Long-term results of endoscopic stent in the management of blunt major pancreatic duct injury

From surveillance to surgery: The delayed implications of non-operative and operative management of pancreatic injuries

BACKGROUND

Our study compares the delayed outcomes of operative versus nonoperative management of pancreatic injuries.

METHODS

We analyzed the 2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database on adult (≥18 years) trauma patients with pancreatic injuries. Patients who died on index admission were excluded. Patients were stratified into operative (OP) and non-operative (NOP) groups and compared for outcomes within 90 days of discharge. Multivariable regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

We identified 1553 patients (NOP ​= ​1092; OP ​= ​461). The Mean (SD) age was 39 (17.0) years, 31% of patients were female, and 77% had blunt injuries. Median ISS was 17 [9-25] and 74% had concomitant non-pancreatic intraabdominal injuries. On multivariable analysis, operative management was independently associated with increased odds of 90-day readmissions (aOR ​= ​1.47; p ​= ​0.03), intraabdominal abscesses (aOR ​= ​2.7; p ​< ​0.01), pancreatic pseudocyst (aOR ​= ​2.4; p ​= ​0.04), and need for percutaneous or endoscopic management (aOR ​= ​5.8; p ​< ​0.001).

CONCLUSION

Operative management of pancreatic injuries is associated with higher rates of delayed complications compared to non-operative management. Surgically treated pancreatic trauma patients may need close surveillance even after discharge.

Indications for the surgical management of pancreatic trauma: An update

Pancreatic trauma is rare compared to other abdominal solid organ injuries, accounting for 0.2%-0.3% of all trauma patients. Moreover, this type of injury may frequently be overlooked or not readily appreciated on initial clinical examinations and investigations. The organ injury scale determines the severity of the trauma. Nonetheless, there are conflicting recommendations for the best strategy in severe cases. Overall, conservative management of induced severe traumatic pancreatitis is adequate. Modern imaging modalities such as ultrasound scanning and computed tomography scanning can detect injuries in fewer than 60% of patients. However, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have diagnostic accuracies approaching 90%-100%. Thus, management options include ERCP and stent placement or distal pancreatectomy in cases of complete gland transection and wide drainage only for damage control surgery, which can prevent mortality but increases the risk of morbidity. In the majority of cases, surgical intervention is not required and should be reserved for only severe grade III to grade V injuries.

Intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for traumatic pancreatic ductal injuries: Two case reports

BACKGROUND

In order to successfully manage traumatic pancreatic duct (PD) leaks, early diagnosis and operative management is paramount in reducing morbidity and mortality. In the acute setting, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be a useful, adjunctive modality during exploratory laparotomy. ERCP with sphincterotomy and stent placement improves preferential drainage in the setting of injury, allowing the pancreatic leak to properly heal. However, data in this acute setting is limited.

CASE SUMMARY

In this case series, a 27-year-old male and 16-year-old female presented with PD leaks secondary to a gunshot wound and blunt abdominal trauma, respectively. Both underwent intraoperative ERCP within an average of 5.9 h from time of presentation. A sphincterotomy and plastic pancreatic stent placement was performed with a 100% technical and clinical success. There were no associated immediate or long-term complications. Following discharge, both patients underwent repeat ERCP for stent removal with resolution of ductal injury.

CONCLUSION

These experiences further demonstrated that widespread adaption and optimal timing of ERCP may improve outcomes in trauma centers.

Severe pancreatic injury with total disruption of main pancreatic duct successfully managed by multi‐stage endoscopic therapy: a case report

Background

The management of pancreatic injury is not well‐established. Recently, endoscopic therapy has been reported as a treatment option for main pancreatic duct disruption.

Case Presentation

A 68‐year‐old man presented to our hospital and was diagnosed with severe traumatic pancreatic injury that developed 2 days prior. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed main pancreatic duct disruption. Although initial stenting to the distal main pancreatic duct was not achieved because of the widespread intermediate fluid collection, an endoscopic naso‐pancreatic drainage tube was successfully inserted into via the main duodenal papilla. After drainage, the endoscopic naso‐pancreatic drainage tube was replaced with an endoscopic retrograde pancreatic drainage tube, and a stent was successfully placed into the distal main pancreatic duct via the minor papilla.

Conclusion

We report a case of severe pancreatic injury managed using multi‐stage endoscopic therapy that could be a possible treatment strategy for pancreatic injury with total main pancreatic duct disruption.

Resection versus drainage in the management of patients with AAST-OIS grade IV blunt pancreatic injury: A single trauma centre experience

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to compare outcomes of pancreatic resection with that of peripancreatic drainage for American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale (AAST-OIS) grade IV blunt pancreatic injury in order to determine the optimal treatment method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen surgical patients with AAST-OIS grade IV blunt pancreatic injury between 1994 and 2016 were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Among the 19 patients, 14 were men and 5 were women (median age: 33 years). Twelve patients underwent pancreatic resection (spleen-sacrificing distal pancreatectomy, n = 6; spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy, n = 3; and central pancreatectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, n = 3), and seven underwent peripancreatic drainage. After comparing these two groups, no significant differences were found in terms of gender, shock at triage, laboratory data, injury severity score, associated injury, length of hospital stay, and complication. The only significant difference was that in the drainage group, the duration from injury to surgery was longer than that from injury to resection (median, 48 hours vs. 24 hours; P = 0.036). In the drainage group, three patients required reoperation, and another three required further pancreatic duct stent therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In the surgery of the grade IV blunt pancreatic injury, pancreatic resection is warranted in early, conclusive MPD injury; if surgery is delayed or MPD injury has not been clearly assessed, peripancreatic drainage is an alternative method. However, peripancreatic drainage alone is not adequate and further pancreatic duct stent or reoperation is required. Further studies should be conducted to confirm our conclusions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage of post-traumatic pancreatic fluid collections

Background

Pancreatic injury is an uncommon consequence of abdominal trauma, and surgery has been the conventional treatment. The role and timing of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided treatment of the consequences of traumatic pancreatic injury is unclear. Our study evaluated the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided transmural drainage of post-traumatic pancreatic fluid collections (PFC).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 13 patients (mean age 20.2±4.4 years; 12 males) with post-traumatic PFC treated with EUS-guided transmural drainage over the last 10 years was performed. Patient demographics, imaging findings, size of PFC, details of endoscopic transmural drainage procedure, outcome details, as well complications were retrieved from our database.

