Diagnosis of pancreatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma

Traumatic pancreatitis

Post-traumatic pancreatitis can develop secondary to blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma, post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or following pancreatic surgery. Clinical findings are often nonspecific, and imaging findings can be subtle on presentation. Early diagnosis of pancreatic duct injury is critical and informs management strategy; imaging plays important role in diagnosis of ductal injury and identification of delayed complications such as retroperitoneal fluid collections, pancreatic fistula, ductal strictures, and recurrent pancreatitis. Delayed diagnosis of pancreatic injury is associated with high mortality and morbidity, and therefore, heightened clinical suspicion is important in order for the radiologist to effectively impact patient care. There are accepted scoring systems for classification of post-traumatic pancreatic injuries and these should be included in radiology reports. Pancreatitis following ERCP appears similar on imaging to other causes of acute pancreatitis unless concomitant perforation occurs. Postoperative pancreatitis may be difficult to diagnose given associated or overlapping expected postoperative findings. Postoperative pancreatic fistulas typically arise from either a leaking pancreatic resection surface or the pancreatoenteric anastomosis and are more common in patients with a "soft" pancreas. Preoperative imaging biomarkers like duct diameter, pancreatic glandular steatosis and parenchymal fibrosis can help predict risk of development of postoperative pancreatic fistula. This review will illustrate the imaging features and the most important imaging findings in patients with post-traumatic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic injury in children: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Trauma is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Blunt trauma to the abdomen accounts for the majority of abdominal injuries in children. Pancreatic injury, although uncommon (2 to 9%), is the fourth most common solid organ injury. Unlike other solid organ injuries, pancreatic trauma may be subtle and difficult to diagnose. Computed tomography currently is the imaging modality of choice.

As the incidence of pancreatic injury in children sustaining blunt abdominal trauma is low, management remains a challenge.

Case presentation

We present a 7-year-old Bahraini boy who sustained blunt trauma to his abdomen. He presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. His examination revealed abdominal distension and an epigastric bruise. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography reported grade III liver injury, grade I bilateral renal injury, a suspicion of splenic injury, and a grade III to IV pancreatic injury. He was admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and was treated conservatively. Because he was stable, he was discharged to the surgical ward at day 3. At day 18 he developed a pancreatic pseudocyst that was aspirated and recurred at day 25 when a pigtail catheter was inserted. He was kept on total parenteral nutrition through a peripherally inserted central catheter. The pigtail catheter was removed on day 36 and a low fat diet was started by day 44. He was discharged home at day 55 in good health. Out-patient follow-up and serial abdominal ultrasound showed resolution of the cyst and normalization of blood tests.

Conclusion

Non-operative management of pancreatic injury is effective and safe in hemodynamically stable patients with no other indication for surgery.

What is the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in assessing traumatic rupture of the pancreatic in children?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Trauma is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. The diagnosis of pancreatic injury is based on clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, and endoscopic methods. CT scanning is considered the gold standard for diagnosing pancreatic trauma in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluates data from 25 pediatric patients admitted to the University Hospital Motol, Prague, with blunt pancreatic trauma between January 1999 and June 2013.

RESULTS

The exact grade of injury was determined by CT scans in 11 patients (47.8%). All 25 children underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Distal pancreatic duct injury (grade III) was found in 13 patients (52%). Proximal pancreatic duct injury (grade IV) was found in four patients (16 %). Major contusion without duct injury (grade IIB) was found in six patients (24%). One patient experienced duodeno-gastric abruption not diagnosed on the CT scan. The diagnosis was made endoscopically during ERCP. Grade IIB pancreatic injury was found in this patient. One patient (4%) with pancreatic pseudocyst had a major contusion of pancreas without duct injury (grade IIA). Four patients (16%) with grade IIB, III and IV pancreatic injury were treated exclusively and nonoperatively with a pancreatic stent insertion and somatostatine. Two patients (8%) with a grade IIB injury were treated conservatively only with somatostatine without drainage. Eighteen (72 %) children underwent surgical intervention within 24 h after ERCP.

