Interventional radiology of the biliary system and pancreas

The Surgical Management of Pancreatic Pseudocysts: A Narrative Review

Pancreatic pseudocysts, commonly arising as a complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis, present a significant clinical challenge. This narrative review explores the surgical management of pancreatic pseudocysts, emphasizing advancements, techniques, and outcomes. We examine the indications for surgical intervention, including symptomatic pseudocysts, complications such as infection or hemorrhage, and pseudocysts resistant to conservative treatment. Various surgical approaches are discussed, including open surgery, laparoscopic techniques, and endoscopic interventions. The review highlights the evolution of surgical strategies, from traditional cystogastrostomy to minimally invasive methods, and assesses their efficacy and safety. Additionally, we address patient selection criteria, preoperative assessment, and postoperative care. By synthesizing current evidence and clinical experiences, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the best practices in the surgical management of pancreatic pseudocysts, offering valuable insights for clinicians in optimizing patient outcomes.

Nonoperative imaging techniques in suspected biliary tract obstruction

Evaluation of suspected biliary tract obstruction is a common clinical problem. Clinical data such as history, physical examination, and laboratory tests can accurately identify up to 90% of patients whose jaundice is caused by extrahepatic obstruction. However, complete assessment of extrahepatic obstruction often requires the use of various imaging modalities to confirm the presence, level, and cause of obstruction, and to aid in treatment plan. In the present summary, the literature on competing technologies including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiopancreatography (PTC), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), helical CT (hCT) and helical CT cholangiography (hCTC) with regards to diagnostic performance characteristics, technical success, safety, and cost-effectiveness is reviewed. Patients with obstructive jaundice secondary to choledocholithiasis or pancreaticobiliary malignancies are the primary focus of this review. Algorithms for the management of suspected obstructive jaundice are put forward based on current evidence. Published data suggest an increasing role for EUS and other noninvasive imaging techniques such as MRCP, and hCT following an initial transabdominal ultrasound in the assessment of patients with suspected biliary obstruction to select candidates for surgery or therapeutic ERCP. The management of patients with a suspected pancreaticobiliary condition ultimately is dependent on local expertise, availability, cost, and the multidisciplinary collaboration between radiologists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists.

Introduction. Minimally invasive therapy in five European countries: diffusion, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness

Minimally invasive therapy (MIT) is a field that has gained a great deal of attention since the mid-1980s. MIT is a new and rapidly growing area of medical treatment based on developments in endoscopy, vascular catheters, imaging devices, and related technologies. Although endoscopes have been in use for more than 100 years, it is relatively new to use them for therapeutic purposes. Now practically every organ system in the body can be approached by these technologies. The resulting revolution in health care is the subject of this issue of the journal.