Necrosectomy With Cryotechnology for Accelerated Removal
Christopher C. Thompson, MD, MSc
Summary
Pancreatic necrosis is a serious complication of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic necrosis involves the irreversible death of pancreatic tissue, which can lead to severe health issues, including infections and an increased risk of death. An endoscopic procedure called direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) is typically performed to remove this necrotic pancreatic tissue as a minimally invasive treatment. This procedure is performed using a thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope and endoscopic instruments that are used with working channels through the scope. Current methods for removing necrotic tissue involve using endoscopic devices such as snares, baskets, nets, and forceps. However, these standard methods are often not very effective because the necrotic tissue can be sticky and hard to grasp. This DEN procedure is part of regular clinical care to treat this condition and remove necrotic tissue from the pancreas. For this research study, the same DEN procedure will be followed with the exception of the device used for the removal of the necrotic tissue. Instead of using forceps, snares, or other traditional tools, a cryoprobe will be used. Cryoprobes work by using extremely cold temperatures to freeze and adhere to the necrotic tissue, making it easier to remove. This method might be better because it can secure larger tissue samples and potentially reduce complications associated with traditional methods. Cryotechnology is successfully used in endoscopy to remove necrotic tissue, foreign bodies and more, but has not been extensively tested in pancreatic necrosis. Cryoprobes are FDA approved medical devices with an established safety record. They are used successfully in very sensitive areas such as the lungs. This study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cryotechnology for DEN.
Description
Acute pancreatitis is the most common gastrointestinal disease requiring acute hospital admission. Pancreatic necrosis, a serious complication of acute pancreatitis, is the irreversible death of pancreatic tissue and, in some cases, surrounding abdominal tissue. Worldwide, the incidence of acute pancreatitis ranges from 13 to 45 cases per 100,000 people per year, with a subset progressing to necrotizing pancreatitis. Approximately 5-10% of acute pancreatitis cases progress to this severe form, which carries a significant morbidity and mortality burden, with mortality rates escalating to as hig…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects aged 18 years and above, inclusive of both males and females. * Patients with symptomatic pancreatic necrosis resulting from acute pancreatitis, indicated for endoscopic necrosectomy following endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage. * Imaging indicative of ≥30% necrotic material within the pancreas. * Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) size ≥6 cm. * Subjects able to tolerate repeated endoscopic procedures. * Capacity for providing informed consent. * Understanding of study requirements, provision of written informed consent, and willingness and ability t…
Interventions
- DeviceCryotechnology Necrosectomy Procedure
Subjects undergo necrosectomy with 1.7 mm flexible cryoprobes, either concurrently with stent placement or post-placement, at the Investigator's discretion. The cryoprobe will freeze the necrotic tissue and extracted en-bloc. A maximum of 4 cryotechnology procedures will be performed, with each procedure aiming for significant debris removal and clinical improvement of walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) symptoms.
Location
- Brigham and Women's HospitalBoston, Massachusetts