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Most randomized studies of prophylactic pancreatic-duct stenting to prevent post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis were performed with internally flanged pancreatic stents, which require a second procedure for removal. This additional endoscopy can injure the pancreatic duct and increase costs. Are unflanged stents, which are designed for spontaneous dislodgement, effective in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis?
Researchers performed a randomized, multicenter study in Japan to assess the efficacy of unflanged pancreatic stents in 201 consecutive patients undergoing ERCP. Ninety-eight patients received 3-cm, 5F, straight polyethylene stents (no flanges on the pancreatic ductal side and 2 on the duodenal side); …