PERCUTANEOUS CYSTOGASTROSTOMY WITH A NEW CATHETER FOR DRAINAGE OF PANCREATIC PSEUDOCYSTS AND FLUID COLLECTIONS

We describe a new catheter for the initial percutaneous drainage of la rge symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections and abscesses using a tra nsgastric approach to allow fluid drainage into the gastric lumen. A d ouble-mushroom stent is placed secondarily for long-term internal drai nage to the stomach, avoiding the need for an extended period of exter nal catheter drainage, This technique, termed percutaneous cystogastro stomy (PCG), has been used in 19 consecutive patients with one recurre nt symptomatic pseudocyst in the follow-up period of 9-43 months. Ther e was one death within 30 days of PCG and 1 patient proceeded to surgi cal necrosectomy. After evidence of resolution of the pseudocysts, the internal stent was retrieved in 17 patients by endoscopic snare.