A prospective crossover study comparing secretin-stimulated endoscopic and Dreiling tube pancreatic function testing in patients evaluated for chronic pancreatitis

Background: Direct pancreatic function tests (PFT) are conventionally performed with use of double-lumen "Dreiling" collection tubes. We have developed an endoscopic collection method (ePFT) that eases the performance of these tests. Objective: Our aim was to compare the bicarbonate results obtained from the secretin ePFT and Dreiling PFT methods in patients evaluated for chronic pancreatitis. Design: A prospective crossover design was used to compare the PFT methods. Setting: Tertiary care referral center. Patients and Interventions: Twenty-four patients undergoing an evaluation for chronic pancreatitis underwent the secretin-stimulated ePFT and Dreiling PFT methods on separate days. Main Outcome Measurements: Duodenal fluid bicarbonate concentrations and estimated bicarbonate outputs were compared. Results: The mean difference in peak bicarbonate concentration (Dreiling PFT minus ePFT) was 7 mEq/L (SD 20) and not statistically significant (P = .11). A good correlation in peak bicarbonate concentrations (r = 0.74, 95% CI, 0.48-0.88) and estimated bicarbonate output (r = 0.78, 95% CI, 0.54-0.90) was observed between the two PFT methods. Limitation: The sensitivities and specificities of the secretin ePFT and Dreiling PFT could not be compared because of the lack of a histologic gold standard. Conclusion: The secretin ePFT yields results similar to those of the Dreiling PFT in patients evaluated for chronic pancreatitis.