Clinical study on cystogastrostomy and Roux-en-Y-type cystojejunostomy in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst: A single-center experience.

ABSTRACT: The main purpose is to compare the efficacy of cystogastrostomy (CG) and Roux-en-Y-type cystojejunostomy (RCJ) in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst (PPC), and to explore the risk factors of recurrence and complications after internal drainage.Two hundred eight patients undergoing either CG or RCJ for PPC Between January 1, 2013and February 1, 2019, at West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively analyzed. The cure rate, complication rate and related factors were compared between the 2 groups.Two hundred eight patients with PPC underwent either a CG (n = 119) or RCJ (n = 89). The median follow-up time was 42.7 months. Between the 2 cohorts, there were no significant differences in cure rate, reoperation rate, and mortality (all P > .05). The operative time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, install the number of drainage tubes and total expenses in CG group were lower than those in RCJ group (all P < .05). The Logistic regression analysis showed that over twice of pancreatitis' occurrence was were independent risk factor for recurrence after internal drainage of PPC (OR 2.760, 95% CI 1.006∼7.571, P = .049). Short course of pancreatitis (OR 0.922, 95% CI 0.855∼0.994, P = .035), and RCJ (OR 2.319, 95% CI 1.033∼5.204, P = .041) were independent risk factors for complications after internal drainage of PPC.Both CG and RCJ are safe and effective surgical methods for treating PPC. There were no significant differences in cure rate, reoperation rate, and mortality between the 2 groups, while the CG group had a short operation time, less intraoperative bleeding and less cost.

Disconnected Pancreatic Duct Syndrome: Spectrum of Operative Management.

BACKGROUND: Disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) is common after necrotizing pancreatitis (NP). Surgical management may be by internal drainage or left (distal) pancreatectomy. Therapeutic decision-making must consider sinistral portal hypertension, parenchymal volume of disconnected pancreas, and timing relative to definitive management of pancreatic necrosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate outcomes after operative management for DPDS. METHODS: All patients with NP undergoing an operation for DPDS were included in the study (2005-2017). Perioperative outcomes and long-term durability were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 647 patients with NP, 299 (46%) had DPDS. Operative management was required in 202/299 (68%) patients with DPDS. Median follow-up was 30 mo (2-165). Definitive operative therapy included internal drainage (n = 111) or resection (n = 91). Time from NP diagnosis to operation was 126 d (20 d to 81 mo). Overall morbidity was 46%. Postoperative length of stay was 7 d (2-97). Readmission was required in 39 patients (19%). Mortality was 2%. Repeat pancreatic intervention was required in 23 patients (11%) at a median of 15 mo (1-98). Repeat pancreatectomy was performed in nine patients and the remaining 14 patients were managed with endoscopic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: DPDS is a common and challenging consequence of NP. Appropriate operation is durable in nearly 90% of patients.

Teres Ligament Patch Reduces Relevant Morbidity After Distal Pancreatectomy (the DISCOVER Randomized Controlled Trial).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of teres ligament covering on pancreatic fistula rate after distal pancreatectomy (DP). BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents the most significant complication after DP. Retrospective studies suggested a benefit of covering the resection margin by a teres ligament patch. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study (DISCOVER trial) included 152 patients undergoing DP, between October 2010 and July 2014. Patients were randomized to undergo closure of the pancreatic cut margin without (control, n = 76) or with teres ligament coverage (teres, n = 76). The primary endpoint was the rate of POPF, and the secondary endpoints included postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay, and readmission rate. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable regarding epidemiology (age, sex, body mass index), operative parameters (operation time [OP] time, blood loss, method of pancreas transection, additional operative procedures), and histopathological findings. Overall inhospital mortality was 0.6% (1/152 patients). In the group of patients with teres ligament patch, the rate of reoperations (1.3% vs 13.0%; P = 0.009), and also the rate of readmission (13.1 vs 31.5%; P = 0.011) were significantly lower. Clinically relevant POPF rate (grade B/C) was 32.9% (control) versus 22.4% (teres, P = 0.20). Multivariable analysis showed teres ligament coverage to be a protective factor for clinically relevant POPF (P = 0.0146). CONCLUSIONS: Coverage of the pancreatic remnant after DP is associated with less reinterventions, reoperations, and need for readmission. Although the overall fistula rate is not reduced by the coverage procedure, it should be considered as a valid measure for complication prevention due to its clinical benefit.