Results

The patients underwent drainage at 26.8±7.4 days after abdominal trauma, and the mean size of PFC was 11.8±3.2 cm with 2 patients having multiple fluid collections. Ten patients had PFC with a well-formed wall and 3 patients had an incompletely formed wall. Endoscopic drainage was technically successful in all 13 patients and 11 patients underwent transmural drainage with multiple plastic stents whereas 2 patients were treated with lumen apposing metal stents. The PFC resolved in all patients over a mean period of 2.7±0.4 weeks. One patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding 6 days after the procedure, successfully treated with angio-embolization.

Conclusion

EUS-guided transmural drainage of post-traumatic PFC is safe and effective and can be safely performed at an early phase (<4 weeks) after pancreatic trauma.

Successful nonoperative management by endoscopic and percutaneous drainage for penetrating pancreatic duct injury: a case report

Background

Pancreatic trauma is a rare condition with a wide presentation, ranging from hematoma or laceration without main pancreatic duct involvement, to massive destruction of the pancreatic head. The optimal diagnosis of pancreatic trauma and its management approaches are still under debate. The East Association of Surgery for Trauma (EAST) guidelines recommend operative management for high-grade pancreatic trauma; however, several reports have reported successful outcomes with nonoperative management (NOM) for grade III/IV pancreatic injuries. Herein, we report a case of grade IV pancreatic injury that was nonoperatively managed through endoscopic and percutaneous drainage.

Case presentation

A 47-year-old Japanese man was stabbed in the back with a knife; upon blood examination, both serum amylase and lipase levels were within normal limits. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed extravasation of the contrast medium around the pancreatic head and a hematoma behind the pancreas. Abdominal arterial angiography revealed a pseudo aneurysm in the inferior pancreatoduodenal artery, as well as extravasation of the contrast medium in that artery; coil embolization was thus performed. On day 12, CT revealed a wedge-shaped, low-density area in the pancreatic head, as well as consecutive pseudocysts behind the pancreas; thereafter, percutaneous drainage was performed via the stab wound. On day 22, contrast radiography through the percutaneous drain revealed the proximal and distal parts of the main pancreatic duct. The injury was thus diagnosed as a grade IV pancreatic injury based on the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma guidelines. On day 26, an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube was inserted across the disruption; on day 38, contrast-enhanced CT showed a marked reduction in the fluid collection. Finally, on day 61, the patient was discharged.

Conclusions

Although the EAST guidelines recommend operative treatment for high-grade pancreatic trauma, NOM with appropriate drainage by endoscopic and/or percutaneous approaches may be a promising treatment for grade III or IV trauma.

Current status and management of pancreatic trauma with main pancreatic duct injury: A multicenter nationwide survey in Japan

Background

Pancreatic trauma is reportedly associated with high morbidity and mortality. Main pancreatic duct (MPD) injury is critical for treatment.

Methods

As a study project of the Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine (JSAEM), we collected the data of 163 patients with pancreatic trauma who were diagnosed and treated at JSAEM board‐certified hospitals from 2006 to 2016. Clinical backgrounds, diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Sixty‐four patients (39%) were diagnosed as having pancreatic trauma with MPD injury that resulted in 3% mortality. Blunt trauma and isolated pancreatic injury were independent factors predicting MPD injury. Nine of 11 patients with MPD injury who were initially treated nonoperatively had serious clinical sequelae and five (45%) required surgery as a secondary treatment. Among all cases, the detectability of MPD injury of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) was superior to that of other imaging modalities (CT or MRI), with higher sensitivity and specificity (sensitivity = 0.96; specificity = 1.0).

Conclusions

Acceptable outcomes were observed in pancreatic trauma patients with MPD injury. Nonoperative management should be carefully selected for MPD injury. ERP is recommended to be performed in patients with suspected MPD injury and stable hemodynamics.

Surgical management of pancreatic trauma in Australia

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic trauma is rare and complex. Non-operative management of pancreatic injuries is often appropriate, and when surgical intervention is required there may be a choice between resectional or more conservative approaches. This is especially true for distal injuries. Operative management of proximal pancreatic injuries is extremely challenging and has less room for conservatism. We sought to characterize the surgical treatment of pancreatic injuries, comparing outcomes for those undergoing formal resection (FR) versus those undergoing more conservative surgical treatment. Our hypothesis was that 'biting the bullet' and resecting is not associated with worse outcomes than less invasive approaches.

METHODS

All patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic injuries between June 2001 and June 2019 at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne were included. Outcome measures including length of stay, return to theatre, total parenteral nutrition use, pancreatic fistula, intra-abdominal infection and mortality were compared between patients undergoing FR and those undergoing non-resectional procedures.

