Multiple main pancreatic duct stones in tropical pancreatitis: safe clearance with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) has an established role in the management of pancreatic ductal stones. Its efficacy in management of multiple stones in tropical pancreatitis is unknown. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate: (i) the efficacy of main pancreatic duct stone clearance; and (ii) associated complications with ESWL therapy in tropical pancreatitis. Consecutively recruited patients with tropical pancreatitis underwent fragmentation of main pancreatic duct stones using ESWL. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using standard techniques was performed to manage residual stones. Complete, partial and unsatisfactory clearance was defined as > 90%, 50-90% and < 50% of stone clearance, respectively. Clinical and technical data were collected on a pre-formatted data sheet. Statistical analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. A total of 250 patients (mean +/- SD age 35.2 +/- 11.9 years; 66% men), 86.8% with multiple radio-opaque stones, underwent ESWL between February 2004 and May 2005. Of the 250 patients, 149 (59.6%) achieved complete clearance and 59 (23.6%) achieved partial clearance of pancreatic calculi. Main pancreatic ductal decompression was achieved in 70.0% (175/250) of patients. Complications occurred in 5.6% (14/250) during ESWL and in 1.2% (3/250) during ERCP. A mean of 1.3 sessions, with mean +/- SD 5.5 +/- 0.7 intensity setting, 85.8 +/- 13.5 pulses per minute and 3862 +/- 1426 shocks per session were required. Clearance of multiple main pancreatic duct stones in patients with tropical pancreatitis is safely performed via ESWL followed by ERCP ductal drainage.