Evaluation of a Novel Easy Loop-Forming Guidewire to Reduce Post–Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis for Serial Pancreatic Juice Aspiration Cytologic Examination

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate whether a novel, easy loop-forming guidewire could reduce post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) in patients undergoing endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube placement for serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE). Methods We evaluated patients with suspected pancreatic cancer who underwent SPACE at our institution between January 2015 and April 2023 retrospectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the type of guidewire used, namely, easy loop-forming and control groups. Propensity score matching was used to compare the incidence of PEP between the groups. Results We included 101 patients, with 51 and 50 in the easy loop-forming and control groups, respectively. After propensity score matching, 29 pairs of patients were selected from each group. Intraductal ultrasonography of the pancreas was performed more frequently in the easy loop-forming group than in the control group (27.6% vs 0%; P = 0.004); however, PEP incidence was significantly lower in the easy loop-forming group than in the control group (3.4% vs 27.6%; odds ratio, 0.097; 95% confidence interval, 0.002–0.82; P = 0.025). Conclusions The use of the novel easy loop-forming guidewire decreased PEP occurrence in patients who underwent endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube placement for SPACE.