RESULTS

Of nearly 60 000 trauma presentations, 194 patients sustained pancreatic injury and 51 underwent surgical intervention. Over 70% were secondary to blunt trauma. There were 27 FR and 22 non-resectional procedures. No major outcome differences were detected. FR was not associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In distal injuries, where there is doubt regarding parenchymal viability or ductal integrity, FR can safely be performed with non-inferior outcomes to more conservative surgery. Patients with high-grade proximal injuries will usually have multiple other injuries and require resuscitation, temporization and staged reconstruction.

Diagnostic and therapeutic role of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and stent placement for grade IV blunt pancreatic trauma: A case report

Pancreatic trauma involving ductal injury is rare but is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The benefit of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and stent placement is unclear because there are only a few case reports on endoscopically treated pancreatic duct transection at the pancreatic head. We report a rare case of grade IV pancreatic trauma successfully treated with endoscopic pancreatic stent, which we believe makes significant contribution to the existing literature. A 17-year-old man with blunt pancreatic trauma was referred to our hospital and was diagnosed with grade IV pancreatic injury using endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. The patient was successfully managed with endoscopic pancreatic duct stenting. Although stent replacement was required three times and a trivial ductal stricture remained, the patient finally became stent-free without any symptoms and further adverse events. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography is highly advantageous for early detection and evaluation of the severity of ductal injury. Subsequent stent insertion is well tolerated in hemodynamically stable patients and is especially beneficial for the treatment of pancreatic head injuries because it allows avoidance of sub-total pancreatectomy or high-risk reconstructive surgery. Nevertheless, the long-term outcomes and appropriate management of main pancreatic duct strictures due to stents remain to be determined. Accumulation of similar case experiences is essential to address these issues.

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We report a case of pancreatic head injury treated with endoscopic pancreatic stent.

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Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography enables early detection of ductal injury.

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Ductal stent is useful for pancreatic head trauma patient if hemodynamically stable.

Grade IV traumatic pancreatic injury with primary duodenum malignant lymphoma following pancreatoduodenectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Traumatic pancreatic injury with a main pancreatic duct injury has a high incidence of mortality and requires a prompt and appropriate treatment. However, the best approach, and treatment options, which may be limited, remains controversial especially for the elderly patients. Herein, we present a case of traumatic pancreatic injury in an elderly patient for whom pancreatoduodenectomy was safe and effective.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 87-year-old man was diagnosed with a traumatic pancreatic injury with a main pancreatic duct injury. In addition, the horizontal segment of the duodenum was largely eradicated. There were no comorbidities, and his vital signs were stable. A pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged. Pathological examination revealed a primary follicular lymphoma of the duodenum.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrated that pancreatoduodenectomy could be performed safely for a severe pancreatic injury in an elderly patient. However, special attention should be paid to select the optimal surgical procedure. Further, this was a rare case, as initially a primary follicular lymphoma of the duodenum was suspected as a duodenal injury coexisting with a traumatic pancreatic injury because of the increased duodenal thickness.

Duodeno-pancreatic and extrahepatic biliary tree trauma: WSES-AAST guidelines

Duodeno-pancreatic and extrahepatic biliary tree injuries are rare in both adult and pediatric trauma patients, and due to their anatomical location, associated injuries are very common. Mortality is primarily related to associated injuries, but morbidity remains high even in isolated injuries. Optimal management of duodeno-bilio-pancreatic injuries is dictated primarily by hemodynamic stability, clinical presentation, and grade of injury. Endoscopic and percutaneous interventions have increased the ability to non-operatively manage these injuries. Late diagnosis and treatment are both associated to increased morbidity and mortality. Sequelae of late presentations of pancreatic injury and complications of severe pancreatic trauma are also increasingly addressed endoscopically and with interventional radiology procedures. However, for moderate and severe extrahepatic biliary and severe duodeno-pancreatic injuries, immediate operative intervention is preferred as associated injuries are frequent and commonly present with hemodynamic instability or peritonitis. The aim of this paper is to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) duodenal, pancreatic, and extrahepatic biliary tree trauma management guidelines.

Lessons learned from isolated blunt major pancreatic injury: Surgical experience in one trauma centre

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to present our surgical experience of isolated blunt major pancreatic injury (IBMPI), and to compare its characteristic outcomes with that of multi-organ injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1994-2015, 31 patients with IBMPI and 54 patients with multi-organ injury, who underwent surgery, were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Of the 31 patients with IBMPI, 22 were male and 9 were female. The median age was 30 years (interquartile range, 20-38). Twenty-one patients were classified as the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale Grade III, and 10 patients as Grade IV. Patients with IBMPI had significantly lower shock-at-triage rates, lower injury severity scores, longer injury-to-surgery time, and shorter length of hospital stay than those with multi-organ injury. There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, trauma mechanism, laboratory data, surgical procedures, and complications between the two groups. Eight patients with IBMPI underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, and 5 patients with complete major pancreatic duct (MPD) disruption underwent pancreatectomy eventually. The remaining 3 patients had partial MPD injury and two of them received a pancreatic duct stent for the treatment of existing postoperative pancreatic fistula. Spleen-sacrificing distal pancreatectomy (SSDP) was performed in 13 patient with IBMPI, followed by spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (n = 12), peripancreatic drainage (n = 4), and central pancreatectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (n = 2). The overall complication rates, related to the SSDP, SPDP, peripancreatic drainage, and central pancreatectomy, were 10/13 (77%), 4/12 (33%), 3/4 (75%), and 2/2 (100%), respectively. Three patients died resulting in a 10% mortality rate, and the other 16 patients developed intra-abdominal complications resulting in a 52% morbidity rate. In the subgroup analysis of the 25 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy, SPDP was associated with a shorter injury-to-surgery time than SSDP.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IBMPI have longer injury-to-surgery times, compared to those with multi-organ injury. Of the distal pancreatectomy patients, the time interval from injury to surgery was a significant associated factor in preserving or sacrificing the spleen.