Management strategies for pancreatic pseudocysts.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocysts are walled-off peripancreatic fluid collections. There is considerable uncertainty about how pancreatic pseudocysts should be treated. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of different management strategies for pancreatic pseudocysts. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library 2015, Issue 9, and MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, and trials registers until September 2015. We also searched the references of included trials and contacted trial authors. SELECTION CRITERIA: We only considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of people with pancreatic pseudocysts, regardless of size, presence of symptoms, or aetiology. We placed no restrictions on blinding, language, or publication status of the trials. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently identified trials and extracted data. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with RevMan 5, based on an available-case analysis for direct comparisons, using fixed-effect and random-effect models. We also conducted indirect comparisons (rather than network meta-analysis), since there were no outcomes for which direct and indirect evidence were available. MAIN RESULTS: We included four RCTs, with 177 participants, in this review. After one participant was excluded, 176 participants were randomised to endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage (88 participants), endoscopic drainage (44 participants), EUS-guided drainage with nasocystic drainage (24 participants), and open surgical drainage (20 participants). The comparisons included endoscopic drainage versus EUS-guided drainage (two trials), EUS-guided drainage with nasocystic drainage versus EUS-guided drainage alone (one trial), and open surgical drainage versus EUS-guided drainage (one trial). The participants were mostly symptomatic, with pancreatic pseudocysts resulting from acute and chronic pancreatitis of varied aetiology. The mean size of the pseudocysts ranged between 70 mm and 155 mm across studies. Although the trials appeared to include similar types of participants for all comparisons, we were unable to assess this statistically, since there were no direct and indirect results for any of the comparisons.All the trials were at unclear or high risk of bias, and the overall quality of evidence was low or very low for all outcomes. One death occurred in the endoscopic drainage group (1/44; 2.3%), due to bleeding. There were no deaths in the other groups. The differences in the serious adverse events were imprecise. Short-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL; four weeks to three months) was worse (MD -21.00; 95% CI -33.21 to -8.79; participants = 40; studies = 1; range: 0 to 100; higher score indicates better) and the costs were higher in the open surgical drainage group than the EUS-guided drainage group (MD 8040 USD; 95% CI 3020 to 13,060; participants = 40; studies = 1). There were fewer adverse events in the EUS-guided drainage with nasocystic drainage group than in the EUS-guided drainage alone (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.73; participants = 47; studies = 1), or the endoscopic drainage group (indirect comparison: OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.61). Participants with EUS-guided drainage with nasocystic drainage also had shorter hospital stays compared to EUS-guided drainage alone (MD -8.10 days; 95% CI -9.79 to -6.41; participants = 47; studies = 1), endoscopic drainage (indirect comparison: MD -7.10 days; 95% CI -9.38 to -4.82), or open surgical drainage group (indirect comparison: MD -12.30 days; 95% CI -14.48 to -10.12). The open surgical drainage group had longer hospital stays than the EUS-guided drainage group (MD 4.20 days; 95% CI 2.82 to 5.58; participants = 40; studies = 1); the endoscopic drainage group had longer hospital stays than the open drainage group (indirect comparison: -5.20 days; 95% CI -7.26 to -3.14). The need for additional invasive interventions was higher for the endoscopic drainage group than the EUS-guided drainage group (OR 11.13; 95% CI 2.85 to 43.44; participants = 89; studies = 2), and the open drainage group (indirect comparison: OR 23.69; 95% CI 1.40 to 400.71). The differences between groups were imprecise for the other comparisons that could be performed. None of the trials reported long-term mortality, medium-term HRQoL (three months to one year), long-term HRQoL (longer than one year), time-to-return to normal activities, or time-to-return to work. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Very low-quality evidence suggested that the differences in mortality and serious adverse events between treatments were imprecise. Low-quality evidence suggested that short-term HRQoL (four weeks to three months) was worse, and the costs were higher in the open surgical drainage group than in the EUS-guided drainage group. Low-quality or very low-quality evidence suggested that EUS-guided drainage with nasocystic drainage led to fewer adverse events than EUS-guided or endoscopic drainage, and shorter hospital stays when compared to EUS-guided drainage, endoscopic drainage, or open surgical drainage, while EUS-guided drainage led to shorter hospital stays than open surgical drainage. Low-quality evidence suggested that there was a higher need for additional invasive procedures with endoscopic drainage than EUS-guided drainage, while it was lower in the open surgical drainage than in the endoscopic drainage group.Further RCTs are needed to compare EUS-guided drainage, with or without nasocystic drainage, in symptomatic patients with pancreatic pseudocysts that require treatment. Future trials should include patient-oriented outcomes such as mortality, serious adverse events, HRQoL, hospital stay, return-to-normal activity, number of work days lost, and the need for additional procedures, for a minimum follow-up period of two to three years.

