Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Pancreatic Fluid Collections

EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections, including both pseudocysts and walled-off pancreatic necrosis, was once an uncommon procedure. The rise and widespread dissemination of interventional EUS techniques to perform drainage and debridement of these collections have made these procedures more appealing and much more widely performed and accepted. The advent and availability of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) have also greatly facilitated these procedures, although other stent types can be used in a variety of settings. This chapter will review the current indications, techniques, and outcomes of patients undergoing EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic fluid collections. In addition, debridement techniques and adverse events of these procedures will be covered as well.