An AAST-MITC analysis of pancreatic trauma: Staple or sew? Resect or drain?

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic trauma results in high morbidity and mortality, in part caused by the delay in diagnosis and subsequent organ dysfunction. Optimal operative management strategies remain unclear. We therefore sought to determine CT accuracy in diagnosing pancreatic injury and the morbidity and mortality associated with varying operative strategies.

METHODS

We created a multicenter, pancreatic trauma registry from 18 Level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Adult, blunt or penetrating injured patients from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Sensitivity and specificity of CT scan identification of main pancreatic duct injury was calculated against operative findings. Independent predictors for mortality, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and pancreatic fistula and/or pseudocyst were identified through multivariate regression analysis. The association between outcomes and operative management was measured.

RESULTS

We identified 704 pancreatic injury patients of whom 584 (83%) underwent a pancreas-related procedure. CT grade modestly correlated with OR grade (r 0.39) missing 10 ductal injuries (9 grade III, 1 grade IV) providing 78.7% sensitivity and 61.6% specificity. Independent predictors of mortality were age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), lactate, and number of packed red blood cells transfused. Independent predictors of ARDS were ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and pancreatic fistula (OR 5.2, 2.6-10.1). Among grade III injuries (n = 158, 22.4%), the risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst was reduced when the end of the pancreas was stapled (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.9) compared with sewn and was not affected by duct stitch placement. Drainage alone in grades IV (n = 25) and V (n = 24) injuries carried increased risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst (OR 8.3, 95% CI 2.2-32.9).

CONCLUSION

CT is insufficiently sensitive to reliably identify pancreatic duct injury. Patients with grade III injuries should have their resection site stapled instead of sewn and a duct stitch is unnecessary. Further study is needed to determine if drainage alone should be employed in grades IV and V injuries.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic/Diagnostic study, level III.

Surgical Management of Solid Organ Injuries

Surgery used to be the treatment of choice in patients with solid organ injuries. This has changed over the past 2 decades secondary to advances in noninvasive diagnostic techniques, increased availability of less invasive procedures, and a better understanding of the natural history of solid organ injuries. Now, nonoperative management (NOM) has become the initial management strategy used for most solid organ injuries. Even though NOM has become the standard of care in patients with solid organ injuries in most trauma centers, surgeons should not hesitate to operate on a patient to control life-threatening hemorrhage.

Management of adult pancreatic injuries: A practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injury to the pancreas is rare but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, including fistula, sepsis, and death. There are currently no practice management guidelines for the medical and surgical management of traumatic pancreatic injuries. The overall objective of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the physician who is presented with traumatic injury to the pancreas.

METHODS

The MEDLINE database using PubMed was searched to identify English language articles published from January 1965 to December 2014 regarding adult patients with pancreatic injuries. A systematic review of the literature was performed, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework was used to formulate evidence-based recommendations.

RESULTS

Three hundred nineteen articles were identified. Of these, 52 articles underwent full text review, and 37 were selected for guideline construction.

CONCLUSION

Patients with grade I/II injuries tend to have fewer complications; for these, we conditionally recommend nonoperative or nonresectional management. For grade III/IV injuries identified on computed tomography or at operation, we conditionally recommend pancreatic resection. We conditionally recommend against the routine use of octreotide for postoperative pancreatic fistula prophylaxis. No recommendations could be made regarding the following two topics: optimal surgical management of grade V injuries, and the need for routine splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review, level III.

Major pancreatic duct continuity is the crucial determinant in the management of blunt pancreatic injury: a pancreatographic classification

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the management and outcomes of blunt pancreatic injuries based on the integrity of the major pancreatic duct (MPD).

METHODS

Between August 1996 and August 2015, 35 patients with blunt pancreatic injuries underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for demography, ERP timing, imaging findings, management, and outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 35 patients, 21 were men and 14 were women, with ages ranging from 11 to 70 years. On the basis of the ERP findings, we propose a MPD injury classification as follows: class 1 indicates normal MPD; class 2, partial injury with intact MPD continuity; and class 3, complete injury with disrupted MPD continuity. Both classes 2 and 3 are subdivided into classes a, b, and c, which represent the pancreatic tail, body, and head, respectively. In this report, 14 cases belonged to class 1, 10 belonged to class 2, and 11 belonged to class 3. Of the 14 patients with class 1 injuries, 10 underwent nonsurgical treatment and 4 underwent pancreatic duct stenting. Of the 10 patients with class 2 injuries, 4 underwent nonsurgical treatment and 6 underwent pancreatic duct stenting. Two of the 11 patients with class 3 injuries underwent pancreatic duct stenting; one in the acute stage developed sepsis that led to death even after converting to distal pancreatectomy plus splenectomy. Of the 11 patients with class 3 injuries, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed in 6, distal pancreatectomy plus splenectomy in 2, and Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy after central pancreatectomy in 2. The overall pancreatic-related morbidity rate was 60% and the mortality rate was 2.8%.

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience, class 1 and 2 injuries could be treated by nonsurgical means and pancreatic duct stenting could be an adjunctive therapy in class 2b and 2c injuries. Operation is warranted in class 3 injuries.

