Guide To Treating Chronic Pancreatitis

Endoscopic Stent Replacement

An accumulation of digestive juices in the pancreas may put pressure on ducts that have become blocked, resulting in intense pain. When the pain a patient is experiencing is caused primarily by this mechanism, an endoscopic stent replacement procedure may be needed. This procedure involves the use of ultrasound technology to help guide the surgeon operating the endoscope to the blocked duct. Once the endoscope reaches the blocked duct, a balloon catheter is threaded into the endoscope and to the duct. The surgeon then inflates the balloon on the end of the catheter inside of the duct, effectively widening it. A medical mesh stent is then placed into the duct around the balloon to hold it open. The balloon is deflated, and the stent is left in the duct to prevent it from becoming narrowed again. An endoscopic stent replacement surgery is minimally invasive and carries less risk of complications than traditional open procedures used to widen ducts.

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