Isolated pancreatic injuries: An analysis of 49 consecutive patients treated at a Level 1 Trauma Centre.

BACKGROUND: This study interrogated a large prospectively documented institutional database to determine morbidity and mortality after an isolated pancreatic injury (IPI). METHOD: Complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definitions. The degree of the pancreatic duct injury was graded using a modified Takishima duct injury classification. Primary endpoints were general and pancreas-specific morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty-eight consecutive patients were treated between 1990 and 2014 for pancreatic injuries of whom 49 (median age: 30, range: 13-68 years, 41 men, blunt injuries: n=43) had an IPI. Thirty-four (70%) patients underwent urgent surgery, 20 of whom had a distal pancreatectomy and 14 had external drainage of the pancreatic injury. Fifteen (30%) patients presented with a non-resolving pancreatic pseudocyst or fistula; five had grade 4A or 4B ductal injuries and underwent surgery, 10 with 3A and 3B ductal injuries were successfully managed endoscopically. Fifty-five percent had postoperative morbidity. Two patients (4%) died of non-pancreatic-related causes. CONCLUSION: While overall mortality is low after an IPI, morbidity is high. Two thirds of patients required operative intervention and one third were treated endoscopically. The degree of pancreatic ductal injury determined whether endoscopic intervention was effective.

Laparoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts: experience at a general hospital in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND: Invasive management of pancreatic pseudocysts (PP) is currently indicated in those patients with symptoms or complications. Treatment options are classified as surgical (open and laparoscopic) and non-surgical (endoscopic and radiologic). AIM: To describe the morbidity, mortality, and efficacy in terms of technical and clinical success of the laparoscopic surgical approach in the treatment of patients with PP in the last 3 years at our hospital center. METHODS: We included patients with PP treated with laparoscopic surgery within the time frame of January 2012 and December 2014. The morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure were determined, together with the postoperative results in terms of effectiveness and recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were diagnosed with PP within the last 3 years, but only 20 of them had invasive treatment. Laparoscopic surgery was performed on 17 of those patients (mean pseudocyst diameter of 15.3, primary drainage success rate of 94.1%, complication rate of 5.9%, and a 40-month follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained with the laparoscopic technique used at our hospital center showed that this approach is feasible, efficacious, and safe. Thus, performed by skilled surgeons, it should be considered a treatment option for patients with PP.

Review of current therapy of pancreatic pseudocysts.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Therapeutic interventions for complicated pancreatitis, especially in pseudocysts and walled-off necroses as a sequel of necrotizing pancreatitis, have a long history. Originally a stronghold of classical surgery and radiology, in the last two decades this was increasingly supplemented by endoscopy, often with adjuvant percutaneous drainage, mostly reducing open surgery to a salvage intervention in case of failure and complication. This study aims to evaluate and compare the current therapeutic options for pancreatic fluid collections, especially pseudocysts. METHODS: Systematic literature search via MedLine and Pubmed was performed with comprehensive tabulations of original publications of the endoscopic, surgical and percutaneous therapeutic interventions in pancreatic pseudocysts and WON in the last 27 years. Only studies including more than 10 cases were further analysed. The results with regard to complications, outcome, recurrence and mortality were analysed for each approach, the risk of bias was assessed and a conclusive statement was made. RESULTS: The initial literature search identified 46 studies. 12 studies had to be excluded because the number of individuals included was too low. 34 endoscopic, 8 surgical and 8 percutaneous studies were further analysed, leading to a number of 2485 patients in this review. The short-term clinical success was 85 % for the endoscopic approach, 83 % for surgery and 67 % for the percutaneous intervention. The complication rates were 16 %, 45 % and 34 % for endoscopic, surgical and percutaneous therapy, respectively. Typical complications were hemorrhage, infection, perforation and, especially in the percutaneous approach, pancreatocutaneous fistulisation. CONCLUSION: According to the high success and low complication rates the endoscopic intervention appears as the most efficient method. But each method has its own indications, restrictions and therefore patient groups. Therefore it is reasonable to consider all the available methods in a productive interdisciplinary manner for the ultimate benefit of the patient in the future.

