Endoscopic Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocysts, Abscesses, and Walled-Off (Organized) Necrosis

Our understanding of the natural history of acute pancreatitis and its sequelae continues to evolve. A subset of patients with acute pancreatitis develop pancreatic fluid collections. The currently available literature suggests that endoscopic management of pancreatic fluid collections is the preferred management strategy in the majority of symptomatic cases. Treatment strategies range from simple drainage of liquefied contents to repeated direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) of a necrotic collection. In this chapter, we focus on the indications, techniques, and outcomes for endoscopic therapy of pancreatic fluid collections.