CONCLUSION

ERCP is helpful when there is suspicion of pancreatic duct injury in order to exclude ductal leakage and the possibility of therapeutic intervention. ERCP can speed up diagnosis of higher grade of pancreatic injuries.

Pancreatic trauma: A concise review

Traumatic injury to the pancreas is rare and difficult to diagnose. In contrast, traumatic injuries to the liver, spleen and kidney are common and are usually identified with ease by imaging modalities. Pancreatic injuries are usually subtle to identify by different diagnostic imaging modalities, and these injuries are often overlooked in cases with extensive multiorgan trauma. The most evident findings of pancreatic injury are post-traumatic pancreatitis with blood, edema, and soft tissue infiltration of the anterior pararenal space. The alterations of post-traumatic pancreatitis may not be visualized within several hours following trauma as they are time dependent. Delayed diagnoses of traumatic pancreatic injuries are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis of pancreatic injuries because early recognition of the disruption of the main pancreatic duct is important. We reviewed our experience with the use of various imaging modalities for diagnosis of blunt pancreatic trauma.

Management strategies in isolated pancreatic trauma

AIM

In the absence of damage to other organs, pancreatic injury is rare. We have reviewed our experience with isolated pancreatic injury.

METHODS

Patients treated for isolated pancreatic trauma at our unit were identified prospectively and then retrospectively entered onto a database. The mode of presentation, mechanism of injury and management strategies were reviewed.

RESULTS

Seven male and four female patients, median age 30 years (range 13-51 years) were treated. All suffered blunt abdominal trauma with different mechanisms of injury, each being characterised by a direct blow to the central abdomen. In two patients, somatostatin analogue treatment used as primary treatment resulted in early resolution of symptoms and signs. Six patients underwent surgery at various stages post-injury. At a median follow-up of 58 months (range 22-106 months), eight patients are asymptomatic, two patients have chronic pain following distal pancreatectomy and one patient has occasional discomfort.

CONCLUSION

Confirmation of the mechanism of trauma and suspicion of pancreatic injury are essential for early diagnosis and appropriate management. Early contrast computed tomography examination is vital in the recognition of these injuries. Somatostatin analogue therapy may have an important role in the treatment regimen, especially when patients present early after sustaining a pancreatic injury. Only selected patients require open surgery.

Pancreatic Trauma: Demographics, Diagnosis, and Management

Pancreatic injuries are rare, with penetrating mechanisms being causative in majority of cases. They can create major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and require multiple diagnostic modalities, including multislice high-definition computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ultrasonography, and at times, surgery and direct visualization of the pancreas. Pancreatic trauma is frequently associated with duodenal and other severe vascular and visceral injuries. Mortality is high and usually related to the concomitant vascular injury. Surgical management of pancreatic and pancreatic-duodenal trauma is challenging, and multiple surgical approaches and techniques have been described, up to and including pancreatic damage control and later resection and reconstruction. Wide surgical drainage is a key to any surgical trauma technique and access for enteral nutrition, or occasionally parenteral nutrition, are important adjuncts. Morbidity associated with pancreatic trauma is high and can be quite severe. Treatment of pancreatic trauma-related complications often requires a combination of interventional, endoscopic, and surgical approaches.

Non-surgical management of a ruptured posttraumatic pancreatic pseudocyst in a child

Generally speaking, isolated pancreatic injuries are rare after abdominal blunt trauma. However, the incidence of pancreatic injuries in children has risen in recent decades. Pancreatic pseudocyst represents a typical complication after acute pancreatitis due to blunt abdominal trauma. Spontaneous rupture of pseudocysts leading to acute abdominal pain has been described, however, it rarely occurs, especially in pediatric patients. We report the successful non-surgical management of a ruptured pancreatic pseudocyst in a 5-year-old girl which occurred 27 days after trauma. The traumatic acute pancreatitis was due to a handlebar injury.

CT of blunt pancreatic trauma: a pictorial essay

Blunt trauma to pancreas is uncommon and clinical features are often non-specific and unreliable leading to possible delays in diagnosis and therefore increased morbidity. CT has been established as the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of abdominal solid-organ injury in the blunt trauma patient. The introduction of multidetector-row CT allows for high resolution scans and multiplanar reformations that improve diagnosis. Detection of pancreatic injuries on CT requires knowledge of the subtle changes produced by pancreatic injury. The CT appearance of pancreatic injury ranges from a normal initial appearance of the pancreas to active pancreatic bleeding. Knowledge of CT signs of pancreatic trauma and a high index of suspicion is required in diagnosing pancreatic injury.