[Acute pancreatitis in pediatric age: our experience in 52 cases]. / Pancreatite acuta in età pediatrica: nostra esperienza su 52 casi.

AIM: The aim of this study was to report our experience about clinical presentation and management in children with mild and sever acute pancreatitis (PA). METHODS: At the onset of clinical manifestations the following laboratory and instrumental tests were performed to all patients: abdominal ultrasonography, measurement of blood amylase and lipase and PCR; preventive antibiotic therapy, gabexate mesylate and proton pump inhibitors were also administrated to all patients. During the follow-up CT and dosage amylase and lipase in blood were performed. RESULTS: Results summarize data of 52 patients with suspected diagnosis of acute pancreatitis admitted to our hospital within 24 h of symptoms (from January 2008 to December 2011). Age ranged between 4-18 years, and the study included 30 females and 22 males. According to Santorini Consensus Conference, 40 patients were defined having a mild and 12 a severe pancreatitis. All patients with mild PA underwent a medical and/or surgical treatment (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, laparoscopic cholecystectomy); there were 2 fatalities between patients with severe PA and 2 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst treated with guided CT drainage and therapy with octreotide. All patients had abdominal pain but the location, severity and duration of pain were extremely variable. Blood dosage of amylase was altered in 83% of cases and of lipase in 100%. Ultrasonography showed abnormalities in 89% of the patients and TC showed alterations of pancreatic parenchyma in 100% of the cases when performed at 48 h. CONCLUSION: In absence of randomized controlled studies, systematic review or guidelines for diagnosis and management of PA in pediatric age we used our experiences on adult patients, aware of this approach limitation.

[Differentiated approach to the choice of the treatment method for pancreatic pseudocysts].

The results of treatment of 182 patients, suffering pancreatic pseudocysts, were analyzed. Total of 226 operative interventions were performed. Under ultrasonographic control 142 (78.02%) patients were operated, open surgical procedures were conducted in 68 (37.36%) patients. While doing selection of the operative intervention method it is mandatory to take into account not only the size and character of the cyst, but the pancreatic parenchyma and ductal system state, as well as the presence of complications. Application of a puncture-draining method in the pancreatic cysts treatment, which have originated after an acute pancreatitis, is effective in 71.08%, owes low of complications 2.41% and lethality 0.98%. While the pancreatic cysts treatment, which have developed as a consequence of chronic pancreatitis exacerbation, application of the cysts draining under ultrasonographic control is effective in 57.89% of the cases, and is performed in 15.80% as a first stage to stabilize the patient state and his preoperative preparation, correcting the signs of chronic pancreatitis and were conducted in our observations in 36.84% of patients. While the cysts are formatted on a chronic pancreatitis background practically all the gland becomes affected by chronic inflammatory process with degenerative-cystic transformation of pancreatic parenchyma, calculous changes and ductal hypertension. The resectional and resection-draining operations, which were performed in 57.14% of patients, have had constituted the method of choice in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided versus conventional transmural techniques have comparable treatment outcomes in draining pancreatic pseudocysts.