Disrupted pancreatic duct treated with a combination of endoscopic cystoduodenostomy and pancreatic duct fistualization through a pseudocyst wall using a lumen-apposing metal stent

Management of disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome is complex and is increasingly approached using emerging endoscopic techniques. Herein, we present a case of recurrent pancreatitis in an elderly woman complicated by pseudocyst formation and complete pancreatic duct disruption. Her condition was treated with a novel combination of transpapillary stenting and cystduodenostomy in which a pancreatic duct stent was placed into an opening in the pseudocyst wall through a lumen-apposing metal stent. This allowed for effective drainage into the gastrointestinal tract and resolution of duct disruption. Post-procedure, the patient has had recovery of nutritional status and no further recurrence of pancreatic fluid collection. Endoscopic approaches to complete pancreatic duct disruption represent a viable and less invasive alternative to surgical management in selected cases.

Magnitude, Severity, and Outcome of Traumatic Pancreatic Injury at a Level I Trauma Center in India

Pancreatic injury is an uncommon and frequently missed injury in abdominal trauma patients. However, missed pancreatic injury is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to know the burden of pancreatic injury and its outcome in our setup. A retrospective analysis of 53 patients with pancreatic injury from January 2008 through March 2012 at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Pancreatic injuries were present in 1.18 % of all trauma admissions. Blunt trauma to the abdomen (n = 49, 92.45 %) due to road traffic injury (n = 38, 71.70 %) was the most common mechanism of injury. Isolated pancreatic injury was present in eight (15.09 %) patients. Grade III pancreatic injury (n = 25, 47 %) was the most common. Of these patients, 18.86 % were managed nonoperatively and 81.13 % were managed operatively. Among the operatively managed patients (n = 43), 74.4 % were operated due to pancreatic injury and 25.5 % were operated due to associated injuries. Distal pancreatectomy with or without spleen preservation (n = 25) was the most common operative procedure done. Three out of five patients of Whipple operation for pancreatic injury died. Pancreatic injury was associated with complications in 43.40 % and death in 20 % (n = 11). Pancreatic injury is rare, but delay in diagnosis of pancreatic injury has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Low-grade pancreatic injury with intact main pancreatic duct (MPD) could be successfully managed nonoperatively, whereas in high-grade pancreatic injury, an operative intervention is invariably necessary. Distal pancreatectomy with spleen preservation is a desirable goal whenever possible for distal transaction of the pancreas. Whipple resection should be reserved only for hemodynamically stable patients with complex pancreaticoduodenal injury and is associated with high mortality.

Early endoscopic treatment of blunt traumatic pancreatic injury

Blunt pancreatic trauma is a rare and challenging situation. In many cases, there are other associated injuries that mandate urgent operative treatment. Morbidity and mortality rates are high and complications after acute pancreatic resections are common. The diagnosis of pancreatic injuries can be difficult and often requires multimodal approach including Computed Tomography scans, Magnetic resonance imaging and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). The objective of this paper is to review the application of endoprothesis in the settings of pancreatic injury. A review of the English literature available was conducted and the experience of our centre described. While the classical recommended treatment of Grade III pancreatic injury (transection of the gland and the pancreatic duct in the body/tail) is surgical resection this approach carries high morbidity. ERCP was first reported as a diagnostic tool in the settings of pancreatic injury but has in recent years been used increasingly as a treatment option with promising results. This article reviews the literature on ERCP as treatment option for pancreatic injury and adds further to the limited number of cases reported that have been treated early after the trauma.

Management of pancreatic trauma

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic trauma (PT) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; the therapeutic options remain debated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of PT treated in the University Hospital of Grenoble over a 22-year span. The decision for initial laparotomy depended on hemodynamic status as well as on associated lesions. Main pancreatic duct lesions were always searched for. PT lesions were graded according to the AAST classification.

RESULTS

Of a total of 46 PT, 34 were grades II or I. Hemodynamic instability led to immediate laparotomy in 18 patients, for whom treatment was always drainage of the pancreatic bed; morbidity was 30%. Eight patients had grade III injuries, six of whom underwent immediate operation: three underwent splenopancreatectomy without any major complications while the other three who had simple drainage required re-operation for peritonitis, with one death related to pancreatic complications. Four patients had grades IV or V PT: two pancreatoduodenectomies were performed, with no major complication, while one patient underwent duodenal reconstruction with pancreatic drainage, complicated by pancreatic and duodenal fistula requiring a hospital stay of two months. The post-trauma course was complicated for all patients with main pancreatic duct involvement. Our outcomes were similar to those found in the literature.

CONCLUSION

In patients with distal PT and main pancreatic duct involvement, simple drainage is associated with high morbidity and mortality. For proximal PT, the therapeutic options of drainage versus pancreatoduodenectomy must be weighed; pancreatoduodenectomy may be unavoidable when the duodenum is injured as well. Two-stage (resection first, reconstruction later) could be an effective alternative in the emergency setting when there are other associated traumatic lesions.

Emergency pancreatic surgery--demanding and dangerous

BACKGROUND

Elective pancreatic surgery can be carried out with mortality rates below 5% in specialized centers today. Only few data exist on pancreatic resections in emergency situations. The aim of the study was to characterize indications, procedures, and outcome of emergency pancreatic surgery in a tertiary center.

METHODS

Prospectively collected data of all patients undergoing pancreatic operations at the authors' institution between October 2001 and December 2012 were analyzed regarding primary emergency operations in terms of indications, procedures, perioperative complications, and outcome. Emergency operations after preceding resections were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-three emergency operations were performed during the observation period. Indications were duodenal perforation (n = 8), upper GI bleeding (n = 6), complicated pseudocysts (n = 3), bile duct perforation (n = 2), pancreatic bleeding after blunt abdominal trauma (n = 1), pancreatic stent perforation (n = 1), necrotizing cholecystitis (n = 1), and ileus (n = 1). Procedures included partial and total duodeno-pancreatectomy (n = 15), cystojejunostomy (n = 2), distal pancreatectomy (n = 4), reconstruction of the ampulla Vateri (n = 1), and duodenectomy (n = 1). Median intraoperative blood loss was 750 (200-2500) ml and OP time 4.25 (1.75-9.25) h. Mean ICU stay was 21.3 (1-80) days with an overall surgical morbidity of 52.2%. Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.8% (8/23 pat.).

