Over-the-scope clip closure for treatment of post-pancreaticogastrostomy pancreatic fistula: A case series

Background and aim: The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system is a recently developed endoscopic device. In the last few years, it has been successfully used for severe bleeding or deep wall lesions, or perforations of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We hereby report a series of patients with post-pancreaticogastrostomy pancreatic fistula in whom OTSC were used as endoscopic treatment.

Methods: From January 2012 to July 2015, we prospectively collected data on cases of postoperative pancreatic fistula. These patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in a high-volume center of hepatobiliopancreatic surgery. After conservative management, OTSC closure was done by single skilled operators in anesthesiologist-assisted deep sedation.

Results: A total of seven patients were enrolled. According to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery criteria, we observed grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula in all cases. All patients were treated with 12/6 t-type OTSC. In two cases, a second clip was successfully applied to a second site adjacent to the original closure site. In all cases, subsequent fluoroscopy showed no contrastographic spreading through the wall. There were no complications related to the procedure itself, not from the endoscopy point of view, nor from the anesthesiological perspective. There were no device malfunctions. Further clinical and endoscopic evaluation was made 8 weeks later and showed no fistula or anastomotic defect recurrence. No patients required additional endoscopic or interventional procedures.

Conclusion: In consideration of clinical and technical success, OTSC placement in POPF seems to be effective, safe and technically relatively easy to carry out.