[Medical imaging in the management of abdominal trauma]

There is a marked trend toward nonoperative management of abdominal trauma. This has been possible thanks to the advances in imaging and interventional techniques. Computed tomography (CT), angiography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can guide the nonoperative management of abdominal trauma.

Multidetector Computed Tomography and Blunt Thoracoabdominal Trauma

Computed tomography has had an increasing role in the evaluation of patients after blunt trauma. Important findings in thoracic trauma include acute traumatic aortic injury, pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusions and lacerations, mediastinal hematoma, and diaphragmatic rupture. The solid abdominal viscera may lacerate; infarct; or suffer vascular, ductal, or pyelocalyceal disruption. The bladder and intestines may rupture. In abdominal pelvic trauma, the direction of applied force often results in an identifiable constellation of injuries. This article reviews how multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is used in the trauma patient. Technical advances of increased cephalocaudad coverage speed and improved z-axis resolution intrinsic to MDCT, together with effective contrast utilization, make MDCT invaluable in the setting of trauma.

Pancreatic trauma in the adult: current knowledge in diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Although pancreatic trauma, isolated or not, is uncommon, it carries significant morbidity and mortality because of the delay in recognition and consequent treatment.

METHODS

The current knowledge of pancreatic injury, concerning the incidence, mechanism of induction, diagnosis, treatment, complications and outcome, is herein presented based on a literature review and our limited experience.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of pancreatic trauma entails a high index of suspicion because neither clinical nor laboratory evaluation provide pathognomonic elements. Patients with penetrating injuries are usually evaluated during laparotomy, while those with a blunt trauma can be managed conservatively, provided they are in a stable condition, there is no pancreatic duct involvement and care is intensive. At laparotomy, minor pancreatic injuries are best managed by drainage. Distal pancreatectomy is best suited for distal pancreatic trauma with ductal involvement. For severe trauma, Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy, pancreaticogastrostomy, duodenal diversion operations and Whipple's procedure are all indicated according to the preoperative evaluation and intraoperative findings. Independent of the procedure to be performed, drainage is mandatory.

CONCLUSION

Because pancreatic injury is rare, most general surgeons lack experience and ability to deal with such injured patients. Therefore, an experienced and skilled surgeon should govern the management of pancreatic trauma in order to minimize the incidence of morbidity and mortality.

[Blunt injuries of the pancreas in children]

STUDY AIM

Conservative management is mainly proposed for pancreatic trauma without ductal injuries. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess our experience with traumatic pancreatic injuries and to compare patients with medical or surgical treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

From January 1989 to December 1998, 21 children, 13 boys and 8 girls with a mean age of 8 years (range: 1 to 17 years) were treated for pancreatic injuries. Main mechanisms of injuries were bicycle's falls (n = 7), passengers in motor vehicle collision (n = 6), and other road collisions (n = 5). Diagnosis of pancreatic trauma in 17 patients was made through ultrasonography and/or CT scan. In 4 patients, the diagnosis was made intraoperatively. Associated injuries were splenic (n = 6), hepatic (n = 5) and duodenal (n = 5). Thirteen patients had only medical treatment and 8 patients required laparotomy. The two groups were comparable according to the rate of high grade pancreatic lesions.

RESULTS

Two complications, a pancreatic fistula and a pseudocyst, occurred in the operative group and improved spontaneously. One death due to a head trauma, one acute pancreatitis and seven pancreatic pseudocysts (six required percutaneous drainage), occurred after medical treatment. The mean hospital stay, shorter after medical treatment, was not significantly different between the two groups (26 days vs 32 days). During the follow-up, no late complications have been observed.

CONCLUSION

Traumatic pancreatic injuries are rarely lethal but are often associated with other intra-abdominal injuries. Conservative treatment is advocated for grade 1 to 4 isolated pancreatic injuries. This conservative approach may be associated with the development of post-traumatic pancreatic pseudocysts which are easily cured by percutaneous drainage.

