New scope procedure aims to calm chronic pancreatitis pain
NCT ID NCT04232670
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a procedure called pancreatic endotherapy can reduce pain in people with chronic pancreatitis whose main pancreatic duct is blocked by stones or narrowings. Fourteen adults with severe daily pain were randomly assigned to get either an ultrasound alone or the full endotherapy (which may include stone removal, duct widening, or stent placement). The main goal was to see if pain scores dropped over 90 days. The results could help doctors decide if this invasive approach is worth the risks for long-term pain relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pancreatic endotherapy (a procedure using an endoscope to remove stones, widen narrow ducts, or place stents)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a way to ease severe abdominal pain in people with chronic pancreatitis and blocked pancreatic ducts.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small study (14 people) with no clear phase, so results may not apply widely. The procedure itself carries risks like bleeding, infection, or pancreatitis flare-ups.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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14 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- Finished
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Jun 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria * Age ≥ 18 years * Main pancreatic duct obstruction, defined by the presence of one or both of the following features: * Main pancreatic duct calcification with upstream main duct dilation ≥6mm. * Main pancreatic duct stricture, defined by the presence of main pancreatic duct narrowing with upstream main duct dilation ≥6mm. * Baseline average abdominal pain score ≥4 during the run-in period, based on Ecological Momentary Assessment 11-point Numeric Rating Scale * Ability to provide written, informed consent Exclusion Criteria * Symptoms attributable to a pancreatic pseudocyst or walled off necrosis * Clinical suspicion of pancreatobiliary malignancy\* * Low probability of follow-up to complete study objectives * Pregnancy or incarceration * Medical comorbidities that contraindicate the performance of ERCP * Previous pancreatic endotherapy * Current Opioid Misuse Measure score ≥9 * Does not have access to a mobile phone \* Pancreatobiliary malignancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
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Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon, 97035, United States
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