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency pancreatic operations are infrequent and mainly performed due to duodenal perforation or bleeding; blunt abdominal trauma is rarely leading to emergency pancreas resections. They are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality and require a high level of surgical as well as interdisciplinary experience. Perioperative anesthesiological care and interventional radiological complication management are essential to improve outcome in this selective patient collective.

Conservative surgery for pancreatic neck transection

Pancreas is the fourth solid organ injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Isolated pancreatic injury is present in less than 1% of patients. As it is associated with high morbidity and mortality, management is controversial.

Isolated pancreatic trauma cases with pancreatic neck transection following blunt abdominal trauma were analyzed. All these patients were treated with immediate surgery involving lesser sac drainage and feeding jejunostomy only.

Authors conclude that lesser sac drainage can be used as an alternative to distal pancreatectomy or pancreaticojejunostomy or pancreaticogastrostomy.

The role of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in pancreatic trauma: a critical appraisal of 48 patients treated at a tertiary institution

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of selected patients with pancreatic trauma. We analyzed the role of ERP in treating persistent complications of pancreatic injuries at a tertiary institution.

METHODS

Patients with pancreatic trauma who underwent ERP were identified from a prospective database of 426 pancreatic injuries from January 1983 to January 2011. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, time to presentation, method of diagnosis, associated injuries, clinical management, endoscopic interventions and their timing, surgical treatment, and patient outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients underwent ERP after blunt (n = 26) or penetrating (n = 22) pancreatic injury. Median time from injury to ERP was 38 days (range, 2-365 days). Diagnostic ERP was successful in 47 patients. In 11 patients, ERP demonstrated an intact main duct with minor peripheral injuries, and no further intervention was required. A pancreatic fistula was demonstrated in 24, a main pancreatic duct stricture in 12, and a pseudocyst in 10 patients. Fifteen patients had a pancreatic duct sphincterotomy, seven had a pancreatic stent inserted, and six had an endoscopic pseudocyst drainage. Ten patients ultimately required surgery, seven of whom had demonstrated a severe pancreatic duct stricture. Operations performed following ERP were distal pancreatectomy (n = 6), pancreaticojejunostomy (n = 3) and cyst-jejunostomy (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

ERP allowed one quarter of the patients to be treated conservatively. Half had a successful intervention by ERP. Success was most likely in those with fistulae and pseudocysts. Surgery was ultimately avoided in more than three quarters of the patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level V.

Combination therapy with early nasopancreatic drainage and minimum surgery for blunt high-grade pancreatic trauma

Case

A 22-year-old man suffered blunt, high-grade, pancreatic trauma; however, duct-related complications were avoided by combining early nasopancreatic drainage with minimal surgery. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography confirmed rupture of the main pancreatic duct and massive retroperitoneal extravasation. A nasopancreatic catheter was placed across the rupture site, laparotomy was carried out, and a grade IV pancreatic head laceration was sutured. Because the nasopancreatic catheter shifted out intraoperatively, another was inserted and left in place for 12 days.

Outcome

The patient recovered well without any duct-related complications such as pseudocyst or external pancreatic fistula.

Conclusion

A combination of early therapeutic endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and surgical repair may be useful for treating high-grade pancreatic trauma when pancreatic resection is unnecessary.

Diagnosis and treatment of traumatic pancreatic injuries

Pancreatic trauma accounted for 1%-5% of all blunt abdominal injuries and 12% of penetrating abdominal injuries. Although pancreatic trauma is uncommon, its mortality is high. Early accurate diagnosis, selection of suitable means of treatment based on the degree of injury, and management of complications are issues that should be stressed in the treatment of pancreatic trauma. This article discusses the clinical diagnosis, treatment and complications of pancreatic trauma.

Evaluation of blunt pancreatic injury with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in comparison with contrast-enhanced computed tomography

The aim of the present study was to evaluate acute blunt pancreatic injury using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in comparison with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Superficial and deep lesions were established by blunt pancreatic injury in 40 Chinese Guangxi Bama miniature pigs. Conventional ultrasound (US), CEUS and CECT were performed to detect traumatic lesions in the pancreas. A total of 40 lesions were established, including 20 deep lesions and 20 superficial lesions. US identified 21 of the 40 lesions, including 7 of the 20 superficial and 14 of the 20 deep lesions. CEUS identified 34 of the 40 lesions, including 14 of the 20 superficial and 20 of the 20 deep lesions. CECT identified 33 of the 40 lesions, including 13 of the 20 superficial and 20 of the 20 deep lesions. The detection rate of acute blunt pancreatic injury using CEUS was significantly higher compared with that using US (85 vs. 52.5%, P<0.05), however there was no significant difference in the detection rate of pancreatic lesions between CEUS and CECT (85 vs. 82.5%, P>0.05). CEUS improves the diagnostic levels of conventional US and is comparable with CECT scans in the diagnosis of blunt pancreatic injury.

