Patient records
Name: Elena
Age: 62 years old
Nationality: Russian
Diagnosis: Recovery phase of severe acute pancreatitis, giant pancreatic pseudocyst (15cm in diameter).
Treatment hospital: Department of Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University.
After surviving the life-or-death ordeal of acute pancreatitis, some patients face a troublesome sequela — pancreatic pseudocysts. This fluid-filled "sac" is like a time bomb, potentially causing infection, rupture, or compression of surrounding organs at any time. Elena's story tells how she resolved this hidden danger in China using a non-surgical, scarless endoscopic technique.
1. A fluid-filled sac left behind by an "emergency" illness.
Elena is a retired teacher from Moscow. Two months ago, she suffered a severe bout of acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones. She underwent anti-infection and organ support treatment in Moscow's ICU and survived. However, a follow-up CT scan after discharge revealed a large pseudocyst, 15 centimeters in diameter, forming around her pancreas.
The cyst, like an ever-expanding balloon, began to compress her stomach and duodenum. She experienced severe early satiety, feeling bloated after only a few bites of food, followed by nausea and vomiting. In just one month, she lost 10 kilograms and became extremely weak. Doctors in Moscow told her that the cyst was too large and unlikely to resolve on its own, recommending surgical drainage. However, the surgery required a large incision in her abdomen, a highly invasive procedure with a long recovery period, which was too risky for Elena, who had just recovered from a serious illness and was still very weak.
2. Our Value: Finding a minimally invasive solution—endoscopic drainage—between major surgery and conservative waiting.
Elena's daughter contacted us through an international medical network. Her request was very clear: "My mother's body can't withstand another major surgery. We've heard that there's a technique in China that can drain cysts from the stomach without surgery. Is that true?"
In this context of information asymmetry, we provide patients with evidence-based decision support. Upon receiving her Russian medical records and CT images, our work quickly focused on delivering three core values:
First，Condition analysis and treatment plan matching. We compiled all her imaging data into a "Pre-consultation Summary for Pancreatic Pseudocyst." The core conclusion was: her cyst was large, with clear compressive symptoms, and a clear indication for treatment. Furthermore, the cyst wall was mature and tightly adhered to the stomach wall, making it a perfect indication for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transgastric drainage. We matched her with the Department of Pancreatic Surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University , a leading international medical center in the field of endoscopic treatment of pancreatic diseases . This center has extensive experience in using EUS-guided transgastric puncture and stent placement for cyst-gastric anastomosis, enabling truly "scarless" surgery.
Secondly，Honest expectation management. Before the remote video consultation, we had an in-depth pre-consultation with Elena and her family. We clearly explained: "Endoscopic drainage does not remove the cyst. Instead, it uses a stent placed between the stomach and the cyst to allow the cyst fluid to drain into the stomach and then out through the digestive tract. The cyst wall will gradually collapse and heal. The stent usually needs to remain in place for several months until the cyst disappears before being removed. It is a minimally invasive and safe procedure, but it takes time."
Third，Full-time care and nutritional support. After Elena arrived in China, our Russian-speaking coordinator accompanied her throughout the entire surgery. The surgery was performed under intravenous anesthesia. Experts used an endoscope, guided by ultrasound, to precisely puncture the cyst and place a double-pigtail stent. The entire procedure took less than an hour, and there were no incisions in her abdomen. The day after the surgery, her abdominal bloating significantly subsided, and she was able to consume liquid foods. The coordinator also assisted the hospital's nutrition department in developing a high-protein, easily digestible nutritional meal plan to help her regain her weight as quickly as possible.
3. Post-diagnosis services and follow-up: Safeguarding the long-term health of women without cysts.
After Elena returned to China, our post-operative care system began operating. We established a "Remote Follow-up Record for Pancreatic Pseudocyst Surgery" for her, with the core task of monitoring the disappearance of the cyst and the status of the stent.
Each month, we collect her weight, eating habits, and abdominal symptom diary through a remote follow-up platform.
Each quarter, we coordinate for her to have a follow-up abdominal CT scan in Moscow and send the images back to China for remote review by experts to accurately assess changes in cyst size and stent placement.
Once the CT scan confirms that the cyst has completely disappeared, we will assist her to come to China again, where the same expert will remove the placed stent via endoscopy, completing the entire treatment loop.
4. Therapeutic Effects and Insights
Three months after the surgery, Elena's cyst had completely disappeared, and she had regained 8 kilograms in weight. She returned to China and successfully had the stent removed. In a thank-you video she sent us, she said, "Thank you for helping me resolve the biggest hidden danger at the lowest cost. I can finally eat in peace and enjoy my retirement."