Endoscopic ultrasound diagnostic gain over computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in defining etiology of idiopathic acute pancreatitis

Infected Walled-Off Necrosis Following COVID-19-Associated Acute Pancreatitis

A 54-year-old man was admitted for fever and dyspnea. He presented with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and elevated amylase and lipase levels. He received treatment for COVID-19 and possible acute pancreatitis (AP). Although pneumonia and amylase levels improved, a high-grade fever persisted. On day 39, abdominal CT revealed heterogenous liquid and non-liquid components with a well-defined wall around the pancreas, and he was diagnosed with infected walled-off necrosis (WON) after AP. It was concluded to be associated with COVID-19 because there were no identifiable causes, such as alcohol consumption, gallstones, or other viral infections. The necrotic collection and fever improved after endoscopic transgastric drainage and necrosectomy. SARS-CoV-2 is becoming recognized as a new etiological infectious factor for AP, and COVID-19-associated AP shows higher severity and mortality. Clinicians should evaluate COVID-19 patients for concomitant AP, and if it is present, they should carefully monitor the development of local complications, including WON.

Endoscopic Ultrasound in Pancreatology: Focus on Inflammatory Diseases and Interventions

Background

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a main tool in pancreatology for both diagnosis and therapy. It allows minimally invasive differentiation of various diseases, with a minimal degree of inflammation or anatomic variations. EUS also enables interventional direct access to the pancreatic parenchyma and the retroperitoneal space, the pancreatic duct, the pancreatic masses, cysts, vascular structures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Summary

This review aimed to summarize the new developments of EUS in the field of pancreatology, with special interest on inflammation and interventions. EUS enables way to perform pseudocyst drainage, necrosectomy, transenteral drainage and transenteric access of the main pancreatic duct, or the direct visualization or therapy of vascular structures adjacent to the pancreas.

Key Messages

EUS has a deep impact on pancreatology, and the development of new diagnostic and interventional approaches to the retroperitoneal space and the pancreas has increased in the last years exponentially, allowing minimal invasive diagnostics and therapy and avoiding surgery and percutaneous therapy.