Percutaneous Drainage with Vacuum Aspiration of Pancreatic Pseudocysts

Several techniques have been reported for percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts, and most techniques have a considerable recurrence rate. Continuous drainage of noninfected cysts is a good, nonsurgical alternative. Either 7- or 9 F pigtail catheters were placed transgastrically through trocars with their tips in the cyst with ultrasonography guidance in 22 patients. Continuous vacuum drainage was applied for 20–80 days. No irrigation was performed. The treatment was effective in 21 of 22 cases. No major complications occurred.