LAUSR

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pancreatic necrosis (PN) may be categorized as an acute necrotic collection (ANC) or walled-off necrosis (WON) based on complete encapsulation by a wall and collection age (≤ or > 4 weeks). Endoscopic intervention of WON has become the standard of care, but little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of endoscopic intervention of PN ≤4 weeks from disease onset. METHODS Retrospective review of medical records and imaging studies of all patients undergoing early endoscopic intervention of PN between 2008 and 2018 at one referral center. Patients who underwent previous interventional treatment were excluded. Control WON patients were matched to early intervention cases. Primary outcome was defined as resolution of the collection after endoscopic treatment, without surgery. RESULTS Nineteen patients with early intervention were identified. The most common indication for intervention was infection. Median age of these collections at the time of initial endoscopic intervention was 23 days (range 15-27), and all collections had a partial or complete wall discernable on contrast-enhanced CT. Eleven patients underwent concurrent endoscopic necrosectomy. Primary outcome was achieved in all of the early intervention group. Total duration of therapy was longer for early intervention compared with controls (103 vs 69 days, p=0.042), with no mortality and similar adverse event rates compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic intervention of PN in the third and fourth weeks of illness appears effective and safe when a partial collection wall is present on cross-sectional imaging studies, with outcomes paralleling those reported for intervention of WON.