Complications of chronic pancreatitis prior to and following surgical treatment: A proposal for classification

Imaging Diagnosis and Management of Fistulas in Pancreatitis

Pancreatic fistula is a highly morbid complication of pancreatitis. External pancreatic fistulas result when pancreatic secretions leak externally into the percutaneous drains or external wound (following surgery) due to the communication of the peripancreatic collection with the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Internal pancreatic fistulas include communication of the pancreatic duct (directly or via intervening collection) with the pleura, pericardium, mediastinum, peritoneal cavity, or gastrointestinal tract. Cross-sectional imaging plays an essential role in the management of pancreatic fistulas. With the help of multiplanar imaging, fistulous tracts can be delineated clearly. Thin computed tomography sections and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography images may demonstrate the communication between MPD and pancreatic fluid collections or body cavities. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) is diagnostic as well as therapeutic. In this review, we discuss the imaging diagnosis and management of various types of pancreatic fistulas with the aim to sensitize radiologists to timely diagnosis of this critical complication of pancreatitis.

Vascular complications of chronic pancreatitis and its management

Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disorder of the pancreas, resulting in recurrent abdominal pain, diabetes mellitus, and malnutrition. It may lead to various other complications such as pseudocyst formation, benign biliary stricture, gastric outlet obstruction; and vascular complications like venous thrombosis, variceal and pseudoaneurysmal bleed. Development of varices is usually due to chronic venous thrombosis with collateral formation and variceal bleeding can easily be tackled by endoscopic therapy. Pseudoaneurysmal bleed can be catastrophic and requires radiological interventions including digital subtraction angiography followed by endovascular obliteration, or sometimes with a percutaneous or an endoscopic ultrasound-guided approach in technically difficult situations. Procedure-related bleed is usually venous and mostly managed conservatively. Procedure-related arterial bleed, however, may require radiological interventions.