Electrocautery vs non-electrocautery dilation catheters in endoscopic ultrasonography-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage

AIM: To investigate the safety and utility of an electrocautery dilation catheter for endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided pancreatic fluid collection drainage.METHODS: A single-center, exploratory, retrospective study was conducted between August 2010 and August 2014. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of our institution. Informed, written consent was obtained from each patient prior to the procedure. The subjects included 28 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-guided transmural drainage(EUS-TD) for symptomatic pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections(PFCs) by fine needle aspiration using a 19-gauge needle. These patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the use of an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device; 15 patients were treated with an electrocautery dilation catheter(electrocautery group), and 13 patients were treated with a non-electrocautery dilation catheter(non-electrocautery group). We evaluated the technical and clinical successes and the adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs between the two groups.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, type, location and diameter of PFCs between the groups. Thirteen patients(87%) in the electrocauterygroup and 10 patients(77%) in the non-electrocautery group presented with infected PFCs. The technical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 100%(15/15) and 100%(13/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively. The clinical success rates of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs were 67%(10/15) and 69%(9/13) for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.794). The procedure time of EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs in the electrocautery group was significantly shorter than that of the non-electrocautery group(mean ± SD: 30 ± 12 min vs 52 ± 20 min, P < 0.001). Adverse events associated with EUS-TD for the treatment of PFCs occurred in 0 patients and 1 patient for the electrocautery and the non-electrocautery groups, respectively(P = 0.942).CONCLUSION: EUS-TD using an electrocautery dilation catheter as a fistula dilation device for the treatment of symptomatic PFCs appears safe and contributes to a shorter procedure time.