Current management of pancreatic pseudocysts

[Surgical treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts]

BACKGROUND

A pancreatic pseudocyst is the collection of pancreatic secretions surrounded by fibrous tissue caused by pancreatic disease that affects the pancreatic duct. Clinical presentation is variable. Management includes percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical drainage and resection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Review of a cohort of patients with pancreatic pseudocyst in a third level hospital. An analysis was performed on the demographic data, aetiology, clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory findings, type of surgical procedure, complications, recurrence and mortality. The statistical analysis was performed using Chi squared and Student t tests, with a p<0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 139 patients were included, of whom 58% were men and 42% were women, with median age of 44.5 years. Chronic pancreatitis was the most common aetiology, present in 74 patients (53%). The main complaint was abdominal pain in 73% of patients. Median size was 18cm (range 7-29) and the most frequent location was body and tail of the pancreas. Internal surgical drainage was selected in 111 (80%) patients, of whom 96 were cystojejunostomy, 20 (14%) had external surgical drainage, and 8 (6%) resection. Complications were, pancreatic fistula (12%), haemorrhage (4%), infection (4%), and other non-surgical complications (4%). Complication rate was higher if the cause was chronic pancreatitis or if the management was external surgical drainage. Recurrence rate was 6%, and a mortality rate of 1%.

CONCLUSION

Surgical management is a viable option for the management of pancreatic pseudocyst with a low complication and recurrence rate.

Minimally invasive and standard surgical therapy for complications of pancreatitis and for benign tumors of the pancreas and duodenal papilla

The treatment of severe pancreatitis and its complications is rapidly evolving because of increasing clinical application of effective, minimally invasive techniques. With ongoing innovations in therapeutic endoscopy, image-guided percutaneous techniques, and minimally invasive surgery, the long-standing traditional management algorithms have recently changed. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the treatment of complicated inflammatory diseases of the pancreas and benign periampullary tumors. Surgeons, gastroenterologists, and therapeutic radiologists combine expertise as members of a team to offer their patients improved outcomes and faster recovery.

Features and choice of treatment of acute and chronic pancreatic pseudocysts--with special reference to invasive intervention

AIMS

It was the aim of this study to characterize the features of acute and chronic pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) and to identify the factors predictive of the need for invasive treatment.

METHODS

Thirty-six patients with PPs treated at Nippon Medical School between January 1995 and December 2004 were studied retrospectively. The cases were divided into 4 groups based on 4 features: association with acute pancreatitis, association with chronic pancreatitis, spontaneous resolution, and persistent symptoms requiring therapeutic intervention. Group 1 included 9 patients with acute PPs which resolved spontaneously. Group 2 included 9 patients with acute PPs with persistent symptoms or associated complications requiring interventional treatment. Group 3 included 9 patients with chronic PPs which resolved spontaneously, and group 4 included 9 patients with chronic PPs with persistent symptoms or associated complications requiring interventional treatment.

RESULTS

Among the 36 patients, 13 were women and 23 were men. The etiologies were pancreatitis due to alcoholism in 18 cases (50.0%), biliary tract disease in 8 cases (22.2%) and other conditions in 10 cases (27.8%). The average duration of follow-up was 24.2 +/- 18.5 months. The patients in group 1 were significantly older than those in group 2 (67.6 +/- 16.1 vs. 40.6 +/- 14.1 years; p = 0.011). The mean size of the PPs was significantly larger in groups 1 and 4 than in group 3 (p < 0.05) and significantly larger in group 2 than in group 4 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in the size of the PPs or in the Ranson score of previous pancreatitis. The increase in size of the PPs during follow-up in each of the spontaneously resolved groups (groups 1 and 3) differed significantly from that in each of the interventional treatment groups (groups 2 and 4; p < 0.05). The main cause of the acute pancreatitis in group 1 was biliary tract disease, while that in group 2 was alcoholism (significantly different, p < 0.05). The number of patients with symptoms related to pseudocysts at the time of diagnosis was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Growth of the PPs during follow-up is the strongest predictor of the need for invasive treatment in both acute and chronic cases. Among acute PPs, the size of the pseudocyst is not in itself a predictor of invasive treatment. Invasive treatment may pose higher risks for pseudocysts with an etiology of alcoholic acute pancreatitis. However, the size of the pseudocyst may be a more important prognostic factor than an etiology of pancreatitis. and IAP.