Massive rectal bleeding from colonic fistula in pancreatitis

Spontaneous resolution of pancreatic gastric fistula

Pancreatic pseudocyst is one of the common complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis and has variable natural history. We present a case of spontaneous resolution of a pancreatic pseudocyst with gastric connection. This case presented a 46-year-old man with a pancreatic pseudocyst resulting from a complication of acute pancreatitis. This resolved spontaneously through the formation of a fistula between the pseudocyst and stomach. The fistula tract was also occluded spontaneously and the patient recovered without any complication or need for surgical treatment. The patient has been good progress at a two year follow up after spontaneous resolution of the fistula.

Complete recovery after spontaneous drainage of pancreatic abscess into the stomach

Pancreatic abscess is a dreaded complication of acute pancreatitis, with a high death rate even with aggressive surgical treatment. We report two cases in which recovery followed spontaneous drainage into the stomach. A 75-year-old woman with biliary pancreatitis and a 63-year-old man with ethanol-induced pancreatitis both developed pancreatic abscess, diagnosed by computed tomography scans and ultrasound. The spontaneous gastric fistula was heralded by a large emesis of purulent and necrotic material in one case and copious nasogastric tube secretions of a similar material in the other. Defervescence was immediate, and both patients went on to complete recovery without any further interventions. Contrast studies showed the fistulae. It is concluded that in the event that a pancreatic pseudocyst spontaneously drains into the stomach a 'wait and see' policy should be adopted, and a favorable outcome can be expected.

Intestinal fistula complicating necrotizing pancreatitis

Eight of 17 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis (47 percent) developed 12 intestinal fistulas. Pancreatitis occurred most often secondary to alcohol abuse, and fistula complicated controlled open drainage of the lesser sac more often than sump or Penrose drainage of the lesser sac. Fistulas appeared more often in patients with two or more drainage operations than in those with a single drainage procedure. Most duodenal fistulas closed with nonoperative therapy, whereas jejunal and colonic fistulas required operative closure. Operative techniques included both simple suture closure and resection with anastomosis. Five patients (29 percent) died. Thus, although frequent debridement and controlled open drainage may reduce the mortality rate of necrotizing pancreatitis, it appears to increase the likelihood of intestinal fistulas, which may require operative treatment.

Spontaneous massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with pancreatitis

Spontaneous massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurring in patients with pancreatitis is an uncommon and difficult clinical problem, especially in a tropical third world country where the underlying causes of pancreatitis and facilities for its diagnosis and management are different from those in the developed West. Of 7 such cases seen by us in 3 years, 2 were due to hemosuccus pancreaticus, 2 were due to gastric variceal hemorrhage consequent to splenic vein obstruction, and one each due to contiguous pancreatic inflammation involving the duodenum, an aneurysmal bleed from the left gastric artery and a pseudocyst rupturing into the transverse colon. A fiberoptic endoscopic examination was helpful in all the 7 cases and delineated the cause of bleeding, whereas angiography, performed in 4 patients contributed little to management. The mortality rate was 14%. It is suggested that a timely endoscopic examination during active bleeding, which may be repeated if necessary, is extremely rewarding in the diagnosis and management of such patients and often obviates the necessity of angiography which is a time-consuming and cumbersome investigation in a critically ill patient and facilities for which are usually not available in most third world country hospitals.