Published online Oct 7, 2020. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i37.5718
Peer-review started: May 31, 2020
First decision: June 18, 2020
Revised: July 1, 2020
Accepted: September 15, 2020
Article in press: September 15, 2020
Published online: October 7, 2020
Processing time: 119 Days and 14.5 Hours
Pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF) can be diagnosed by laboratory examination and imaging examination. The traditional treatments are conservative treatment and surgery. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has since been performed increasingly more often in the diagnosis and treatment of PPF in adults. However, the experience of ERCP in the treatment of PPF in children is limited.
In the present study, the clinical data of children with PPF diagnosed in Beijing Children’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, and the children’s therapeutic response to ERCP was explored by comparison with previous publications worldwide.
This study is aimed to explore the treatment response to ERCP for PPF in children.
Data on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes of seven Chinese children with PPF were analyzed and compared with those described in previous publications of children and adults with PPF worldwide.
There was no significant difference in the postoperative hospital stays between surgical treatment and ERCP. However, there was a positive linear correlation between the overall hospital stay and ERCP intervention time.
ERCP is recommended as the first-choice treatment of PPF in children. ERCP should be performed as early as possible if conditions permit.
Because PPF is a rare disease and it is difficult to obtain data on clinical cases, the present study included only seven patients, one of whom was lost to follow-up after discharge. Thus, we were unable to perform a scientific and systematic comparative analysis on the curative effect of surgery and ERCP. The conclusions of this study still need to be validated.