Wall maturation in necrotic collections in acute pancreatitis: a computed tomography based evaluation.

Aim: To systematically investigate the timing of encapsulation of necrotic collections in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Methods: This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients of ANP who underwent CECT of the abdomen between the second and fourth weeks of illness. Number and site of collections and presence and completeness of the wall (defined as a thin smooth enhancing rim more than 1 mm in thickness) were documented. Results: A total of 195 patients of ANP were included. Seven hundred seventy-three collections were evaluated in 284 CECT scans. The most common site of the collection was anterior pararenal space (n=290, 37.5%). The mean maximum dimension of the collection was 8.1 cm (range, 3.1-16 cm). Two hundred twentytwo (28.7%) collections had a complete wall. The mean interval to complete wall maturation was 18 days (range, 8-28). Overall, 13.3%, 37.1%, and 56.2% of the collections showed complete encapsulation in the second, third, and fourth weeks, respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a significant proportion of necrotic collections show complete encapsulation within 4 weeks of the onset of ANP.

A pilot randomized trial to study the success rate of early precut fistulotomy and its effect on radiation dose in patients with difficult biliary cannulation.

BACKGROUND: Role of precut fistulotomy in reducing fluoroscopy time and the radiation dose in difficult selective biliary cannulation is unknown. METHODS: We performed a randomized trial where patients with difficult biliary cannulation were randomized into 2 groups: early precut fistulotomy (precut five minutes after failed standard biliary cannulation) or late precut fistulotomy (precut fifteen minutes after failed standard biliary cannulation). We compared the success rates of selective biliary cannulation, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, complication rates, need for repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and need for other interventions. RESULTS: Of the 130 eligible patients screened, 40 patients were randomized. The technical success was comparable between early and late group. The fluoroscopy time and radiation dose were significantly less in the early group [4 minutes (3, 6) vs 15 minutes (8, 28), p=0.001] and [1.35 mGy (0.90, 1.63) vs 2.40 mGy (1.58, 3.25), p=0.010] respectively. In the late group, 60% required need for rescue precut fistulotomy. One patient from late group developed post ERC pancreatitis while 1 from early group developed perforation. Three needed other interventions due to failed second attempt. CONCLUSION: Early precut fistulotomy has comparable technical success and reduces the radiation dose as compared to late precut fistulotomy for difficult biliary cannulation.

Variability of contrast enhancement of pancreas on computed tomography in patients with acute pancreatitis and isolated extrapancreatic necrosis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: To evaluate the variability in the enhancement of pancreas on computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and isolated extrapancreatic necrosis (EPN) and to investigate whether it affects the extrapancreatic findings and patient outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised of consecutive patients with isolated EPN evaluated between April 2017 and April 2019. A radiologist measured the pancreatic attenuation values (PAV) of head, body, and tail on a contrast enhanced CT. Using a cut-off PAV of 100HU, patients were divided into two groups. The extrapancreatic CT findings and outcome parameters were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty patients (mean age, 42.13 years, 17 males) with isolated EPN were evaluated. The mean PAV in the head, body, and tail was 83.13 HU (range, 59-161), 84.17 HU (range, 60-160), and 82.23 HU (range, 53-137). The overall mean PAV was 83.12 HU (range, 58-152). There were six patients with overall mean PAV≥100 HU. The group with PAV≥100 HU had a higher number of patients with infected necrosis (66.6% vs. 14.2%, P=0.018). PAV had a significant association with length of hospitalization (P=0.045). CONCLUSION: There is significant variability in the pancreatic enhancement on CT among patients with AP and isolated EPN. Patients with PAV≥100 HU had a significantly longer hospital stay. This, however, may be related to a greater number of patients with infected necrosis in this group.

Role of computed tomography in prediction of gastrointestinal fistula in patients with acute pancreatitis.

AIM: To identify computed tomography (CT) features that predict gastrointestinal fistula (GIF) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with AP and GIF from June 2017 to June 2018. The diagnosis of GIF was based on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy or surgery. A cohort of 19 matched patients from a prospective database of AP served as control group. Measures of severity, and clinical outcome were evaluated. CT parameters were compared between the groups to assess the features that could predict the development of GIF. RESULTS: There was no difference between the two groups in terms of disease etiology, severity, drainage, and mortality. On univariate analysis, the CT features that were found to be significantly different between the two groups were the presence of bowel wall thickening (P=0.005), maximum thickness of the bowel wall (P=0.007), presence of air foci in extra pancreatic necrosis/ collection (P=0.013), discontinuity of the bowel wall (P=0.046) and the displacement/ compression of bowel by fluid collection (P=0.014). On multivariate analysis, all the above-mentioned CT findings except discontinuity of bowel wall were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: CT is helpful in predicting GIF in patients with AP.