We carried out the first meta-analysis comparing the technical success and clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (EUD) and conventional transmural drainage (CTD) for pancreatic pseudocysts. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane library to identify relevant prospective trials. The technical success rate, short-term (4-6 weeks) success, and long-term (at 6 months) success in symptoms and the radiologic resolution of pseudocysts, complication rates, and death rates were compared. Two eligible randomized-controlled trials and two prospective studies including 229 patients were retrieved. The technical success rate was significantly higher for EUD than for CTD [risk ratio (RR)=12.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39-110.22]. When CTD failed because of the nonbulging nature of pseudocysts, a crossover was carried out to EUD (n=18), which was successfully performed in all these cases. All patients with portal hypertension and bleeding tendency were subjected to EUD to avoid severe complications. EUD was not superior to CTD in terms of short-term success (RR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.95-1.11) or long-term success (RR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.76-1.25). The overall complications were similar in both groups (RR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.52-1.86). The most common complications were bleeding and infection. There were two deaths from bleeding after CTD. The short-term and long-term treatment success of both methods is comparable only if proper drainage modality is selected in specific clinical situations. For bulging pseudocysts, either EUD or CTD can be selected whereas EUD is the treatment of choice for nonbulging pseudocysts, portal hypertension, or coagulopathy.

[Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia: which findings support observation?]. / Intraduktal papillär muzinöse Neoplasie: Welche Befunde sprechen für Beobachtung?

On abdominal CT scans asymptomatic cystic lesions of the pancreas are accidentally detected in 1-2% of patients. Congenital cysts and pancreatic pseudocysts account for two thirds of these lesions. Pancreatic pseudocysts are a frequent complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Among resected cystic neoplasms serous cystic adenoma accounts for 30%, mucinous cystic neoplasms for 45% and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms for 25%. The diagnosis of a cystic pancreatic lesion is usually made by diagnostic imaging. Symptomatic lesions require definitive therapeutic treatment after appropriate diagnostic work-up. In the diagnosis of asymptomatic cystic lesions several factors are important, among them whether the cyst is connected to the pancreatic duct (as in IPMN and pseudocysts), the size of lesion (for treatment indications) and whether nodules form in the wall of the cyst (a sign of potential malignancy). EUS-guided fine needle aspiration of the cyst fluid adds to the discrimination between benign, premalignant and malignant cystic lesions. Measuring lipase activity, CEA, viscosity and mucin as well as cytology can help in differentiating cystic lesions. An algorithm is discussed for the differential diagnosis and for selection of the appropriate treatment for pancreatic cystic lesions, most of which never require surgery.

[Redo procedures in patients with pancreatic left resection]. / Revisionseingriffe und Interventionen nach Pankreaslinksresektion.

BACKGROUND: Distal pancreatectomy is performed less frequently than pancreatic head resection. Secondary operations due to postoperative complications are surgically complex and demanding, hence often interdisciplinary approaches are pursued. We have analysed the indications and outcome of revision surgery and interventional procedures subsequent to pancreatic left resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2001 and 2009 we prospectively evaluated 61 patients regarding demographic factors, hospital stay, diagnosis, closure technique, redo operations and interventions, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Major complications without redo procedures were observed in 4 (9 %) of 44 patients. 8 (13 %) patients underwent early (7 +/- 8 days) postoperative revision procedures. A significant in-crease in hospital stay and mortality appeared in this group. Interventional procedures (7 x CT-guided abscess drains, 1 x haemorrhage with angio-graphic coiling, 1 x transgastral stenting of a pseudocyst) were performed significantly later (22 +/- 11 days p. o., p < 0,01) in 9 (15 %) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic fistulas and related complications represent the most common indications for revisions, but can usually be controlled by interventional procedures. In contrast to secondary surgery, interventional revisions do not significantly increase the length of hospital stay or mortality. There was no benefit of any certain closure technique of the pancreatic remnant.

Transgastral retroperitoneal endoscopy in septic patients with pancreatic necrosis or infected pancreatic pseudocysts.