Endoscopic management of pancreatic duct injury by endoscopic stent placement: a case report and literature review

Recently, the diagnostic evaluation of pancreatic injury has improved dramatically. On the other hand, it is occasionally difficult to diagnose pancreatic injury, because there are no specific signs, symptoms, or laboratory findings. Radiological imaging also often fails to identify pancreatic injury in the acute phase. Delayed diagnosis results in significant morbidity and mortality. Most cases of pancreatic injury with suspicion or pancreatic duct disruption require surgery. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is one of the most accurate modalities for ductal evaluation and therapy and might enable one to avoid unnecessary surgery. We describe endoscopic management of pancreatic duct injury by endoscopic stent placement. A 45-year-old woman was admitted after a traffic accident. A computed tomography scan showed pancreatic parenchyma disruption at the pancreatic head. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated disruption of the pancreatic duct with extravasation into the peripancreatic fluid collection. A 5-French endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) tube was placed. Her symptoms dramatically improved. ENPD tube was exchanged for a 5-French 5-cm pancreatic stent. Subsequent follow-up CT revealed remarkable improvement. On the 26th day, the patient was discharged from the hospital without symptoms or complications. In this report, a pancreatic stent may lead to rapid clinical improvement and enable surgery to be avoided. On the other hand, the reported complications of long-term follow-up make the role of stenting uncertain. Thus, close attention should be paid to stenting management in the follow-up period. A pancreatic stent is useful for pancreatic ductal injury. If pancreatic ductal injury is managed appropriately, a pancreatic stent may improve the clinical condition, and also prevent unnecessary surgery.

Surgical management and outcome of civilian gunshot injuries to the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic injuries are uncommon but result in substantial morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the factors associated with morbidity and mortality in civilian patients with pancreatic gunshot wounds.

METHODS

This was a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with gunshot wounds of the pancreas treated from 1976 to 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients (205 male, median age 27 years) had pancreatic American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade I-II (111 patients) and grade III-V (108) gunshot injuries to the pancreatic head (72), neck (8), body (75) and tail (64). The patients underwent 239 laparotomies, including drainage of the pancreas (169), distal pancreatectomy (59) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (11). Some 218 patients had 642 associated intra-abdominal and 91 vascular injuries. Forty-three (19.6 per cent) required an initial damage control procedure. A total of 150 patients (68.5 per cent) had 407 postoperative complications (median 4, range 1-7). The 46 patients (21.0 per cent) who died had a median of 3 (range 1-7) complications. Median (range) intensive care unit and total hospital stay were 5 (1-153) and 11 (1-255) days respectively. Multivariable analyses identified age, high-grade pancreatic injury, associated vascular injuries and need for repeat laparotomy as predictors of morbidity. Age, shock on admission, need for damage control surgery, high-grade pancreatic injuries and associated vascular injuries were significant factors associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Morbidity and mortality rates were high after gunshot injuries to the pancreas. Initial shock and severe injury combined with need for damage control surgery were associated with the highest risk of death.

Evolving management of pancreatic injury

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this study we present a concise review of the evolving management of traumatic injury to the pancreas, including diagnostic approaches and options for operative and nonoperative intervention.

RECENT FINDINGS

New diagnostic adjuncts can be used for the evaluation of injury to the pancreas and pancreatic duct. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are used as diagnostic modalities for duct evaluation. ERCP can be therapeutic with sphincterotomy and/or stenting for duct disruption. Computed tomography scan is the initial imaging study of choice for pancreatic injury, but is also used for drainage of pancreatic abscesses or pseudocysts.

SUMMARY

Nonoperative management of solid organ injuries is the recommended treatment in hemodynamically stable patients. This strategy is now being successfully applied to pancreatic injuries in specific situations. However, the mainstays of pancreatic injury remain the same. The identification of pancreatic duct injury is the top priority. Management includes distal resection, debridement, and closed suction drainage of pancreatic injuries.

Blunt pancreatic trauma in children

PURPOSE

To report our experience with blunt pancreatic trauma in pediatric patients and evaluate several various management strategies.

METHODS

Ten children admitted over the last 10 years with pancreatic blunt trauma were included in the present series.

RESULTS

The average time from injury to hospital admission was 2.4 days. All injuries resulted from accidents: bicycle handlebar injuries (5), being kicked by a horse (2), falls from a height (2), and injury sustained during closure of an electric gate (1). Additional systemic and abdominal injuries were recorded in 7 patients. The amylase levels at the time of patient admission were normal in 3 patients, mildly raised in 4 patients, and elevated in 3 patients. Abdominal computed tomography was performed in 10 patients, ultrasonography in 5, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 4. Pancreatic injuries comprised 4 grade I, 3 grade II, and 3 grade III injuries. Grade I and II injuries were successfully managed by conservative treatment. The 3 children with grade III trauma and pancreatic ductal injury in the neck (1), body (1), and tail (1) of the gland were surgically treated, having an uneventful postoperative stay of 8-14 days and no complications during the 1-year follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

The present study supports early ERCP as an essential part of the initial patient evaluation when pancreatic transection is highly suspected.

Nonoperative management of pancreatic injuries in pediatric patients

PURPOSE

Nonoperative management of minor pancreatic injury is the generally accepted approach. However, the management of major pancreatic injury remains controversial in pediatric patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the safety and efficacy of nonoperative management of pancreatic injury in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2009, 31 patients, 28 male and 3 female, with pancreatic injury due to blunt abdominal trauma were treated in our clinic. All patients were evaluated by ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and evaluation of serum amylase levels. Patients with ongoing hemodynamic instability after resuscitation or signs of bowel perforation underwent immediate laparotomy, and the remaining patients were conservatively treated. Conservative treatment consisted of nasogastric tube replacement, total parenteral nutrition, monitoring of amylase levels, and serial clinical examination.

