Background:Pancreatic-fluid collections are frequent sequelae of acute and chronic pancreatitis,and endoscopic drainage of these collections has gained acceptance as an alternative to surgical drainage.Methods:Patient data,collection characteristics,drainage technique,and outcomes were obtained through chart review and prospective follow-up for 116 patients with attempted endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic-fluid collections.Results:A total of 116 patients presented with fluid collections classified as acute fluid collection(n = 5),necrosis(n = 8),acute pseudocyst(n = 30),chronic pseudocyst(n = 64),and pancreatic abscess(n = 9).The median diameter of the collection drained was 60 mm(15-275 mm).Median follow-up after drainage was 21 months.The drainage technique was transpapillary in 15 patients,transmural in 60,and both in 41.Successful resolution of symptoms and collection occurred in 87.9%of cases.No difference in success rates was observed between patients with acute pancreatitis and those with chronic pancreatitis.However,drainage of organized necrosis was associated with a significantly higher failure rate than other collections.No significant differences were observed regarding success when disease,drainage technique,or site of drainage was considered.Complications occurred in 13 patients(11%),and there were 6 deaths in the 30 days after drainage,including one that was procedure related.Conclusions:Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic-fluid collections is successful in the majority of patients and is accompanied by an acceptable complication rate. Background: Pancreatic-fluid collections are frequent sequelae of acute and chronic pancreatitis, and endoscopic drainage of these collections has gained acceptance as an alternative to surgical drainage. Methods: Patient data, collection characteristics, drainage techniques, and outcomes were obtained through chart review and prospective follow-up for 116 patients with attempted endoscopic drainage of symptomatic pancreatic-fluid collections. Results: A total of 116 patients presented with fluid collections classified as acute fluid collection (n = 5), necrosis (n = 8), acute pseudocyst n = 30), chronic pseudocyst (n = 64), and pancreatic abscess (n = 9) .The median diameter of the collection drained was 60 mm (15-275 mm) .Median follow-up after drainage was 21 months. drainage technique was transpapillary in 15 patients, transmural in 60, and both in 41.Successful resolution of symptoms and collection occurred in 87.9% of cases. No difference in success rates was observed between patients with acute pancr eatitis and those with chronic pancreatitis. Yet, drainage of organized necrosis was associated with a significantly higher failure rate than other collections. No significant differences were observed regarding success when disease, drainage technique, or site of drainage was considered. Complications in 13 patients (11%), and there were 6 deaths in the 30 days after drainage, including one that was procedure related. Conclusions: Endoscopic drainage of pancreatic-fluid collections is successful in the majority of patients and is accompanied by an acceptable complication rate.