Sudden death after pancreatic head resection: rupture of hepatic artery caused by clostridial infection.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the hepatic artery caused by clostridial infection has not been reported before. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 75 year-old man was admitted to the hospital for resection of a cystic tumor of the head of the pancreas. A pylorus-preserving radical pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. On the fifth postoperative day, he developed fever (38.2 degrees C), and computed tomography scanning revealed free air in the subhepatic area near the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. On the ninth postoperative day, the patient died suddenly. Autopsy revealed a ruptured hepatic artery secondary to clostridial infection. CONCLUSIONS: Close monitoring and early recourse to invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures may be advisable in the presence of suspect findings after pancreatic surgery to prevent this fatal complication.