G52 -- December 2006 -- New Pancreatitis Treatment

Intro: Your pancreas is an organ that does two things: it secretes enzymes that help you digest food, and it creates insulin to regulate blood sugar. But sometimes gall stones, medications or alcohol can cause pancreatitis. It's inflammation that can be mild or severe, in which case you may need surgery. But now doctors at Mayo Clinic are performing a new procedure that can keep you out of the operating room.

"13. 31. 27. GO."

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE MIKE HAAS ENJOYED AN EVENING OF CARDS AND SNACKS WITH HIS WIFE NANCY.

"I'LL EAT THAT ONE."

SEVERE PANCREATITIS MADE SNACKING IMPOSSIBLE. A BUILD-UP OF DEAD PANCREATIC TISSUE AND FLUID CAUSED INTENSE BACK AND ABDOMINAL PAIN THAT LANDED MIKE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

"WHEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT AN OPERATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I THOUGHT, 'OH, HERE WE GO.' THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN CUT OPEN. I WASN'T REALLY HIP ON THAT. SO I THOUGHT, 'IS THERE ANYTHING LESS-INVASIVE YOU CAN DO?'"

IN FACT, THERE IS.

"HERE'S A CT SCAN."

DR. TODD BARON USES AN ENDOSCOPE TO REACH THE PANCREAS WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY ONLY BEEN ACCESSIBLE WITH SURGERY.

"WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THE ENDOSCOPE AND WE'RE PURPOSELY MAKING A HOLE. WE THEN DILATE IT WITH A BALLOON LARGE ENOUGH SO WE CAN DRIVE AN ENDOSCOPE THROUGH THE STOMACH OR DUODENUM AND ACTUALLY GRAB THIS MATERIAL AND REMOVE IT."

THE DEBRIS IS DUMPED INTO THE STOMACH WHERE IT PASSES THROUGH YOUR SYSTEM NORMALLY.

"18. 23."

MIKE HAD TWO ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES. HE'LL HAVE ONE MORE TO REMOVE DRAINS THAT WERE PLACED TO MAKE SURE ALL DEBRIS IS GONE.

"YOUR TURN..."

AND AFTER MONTHS OF PAIN AND NO APPETITE, MIKE IS GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

"I PRETTY MUCH EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. TRAIL MIX, GRAPES, CHEESE AND CRACKERS."

THANKS TO THE PROCEDURE THAT KEPT HIM OUT OF THE OPERATING ROOM.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Tag: Mike says he's thrilled that he didn't have to have a big surgery to treat severe pancreatitis. Dr. Baron says as this technology develops, doctors will be able to treat patients for other conditions that currently require traditional surgery. For more information, visit our Website at…