Surgical management of complicated pancreatic pseudocysts after acute pancreatitis

Am J Surg. 2016 Jan;211(1):109-14. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.07.020. Epub 2015 Oct 24.

Abstract

Background: Management of pancreatic pseudocysts (PP) is unclear when located in areas outside the lesser sac, infected, or when portal venous (PV) occlusion is present.

Methods: Patients having internal drainage of PP. Management and outcome were assessed relative to location, presence of infection, and/or PV occlusion.

Results: No patient required transfusion, and there were no readmissions in 9 patients with PV occlusion. Eleven patients had infected PP including 5 extending outside the lesser sac. Six had postoperative imaging, 4 readmission, and 3 required adjunct postoperative percutaneous drainage. All but 2 with PP beyond the lesser sac had Roux-en-Y cystjejunostomy including 4 with 2 anastomoses. Nine, 4, and 5 required reimaging, readmission, and postoperative therapeutic intervention, respectively.

Conclusions: (1) Open PP drainage in the face of PV occlusion confers a low risk of bleeding and a minimal need for reimaging or readmission; (2) internal drainage of infected PP is a viable option to external drainage; and (3) PP extending beyond the lesser sac can most often be managed successfully by Roux-en-Y drainage but may require additional intervention.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Infection; Location; Pancreatic pseudocyst; Portal venous occlusion.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Drainage / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Pseudocyst / etiology
  • Pancreatic Pseudocyst / surgery*
  • Pancreatitis / complications*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome