statistical significance on multivariate analysis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Therapeutic ERCP is an effective and safe intervention for children with symptomatic PD.

Pancreatobiliary Endoscopic Interventions for Pediatric Pancreatic Pathology

Despite the increased global recognition of pediatric pancreatic diseases, there are limited data on the utility of sophisticated endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in their management. Promising results of recent studies have highlighted the emerging therapeutic utility of EUS and ERCP in children. With these latest developments in mind, this article reviews the current literature regarding diagnostic and therapeutic uses, benefits, limitations, and clinical outcomes of EUS and ERCP in pediatric pancreatology.

Pediatric Endoscopy, Update 2020

Optimal management of pediatric endoscopy requires a multidisciplinary approach. In most hospitals, endoscopy in pediatric patients is performed by conventional gastroenterologists and only a few centers have specialized pediatric gastroenterologists. This is due to the fact that the number of pediatric gastroenterologists is limited and not all of them are experienced in endoscopic techniques. However, there are also some pediatric centers offering a high-quality and high-volume endoscopy service provided by very experienced pediatric gastroenterologists. Up to now, the literature on pediatric endoscopy is rather sparse. In this article, we describe current knowledge and practice of endoscopic procedures in pediatric patients, which should be relevant for both the adult and pediatric gastroenterologists.