Helical CT of abdominal trauma

CT has revolutionized the diagnostic work-up of trauma patients with suspected abdominal injuries. A wide range of intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal organ injuries can be quickly and accurately diagnosed with CT. Today, helical CT technology permits even faster examinations, with improved intravenous contrast opacification of parenchymal organs and vascular structures and reduced CT artifacts caused by patient motion, respiration, and arterial pulsation. Severely injured and potentially unstable patients, who might not have been able to tolerate the long CT examinations of the past, may be quickly evaluated today with helical CT. Accurate diagnosis requires high quality CT examinations that are performed with optimum CT protocols. This article reviews the currently recommended helical CT protocols for evaluating patients with suspected abdominal injuries, and the CT findings when injuries are present.

Pancreatic trauma: Universities of Melbourne HPB Group

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic trauma is uncommon, but carries high morbidity and mortality rates, especially when diagnosis is delayed or inappropriate surgery is attempted. Although the retroperitoneal position of the pancreas confers it some immunity to injury, the force required to do so often results in severe associated injuries to other organs, which may be life threatening. Diagnosis may be difficult and surgery can be a considerable technical challenge.

METHODS

All patients with pancreatic trauma who attended one of three Melbourne teaching hospitals from 1977 to 1998 were identified. Injuries were graded and the method of diagnosis and treatment studied. The incidence and causation of postoperative morbidity and mortality was identified.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients (26 men and 12 women) were studied. Blunt trauma was responsible in 30 patients, stab wounds in five, gunshot wounds in two and iatrogenic injury in one. Injuries to other organs occurred in 30 patients. Surgical procedures were undertaken in 34 patients, resulting in the death of five and complications in 25.

CONCLUSION

Complications and death are related to the associated injuries, as much as to the pancreatic injury itself. In this study, we review the experience of the management of pancreatic trauma in three large teaching hospitals in Melbourne over a 21-year period, and suggest a strategy for dealing with these difficult patients. Adherence to the basic concepts of control of bleeding from associated vascular injury, minimization of contamination, accurate pancreatic assessment, judicious resection and adequate drainage can diminish the risk. By approaching the problem in a systematic way and adopting a generally conservative management plan, complications and deaths can be minimized in these complex cases.

Nonoperative management of pancreatic injuries in children

PURPOSE

The safety and efficacy of nonoperative management of pancreatic contusions and transections was examined by reviewing the case histories of 35 consecutive children with pancreatic injuries treated over the past 10 years.

METHODS/RESULTS

Surgical exploration was performed for the management of associated injuries only. The diagnosis of pancreatic trauma was suspected in children with abdominal pain, tenderness, elevated serum amylase levels and findings consistent with pancreatic injury on abdominal ultrasound scan or computerized tomography (CT) examination. After children were diagnosed with pancreatic injury, enteral feedings were withheld and total parenteral nutrition administered until abdominal pain resolved and serum amylase levels and radiographic findings improved. Twenty-three children received diagnosis within 24 hours of injury, and in 12, the diagnosis was delayed 2 to 14 days. Hyperamylasemia was found in 27 of 35 children. Twenty-eight children sustaining pancreatic injuries were treated nonoperatively. Abdominal imaging in these children demonstrated pancreatic contusion in 14, transection in 11, and pseudocyst in three. Enteral feeding resumed an average of 15 days after injury. The average hospital stay was 21 days. Pseudocysts formed in 10 children (2 of 14 with contusion; 5 of 11 with transection; three children presented late, and the type of pancreatic injury could not be determined), whose average hospital stay was 25 days. All pseudocysts were successfully managed nonoperatively, although percutaneous aspiration or drainage was required in six children. Children underwent follow-up for an average of 10 months after injury (range, 1 to 144 months). Abdominal pain and radiological abnormalities resolved in all children before discharge from the clinic.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonoperative management of pancreatic contusion and transection diagnosed radiologically is effective and safe. Pseudocysts may form after pancreatic injury, and if large or symptomatic, can be managed successfully by percutaneous drainage.