The role of the accessory pancreatic duct of Santorini in pancreatic drainage in children (with emphasis on choledochal cyst patients)

Pancreatic drainage patterns have been studied by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in four children with choledochal cyst (CC). The first two had mild or chemical pancreatitis; the third had a history of recurrent cholangitis and was diagnosed as chronic pancreatitis. The fourth manifested with severe, acute pancreatitis. All children were found to have an impaired flow through the papilla of Vater. In the first three cases, the duct of Santorini (DS) seemed to play an important role in the pancreatic drainage. In the fourth case, however, the duct was found to be absent. ERCP findings in additional eleven children without CC also were reviewed, and in this group the DS did not seem to play any significant role in pancreatic drainage. These results indicate that in children with common bile duct (CBD) anomalies, the DS may relieve the obstruction and ameliorate the pancreatitis.