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

Necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by pancreatic and/or peripancreatic tissue necrosis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural drainage has become widely adopted as a minimally invasive approach for the management of symptomatic necrotizing pancreatitis, particularly in cases of infected collections or organ compression. Traditionally, clinical guidelines have recommended delaying such drainage procedures until four weeks after the onset of acute pancreatitis, under the assumption that encapsulation of the necrotic tissue during this time enhances safety and technical success. However, this timing-based strategy lacks robust prospective validation and may not be optimal for all patients.

Recent data from multicenter cohort studies conducted in Japan have indicated that the degree of encapsulation at the time of drainage may be a more critical factor than the elapsed time since disease onset. In these studies, patients with ≥80% encapsulation demonstrated significantly higher rates of clinical success and lower complication rates compared to those with partial or no encapsulation, regardless of the timing of intervention. This observation suggests that the current standard approach, which relies solely on time from onset, may not adequately capture individual patient readiness for intervention.

The WONDER-03 study is designed as a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial to compare two treatment strategies in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. Participants are randomly assigned to either the encapsulation-oriented group or the timing-oriented group. In the encapsulation-oriented group, EUS-guided drainage is performed once imaging, preferably contrast-enhanced CT, confirms that the necrotic collection is at least 80% encapsulated and the patient presents with symptoms such as infection, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal obstruction, or biliary obstruction. In the timing-oriented group, drainage is scheduled for four to five weeks after the onset of acute pancreatitis if the patient is symptomatic, irrespective of the encapsulation status.

Eligible patients must be 18 years or older, have a diagnosis of necrotizing pancreatitis based on imaging, and be enrolled within 28 days of disease onset. Exclusion criteria include unclear onset timing, prior drainage procedures, a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, contraindications to endoscopic treatment, or pregnancy. Randomization is stratified by participating institution and the presence of organ failure.

The primary outcome of the study is clinical success within 180 days of randomization, defined as both a reduction in the maximum diameter of the necrotic collection to ≤2 cm on CT or MRI, and resolution of the symptoms that necessitated intervention. These may include normalization of inflammatory markers in infected cases, relief of abdominal pain or gastrointestinal obstruction, or resolution of biliary obstruction.

Secondary outcomes include the incidence of procedure-related complications, technical success of EUS drainage, time to clinical success, recurrence of pancreatic fluid collections, mortality, total number and duration of interventions, need for surgery, length of hospitalization and ICU stay, duration of antibiotic therapy, and related medical costs. In addition, long-term outcomes such as the development of diabetes, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, sarcopenia, and pancreatic cancer will be monitored over a follow-up period of five years.

The trial also incorporates centralized oversight through an expert panel, which assists in evaluating imaging findings to confirm eligibility and encapsulation status. All procedures are performed by experienced endoscopists, and treatment protocols, including use of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), necrosectomy, and step-up interventions, are standardized across sites.

By directly comparing the two strategies in a prospective, randomized setting, this study aims to generate high-quality evidence to guide clinical decision-making in the management of necrotizing pancreatitis. If encapsulation-oriented timing proves superior, it could shift clinical practice toward a more individualized, pathology-driven approach, improving patient outcomes while reducing the risk of complications and unnecessary delays in treatment.