OBJECTIVE: Peripancreatic fluid collections are common complications of acute pancreatitis or acute exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis. Surgery is required when these fluid collections become infected or cause obstruction or pain. However, morbidity and mortality after surgery in these cases are still too high, therefore minimally invasive approaches have been encouraged. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage with intracystic endoscopy and necrosectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2000 to 2006 30 patients (age: 57 +/- 10 years, range: 34 - 74 years) with an infected pancreatic pseudocyst or infected pancreatic necrosis were included in the study. The diagnosis of infection in patients who had fever despite an adequate antibiotic regime was confirmed by endoscopic fine needle aspiration with a positive bacterial or mycological result. The mean C-reactive protein value before treatment was 202 +/- 58 mg/L and the mean leukocyte count was 13.25 +/- 4.75 GPt/L. Transgastric cyst drainage was performed using a therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound probe (Pentax 38 UX or Olympus GF UCT 140) with insertion of an 8-Fr double pigtail prosthesis. After balloon dilatation (12 mm) a normal gastroscope was inserted into the cavity and all the fluid and easy removable necrosis were removed. The prosthesis was removed 4 weeks after the end of the endoscopic treatment. Clinical and ultrasound follow-up were carried out 3 and 6 months after removal of the prosthesis. The mean follow-up was 60 weeks. RESULTS: The technical success of the procedure was 96.7 %, the long-term success was 83.4 %. On average 2.7 (range: 1 - 16) procedures were necessary for complete removal of necrosis and the remaining fluid. Major complications (bleeding, perforation, fistulation) occurred in 10 %. In 10 % a secondary operation was necessary. The overall mortality rate was 6.6 %. DISCUSSION: Endoscopic treatment of infected pseudocysts and infected postacute pancreatic necrosis using transgastral retroperitoneal endoscopy with fluid and necrosis removal is a minimally invasive and effective procedure in patients with acute pancreatitis or acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. However, the mortality rate of 6.6 % has to be taken into account.

Differential treatment and early outcome in the interventional endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts in 27 patients.

AIM: Pancreatic pseudocysts (PPC) as a complication of pancreatitis are approached only in the case of abdominal pain, infection, bleeding, and compression onto the gastrointestinal tract or biliary tree. METHODS: From 02/01/2002 to 05/31/2004, all consecutive patients with symptomatic PPC who underwent an interventional endoscopic approach were evaluated in this pilot case-series study: Group (Gr.) I-Primary percutaneous (external), ultrasound-guided drainage. Gr. II-Primary EUS-guided cystogastrostomy. Gr. III-EUS-guided cystogastrostomy including intracystic necrosectomy. RESULTS: (="follow up": n = 27): Gr. I (n = 9; 33.3%): No complaints (n = 3); change of an external into an internal drainage (n = 4); complications: (a) bleeding (n = 1) followed by 3 d at ICU, discharge after 40 d; (b) septic shock (n = 1) followed by ICU and several laparotomies for programmed lavage and necrosectomy, death after 74 d. Gr. II (n = 13; 48.1%): No complaints (n = 11); external drainage (n = 2); complications/problems out of the 13 cases: 2nd separate pseudocyst (n = 1) with external drainage (since no communication with primary internal drainage); infection of the residual cyst (n = 1) + following external drainage; spontaneous PPC perforation (n = 1) + following closure of the opening of the cystogastrostomy using clips and subsequently ICU for 2 d. Gr. III (n = 5; 18.5%): No complaints in all patients, in average two endoscopic procedures required (range, 2-6). CONCLUSION: Interventional endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts is a reasonable alternative treatment option with low invasiveness compared to surgery and an acceptable outcome with regard to the complication rate (11.1%) and mortality (3.7%), as shown by these initial study results.

Treatment and outcome in pancreatic pseudocysts.

OBJECTIVE: Pancreatic pseudocyst is a common complication of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of different treatment regimens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients > or =15 years of age admitted to Lund University Hospital from 1994 to 2003 with pancreatic pseudocysts were analysed retrospectively. Pseudocysts were defined according to the Atlanta classification. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (29 M (66%), mean age 55+/-14 years) were included in the study, and all were subjected to treatment on 88 occasions. Mean size of pseudocysts at diagnosis was 9.6+/-6.8 cm (1.5-40 cm). Recurrence after treatment was 1.0+/-1.1 times (range 0-4). No difference was found in recurrence rate or pseudocyst size when comparing conservative versus interventional treatment, but patient weight was higher (p=0.013) and acute pancreatitis was more frequent (p=0.046) in conservatively treated patients. Surgical treatment tended to be associated with a lower recurrence rate as compared with percutaneous treatments. The rate of hospital admissions was a median 3 (0-16) and median length of stay (LOS) was 12 days (0-141 days). Six patients (14%) had complications and 3 died (7%). Pseudocysts > or =8 cm did not differ significantly from smaller pseudocysts regarding the choice of conservative treatment, LOS, recurrence and gastrointestinal obstruction, but there was a trend towards more complications in the group with larger pseudocysts (5 versus 1). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pancreatic pseudocysts require frequent hospital admissions and repeated treatments. Larger pseudocysts do not imply more recurrences. The lowest recurrence rate overall was seen after open surgery.

