Encapsulation-oriented vs. Timing-oriented Strategies for Necrotizing Pancreatitis

This multicenter, randomized controlled trial (WONDER-03 study) investigates the optimal timing for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. Although current guidelines recommend delaying drainage until at least four weeks after the onset of acute pancreatitis to allow for encapsulation of necrosis, recent observational data suggest that the degree of encapsulation itself may more strongly influence treatment success and safety. In this trial, patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: an encapsulation-oriented group, in which EUS-guided drainage is performed when imaging confirms ≥80% encapsulation of the necrotic collection with symptoms, and a timing-oriented group, in which drainage is performed at four to five weeks after disease onset, regardless of encapsulation status. The primary endpoint is clinical success within 180 days, defined as both radiologic resolution of necrosis and improvement in symptoms. Secondary endpoints include adverse event rates, recurrence of fluid collections, technical and clinical success rates, and healthcare resource use. This study aims to determine whether a strategy based on encapsulation leads to better clinical outcomes than the conventional time-based approach and may help establish a new evidence-based treatment algorithm for necrotizing pancreatitis.