1/58. Intramural duodenal hematoma of pancreatic origin. Non-traumatic intramural hematoma of the duodenum is an unusual clinical entity. Indeed, in a majority of 70% of patients intramural hematoma of the duodenum is caused by a blunt, frequently minor abdominal trauma. The main etiology of non-traumatic intramural hematoma of the duodenum in the adult is overdose anticoagulant therapy. Rarer causes include pancreatic disease, blood dyscrasia or vascular collagen disease. In this presentation a case of pancreatitis-induced intramural duodenal hematoma is discussed and compared with corresponding data in the literature. ( info) |
| This is a case report of a patient with chronic pancreatitis who presented with biliary, duodenal and portal vein obstruction, a mass in the head of the pancreas, and a CA 19-9 level of 372 U/ml. Thus, the concern was raised as to the possibility of pancreatic cancer in this patient. We discuss the difficulties in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in patients with chronic pancreatitis and the treatment options available for patients with chronic pancreatitis where the significant findings involve the head of the pancreas. Finally, a brief review is given describing the pertinent literature on the surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis and the current indications of pancreaticoduodenectomy for chronic pancreatitis. ( info) |
3/58. The application of immobilized polymyxin b fiber in the treatment of septic shock associated with severe acute pancreatitis: report of two cases. The elimination of endotoxin by direct hemoperfusion over immobilized polymyxin b fiber (PMX-F) was carried out in two patients who developed septic shock associated with severe acute pancreatitis. Parameters such as blood pressure, body temperature, and plasma endotoxin level improved after PMX-F treatment, and the infected lesions were successfully and safely removed by surgery. Although an aggressive operative strategy of debridement with ultimate closure over drains is generally associated with low mortality in patients with this devastating disease, we often hesitate to perform this operation due to the poor condition of the patient in the acute period, with multiple organ failure and/or septic shock status, and also because of the difficulty in diagnosing the pancreatic infection. In this situation, endotoxin elimination using PMX-F is a useful tool for treating secondary pancreatic infections to help the patient recover in preparation for surgery, or for treating perioperative endotoxemia. ( info) |
| pancreatic pseudocyst in the liver is a rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. However, its frequency seems to be increasing with modem imaging procedures. The authors report a case of pancreatic pseudocyst involving the left lobe of the liver that occurred in a patient who never showed clinical evidence of pancreatitis or pancreatic injury. Complete screening led to the discovery of alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. The pseudocyst was treated successfully by radiologic drainage. The pancreatic pseudocyst location and therapeutic approaches are discussed. A literature review uncovered 26 cases of hepatic pancreatic pseudocysts. Clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and treatment of these cases are analyzed. ( info) |
5/58. Pancreaticopleural fistula: diagnosis with magnetic resonance pancreatography. Pancreaticopleural fistula secondary to chronic pancreatitis is a rare cause of recurrent pleural effusion. The demonstration of the fistula with endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and CT is invasive or limited. We report in two patients the use of magnetic resonance pancreatography as a noninvasive alternative to endoscopic retrograde pancreatography for the diagnosis of pancreaticopleural fistula. ( info) |
6/58. Multiple small pseudoaneurysms complicating pancreatitis: angiographic diagnosis and transcatheter embolization. We report a case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to multiple, small pseudoaneurysms complicating a chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Cross-sectional imaging with CT and US could not clearly depict these vascular lesions. Selective arteriography of the superior mesenteric and gastroduodenal arteries clearly showed the small pseudoaneurysms and definitive treatment was performed by transcatheter embolization using coils. Eight months after successful embolization, the patient is asymptomatic without any recurrent bleeding. ( info) |
7/58. A case of haemosuccus pancreaticus. Haemosuccus pancreaticus (Wirsungorrhagia or pseudohaemobilia) is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. We describe a 48-year-old patient with alcohol-induced chronic calcific pancreatitis and recurrent episodes of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding but without abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed fresh blood oozing from the ampulla of vater. No pseudoaneurysms or pseudocysts were detected by arteriography or computerized tomography. The bleeding was attributed to pancreatic lithiasis. Following conservative treatment, there was no evidence of recurrence during a 24-month follow-up period. In conclusion, although a rare occurrence, haemosuccus pancreaticus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all cases of obscure upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with chronic pancreatitis, whether or not accompanied by pain. A highly suggestive clinical history or X-ray findings and an endoscopic visualization of blood coming from the ampulla of vater may suffice for the diagnosis, thus avoiding diagnostic and therapeutic errors. When haemosuccus pancreaticus occurs in patients without pseudoaneurysms or pseudocysts, it can be treated conservatively, thus obviating the need for pancreatectomy or arteriographic embolization. ( info) |
8/58. The characteristic appearance of non-alcoholic duct destructive chronic pancreatitis: a report of 2 cases. We report 2 patients with an unusual form of chronic pancreatitis, both of whom were treated for clinical suspicion of pancreatic malignancy. The surgical specimens revealed a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the main and interlobular branches of the pancreatic duct, causing sclerosis of the duct wall, diffuse irregular lumenal narrowing, extensive parenchymal fibrosis, and organ enlargement. Neither case showed calcifications, fat necrosis, or cyst formation, features usually seen in alcoholic pancreatitis, nor was there any evidence of neoplasia. One patient had an unusual form of acalculous cholecystitis, but without cystic duct inflammation or fibrosis. Both patients recovered well from the surgical procedure and have not had any complications or relapse of their symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, these cases are representative of the recently described non-alcoholic duct destructive chronic pancreatitis, which is thought to be immune-mediated. ( info) |
9/58. Complicated chronic pancreatitis causing mycotic aortic aneurysm: in situ replacement with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. Mycotic aortic aneurysm, which resulted from infected pancreatic pseudocysts with retroperitoneal abscess, developed in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. The aorta was approached through median laparotomy. Necrotic material was debrided from the pancreatic pseudocysts, and the mycotic aneurysm was resected. The aorta was replaced in situ with a cryopreserved aortic allograft. This report discusses the rare complication of pancreatic pseudocysts, which affect the infrarenal abdominal aorta and cause a large mycotic aneurysm. This case suggests that the use of cryopreserved allografts is promising for in situ reconstruction, even in a grossly infected field. ( info) |
| CONTEXT: We describe a patient with alcohol-induced pancreatitis who developed severe life-threatening hypophosphatemia of multifactorial origin during hospitalization. CASE REPORT: Decreased phosphate levels along with urine phosphate wasting were already noticed on the patient's admission due to underlying chronic alcoholism. However, a further deterioration of hypophosphatemia appeared on the second day of hospitalization presumably resulting from an increased transfer of phosphate from extracellular to intracellular fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Phosphate deficiency is often overlooked in patients with acute pancreatitis. Our case emphasizes that serum phosphate levels should be checked along with serum calcium levels in patients with acute pancreatitis, especially in alcoholic patients. ( info) |