Pseudocyst treatment in chronic pancreatitis--surgical treatment of the underlying disease increases the long-term success.

BACKGROUND: For reasons of persisting controversies concerning indications for surgery, we evaluated chronic pancreatitis patients following pancreatic head resection or drainage procedure for pseudocysts located in the pancreatic head. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 206 patients (166 male, 40 female) with chronic pancreatitis and pseudocysts in the pancreatic head were operated between April 1982 and July 2001. 169 patients (82%) were treated with the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection, a pseudocyst-jejunostomy was performed in 37 patients (18%). RESULTS: The hospital mortality was 0.4%. The late mortality was 19% in a median follow-up of 7.3 years. The rate of patients with complete relief of pain was significantly higher after resection compared to drainage procedure in the long-term follow-up (94 vs. 75%; p = 0.003). With regard to recurrence of pseudocysts, patients had an elevated rate of reoperations following drainage procedure (13 vs. 1%; p = 0.008). The endocrine function was significantly better preserved in patients of the drainage group compared to the resection group (no diabetes 67 vs. 35%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The resection has, compared to drainage procedures alone, the advantage of low recurrence rate of pseudocysts and a high rate of pain-free patients in the long-term follow-up. However, the risk of diabetes is increased in the resection group.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of severe acute pancreatitis.

AIM: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of a consecutive series of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Clinical data of SAP patients admitted to our hospital from January 2003 to January 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Collected data included the age, gender, etiology, length of hospitalization, APACHE II score at admission, local and organ/systemic complications of the patients. RESULTS: Of the 268 acute pancreatitis patients, 94 developed SAP. The mean age of SAP patients was 52 years, the commonest etiology was cholelithiasis (45.7%), the mean length of hospitalization was 70 d, the mean score of APACHE II was 7.7. Fifty-four percent of the patients developed necrosis, 25% abscess, 58% organ/systemic failure. A total of 23.4% (22/94) of the SAP patients died. Respiratory failure was the most common organ dysfunction (90.9%) in deceased SAP patients, followed by cardiovascular failure (86.4%), renal failure (50.0%). In the SAP patients, 90.9% (20/22) developed multiple organ/systemic failures. There were significant differences in age, length of hospitalization, APACHE II score and incidences of respiratory failure, renal failure, cardiovascular failure and hematological failure between deceased SAP patients and survived SAP patients. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent prognostic factors for mortality were respiratory failure, cardiovascular failure and renal failure. CONCLUSION: SAP patients are characterized by advanced age, high APACHE II score, organ failure and their death is mainly due to multiple organ/systemic failures. In patients with SAP, respiratory, cardiovascular and renal failures can predict the fatal outcome and more attention should be paid to their clinical evaluation.

[Acute pancreatitis]. / Akute Pankreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas mainly due to biliary obstruction or alcohol consumption. Most episodes of acute pancreatitis are mild and resolve under conservative treatment. Severe forms of acute pancreatitis, especially the necrotising form, still have a high mortality rate and can be difficult to treat. The problem today is to identify the few cases that should be treated operatively. Infected necroses are well accepted as an indication for operative treatment. Surgery consists of débridement and necrosectomy followed by closed or open lavage. In biliary pancreatitis, ERCP is performed early in cases of biliary obstruction, with or without cholangitis. In these patients cholecystectomy should be performed electively after clinical recovery.

[Puncture-drainage treatment of pancreatic postnecrotic pseudocysts]. / Punktsionno-dreniruiushchii sposob lecheniia nesformirovannykh postnekroticheskikh kist podzheludochnoi zhelezy.

From 1989 to 1998 we treated 94 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts. 55 patients underwent laparotomy (external drainage of the cyst, sequestrectomy). 14.5% patients of this group presented with postoperative complications, mean hospital stay was 36 days. During 1997-1998 we performed US-controlled punctures and drainage in 37 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts. This method was efficient in 83.7% of the cases without sequesters in the cystic cavity. Use of this method allowed to decrease the percentage of complications and lethality rate, and reduce the mean hospital stay by 47.2%.