Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasonography in the Pancreas

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has enabled therapeutic endoscopists to intervene on conditions that have otherwise not been accessible with conventional endoscopy. Inflammatory fluid collections of the pancreas that may benefit from drainage are often not identifiable without EUS. Furthermore, EUS may improve the safety of transmural drainage by allowing for the identification of intervening blood vessels and reducing the need for fluoroscopy, and is complemented by new devices that simplify the access and stent delivery process. The use of EUS has also made the treatment of various pancreatic duct disorders possible when direct access is otherwise impossible.

Keywords: EUS-Guided access; EUS-Guided pancreatic duct intervention (EUS-PDI); Endoscopic transmural drainage; Pancreatic fluid collections (PFC); Rendezvous procedures.