Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the common bile duct resolved by combined biliary and pancreatic stenting--a case report and literature review

Pancreatic pseudocyst with fistula to the dilated common bile duct: Mimmicking choledocal cyst?

We present a rare case of a fistula between a pancreatic pseudocyst and the bile duct with saccular dilatation that appeared to be a type I choledocal cyst. There are only 19 described cases in the consulted bibliography. The patient was studied with an ultrasound, CT and MRCP and later surgically intervened. A resection was performed of the extrahepatic biliary and hepaticojejunostomy. There was a subsequent good evolution.

Combined totally mini-invasive approach in necrotizing pancreatitis: a case report and systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Currently, both the step-up approach, combining percutaneous drainage (PD) and video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement (VARD), and endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy (ETN) are mini-invasive techniques for infected necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis. A combination of these approaches could maximize the management of necrotizing pancreatitis, conjugating the benefits from both the experiences. However, reporting of this combined strategy is anecdotal. This is the first reported case of severe necrotizing pancreatitis complicated by biliary fistula treated by a combination of ETN, PD, VARD, and endoscopic biliary stenting. Moreover, a systematic literature review of comparative studies on minimally invasive techniques in necrotizing pancreatitis has been provided.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 59-year-old patient was referred to our center for acute necrotizing pancreatitis associated with multi-organ failure. No invasive procedures were attempted in the first month from the onset: enteral feeding by a naso-duodenal tube was started, and antibiotics were administered to control sepsis. After 4 weeks, CT scans showed a central walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) of pancreatic head communicating bilateral retroperitoneal collections. ETN was performed, and bile leakage was found at the right margin of the WOPN. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography confirmed the presence of a choledocal fistula within the WOPN, and a biliary stent was placed. An ultrasound-guided PD was performed on the left retroperitoneal collection. Due to the subsequent repeated onset of septic shocks and the evidence of size increase of the right retroperitoneal collection, a VARD was decided. The CT scans documented the resolution of all the collections, and the patient promptly recovered from sepsis. After 6 months, the patient is in good clinical condition.

CONCLUSIONS

No mini-invasive technique has demonstrated significantly better outcomes over the others, and each technique has specific indications, advantages, and pitfalls. Indeed, ETN could be suitable for central WOPNs, while VARD or PD could be suggested for lateral collections. A combination of different approaches is feasible and could significantly optimize the clinical management in critically ill patients affected by complicated necrotizing pancreatitis.

Pancreatic choledochal fistula complicating acute pancreatitis

Background:

Biliary tract involvement in acute necrotizing pancreatitis is rare.

Case Report:

We report a case of a 53-year-old man who had a pancreatic choledochal fistula complicating acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The fistula was suspected at computed tomography and confirmed at surgery. The patient underwent necrosectomy, cholecystectomy and proximal biliary diversion. He is well at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

Simultaneous presence of air in the biliary tree and pancreatic collection is highly suggestive of a pancreaticobiliary fistula. Pancreatic necrosectomy and proximal biliary diversion resulted in closure of the fistula.