RESULTS

The most common mechanism of injury was a fall (35.4%). Ten patients (32.2%) had associated extra-abdominal injuries, and 18 patients (58.1%) had associated abdominal injuries. The spleen was the most common site of intra-abdominal injury that was associated with pancreatic trauma. Initial amylase levels were normal in 5 patients, whose CT scans revealed pancreatic injury. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) were conservatively treated. Six patients (19.4%) required surgical intervention because of a hollow viscus or diaphragmatic injury and hemodynamic instability. A pseudocyst developed in 11 of the 25 patients who were nonoperatively treated; 6 patients required intervention for the pseudocyst (percutaneous drainage and cystogastrostomy). No patient succumbed to injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the pancreatic injuries in pediatric patients can be successfully treated conservatively, unless there is hemodynamic instability and a hollow viscus injury. The most common complication is a pseudocyst.

Article Commentary: Management of Left Pancreatic Trauma

Left pancreatic traumas (LPTs) are rare but serious lesions occurring in 1 to 6 per cent of abdominal trauma patients and mainly resulting from blunt traumas. LPT severity is primarily dependent on the associated injuries and secondarily related to main pancreatic duct injury responsible for complications: acute pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreatic fistulas, or abscesses. The guidelines for blunt LPT management can be presented as follows. In case of emergency laparotomy, pancreas exploration is mandatory to detect pancreatic duct lesions. In the absence of main pancreatic duct lesions, simple drainage is advocated. In case of distal injury to the main pancreatic duct, a left pancreatectomy is mandatory. In the absence of initial laparotomy, the diagnosis is more and more based on CT and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, which tend to replace endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as a first-intent diagnostic modality. In case of distal injury to the main pancreatic duct, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy is recommended. In the absence of main pancreatic duct lesions, nonoperative treatment is advocated. When LPTs are discovered at the time of complications, pancreatic fistulas and/or pseudocysts are associated with main pancreatic lesions, which can be treated by pancreatic duct stenting at ERCP and/or internal endoscopic cystogastrostomy. However, in such cases, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy remains the treatment of choice. Pancreatic ductal lesions resulting from LPT have to be diagnosed early to avoid late complications. Distal pancreatectomy remains the treatment of choice in case of severe pancreatic ductal lesions because the role of ERCP stenting and endoscopic techniques needs further evaluation.

Short hospitalization after early intervention in managing grade III pancreatic injuries in children: a possible new trend

The presence of ductal disruption in pancreatic trauma is a major indicator of severity leading to higher morbidities and prolonged hospital stay. However, the adoption of early interventional approach in selected cases of documented grade III pancreatic trauma could result in shorter hospitalization and early recovery. We are describing our approach of early presentation-tailored interventions in managing two consecutive children diagnosed with grade III pancreatic injuries, which constitute the two main ends of the presentations' spectrum. For the early presenter a spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed, while for the late presenter with large symptomatic pseudocyst endoscopic drainage was attempted. Both early and late presenting children had quick and uneventful recoveries leading to 5 and 6 days of hospitalization, respectively. Both cases continued to be asymptomatic at 4 and 12 months post procedure. In the pseudocyst case, the gastro-cystostomy stents were removed after 10 weeks, and 2.5 months later a completely healed pancreas was demonstrated by magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography. Unlike other abdominal solid organ injuries in children, adopting early presentation-tailored intervention can be associated with quicker recovery and short hospitalization for grade III pancreatic injuries. While the series is still small, achieving such remarkable outcomes in two consecutive cases is possible and could set a new trend in managing these injuries in children.

Traumatic Transection of Pancreas at the Neck: Feasibility of Parenchymal Preserving Strategy

BACKGROUND

To assess the feasibility and safety of a pancreas preserving operative technique in the management of isolated complete pancreatic neck transection following blunt abdominal trauma.

METHODS

Two patients with isolated blunt fracture of the pancreatic neck underwent pancreas preserving procedure comprising of oversewing of the proximal pancreas and Roux-en-Y pancreatico jejunostomy to the distal remnant. A feeding jejunostomy tube was placed for postoperative nutritional support in these patients. Both patients received subcutaneous octreotide 300 µg/day.

RESULTS

Their ages ranged from 15 years to 20 years, mode of injury was bicycle handle-bar injury (n = 2). Both had pancreatic transection at neck in the line of superior mesenteric vessels. One had ascites. These patients had pancreas parenchyma preserving surgery - internal drainage of the left remnant in a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop. The postoperative course was uneventful in these and both are well on follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreas preserving strategy - suture of head side of pancreas and an internal drainage of left remnant with a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop is feasible and safe and should be considered in selected cases. Substantial amount of normal pancreatic parenchyma is preserved.

Pancreatic injury

Injury to the pancreas, because of its retroperitoneal location, is a rare occurrence, most commonly seen with penetrating injuries (gun shot or stab wounds). Blunt trauma to the pancreas accounts for only 25% of the cases. Pancreatic injuries are associated with high morbidity and mortality due to accompanying vascular and duodenal injuries. Pancreatic injuries are not always easy to diagnose resulting in life threatening complications. Physical examination as well as serum amylase is not diagnostic following blunt trauma. Computed tomography (CT) scan can delineate the injury or transaction of the pancreas. Endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography (ERCP) is the main diagnostic modality for evaluation of the main pancreatic duct. Unrecognized ductal injury leads to pancreatic pseudocyst, fistula, abscess, and other complications. Management depends upon the severity of the pancreatic injury as well as associated injuries. Damage control surgery in hemodynamic unstable patients reduces morbidity and mortality.