Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Pancreatic Injury

PURPOSE: Althoughpancreas injury is rare in abdominal trauma,it posesa challengeto the surgeon because its clinicalfeaturesare not prominentand the presence of main duct injurycannot be easily identified by imaging studies. Furthermore, severe pancreas injuries require a distal pancreatectomy or a pancreaticoduodnectomy which are associated considerable morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the clinical features of and outcomes for patients with pancreas injury. METHODS: For 10 years from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2010, thirty-four patients were diagnosedas having pancreas injury by using an explo-laparotomy. Patients successfully treated bynon-operative management were excluded. Patients were divided into early (n=18) and delayed surgery groups (n=11) based on an interval of 24hours between injury and surgery. The clinical features of and the outcomes for the patients in both groups were compared. RESULTS: Males were more commonly injured (82.4% vs.17.6%). The mean age was 37.2 years. The injury mechanisms included vehicle accidents (62.9%, 22/34), assaults (20%, 7/34), and falls (11.4%, 3/34)). The head and neck of the pancreas was most commonly injured, followed by the body and the tail (16, 12, and 6 cases). Of the 34 patients, 26 (76.5%) patients had accompanying injuries. Grade 1 and 2 occurred in 14 (5 and 9) patients, and grade 3, 4, and 5 occurred in 20 (16, 3, and 1) patients. The early and delayed surgery groups showed no difference in surgical outcomes. Two patients with grade 3 in the early surgery group died after surgery,one due tomassive hemorrhage and the other due to septic shock. Of the five patients initially managed non-operatively,three developed peripancreatic necrosis and two developed pseudocyst. All five patients were successfully cured by surgery. CONCLUSION: All cases of pancreas injury in this study involved blunt injury, and accompanying injury to major vessels or the bowel was the major cause of mortality. Surgery delayed for longer than 24 hours after was not associated with adverseoutcomes.

Management of Traumatic Pancreas Injury in Multiple Trauma: Single Center Experience

PURPOSE: Pancreatic injury is rare in abdominal trauma patients (3%~12%). but it could result in significant morbidity and even mortality. Early and adequate decision making are very important in the management of patients with traumatic pancreatic injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the kinds of management and outcome through the review of our experience of pancreatic injury with multiple trauma. METHODS: We reviewed 17 patients with traumatic pancreas injury via electronic medical records from Jan. 2002 and April. 2011. We collected demographic findings; the type, location and grade of pancreas injury, the treatment modality, and patient's outcomes, such as complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and mortality. RESULTS: Total 17 patients were reviewed, and man was 13 (88%). Traffic accident was the most common cause of injury. Pancreas neck was the most common injured site, and occured in 5 patients. Ductal injury was detected in 7 cases. Eleven patients were treated by surgical procedure, and in this group, 3 patients underwent the endoscopic retrograde pancreas drainage procedure coincidently. ERPD was tried in 8 patients, and failed in 2 patients. The major complications were post-traumatic fluid collection and abscess which accounted for 70% of all patients. The hospital stay was 35.9 days, and it was longer in patient with ductal injury (38.0+/-18.56 vs. 34.5+/-33.68 days). Only one patient was died due to septic shock associated with an uncontrolled retroperitoneal abscess. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis is the most important factor to apply the adequate treatment option and to manage the traumatic pancreas injury. Aggressive treatment should be considered in patients with a post-operative abscess.

Estudo da morbimortalidade em pacientes com trauma pancreático / Morbimortality in patients with pancreatic trauma

RACIONAL: A lesão pancreática é pouco freqüente após traumas abdominais fechados ou penetrantes, e tem sido relatada entre 0,2 a 12% dos traumas abdominais fechados graves e em cinco a 7% dos traumas penetrantes. A maioria das lesões pancreáticas ocorre em homens jovens e está associada a alta incidência de lesões a órgãos adjacentes e estruturas vasculares importantes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a morbimortalidade dos pacientes com trauma pancreático, o manuseio aplicado a esses pacientes e sua evolução. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo realizado em pacientes admitidos em unidade de trauma. Treze adultos (> 13 anos) foram estratificados em graves e não-graves de acordo com critérios clínicos no momento da identificação do início do quadro e de acordo com os critérios de Baltazar (A, B, C, D e E). O tipo de trauma externo (aberto ou fechado), a classificação do trauma pancreático, números de órgãos acometidos pelo trauma, número de reoperações, o tipo de suporte nutricional e o tempo de permanência hospitalar também foram analisados. A presença de síndrome compartimental abdominal e a necessidade de fechamento temporário foram estudados e comparados com a morbimortalidade nos pacientes. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes eram do sexo masculino com a idade média de 28,6 anos (13 a 60 anos) e apresentaram pancreatite traumática no pós-operatório. Em sete, o ferimento era penetrante por projétil de arma de fogo; em três, abdominal fechado; em dois, por arma branca; em um, grande queimado (> 50% da área corporal). Quanto à classificação do trauma, os graus I e II ocorreram em 38,46; o grau III,15,38 % e o grau IV, 7,7 % . Foram realizadas drenagens da loja pancreática, hemostasia da lesão e pancreatectomia distal com esplenectomia associado à drenagem cavitária Foram classificados como não-grave, oito pacientes. Dentro dos critérios de Baltazar a predominância foi o grau D e C (quatro pacientes, cada). Não houve grau A e apenas um foi E. Apenas três pacientes não foram reoperados (média de 1,7 cirurgias por paciente). Em 46,15%, ocorreu hipertensão intra-abdominal sendo necessário colocação de bolsa de Bogotá. O tempo de internamento variou de 30 à 365 dias (média = 53,4 dias). Ocorreu apenas um óbito. CONCLUSÃO: A pancreatite traumática é de elevada morbimortalidade, e uma das complicações mais importantes relacionada ao trauma pancreático, sendo o seu diagnóstico precoce junto com o acompanhamento multidisciplinar intensivo, o fator que poderá interferir favoravelmente na evolução desses pacientes.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic lesion is uncommon after closed or penetrating abdominal trauma, being related between 0,2 to 12% in severe closed abdominal traumas and in 5 to 7% of penetrating traumas. The majority of pancreatic lesions occur in young men and is associated with an increased incidence of trauma in adjacent organs and major vascular structures. AIM: To evaluate morbimortality rates, evolution and handling of patients with pancreatic trauma. METHODS: A prospective study of patients admitted to the trauma unit was made. Thirteen adults (>13 years-old) were divided into two groups one composed of severe and the other composed of non-severe patients according to clinical criterion in the moment of identification of trauma using the Balthazars' criteria (A, B, C, D and E). The type of external trauma (opened or closed), classification of pancreatic trauma, number of organs reached by trauma, number of reoperations, type of nutritional support and period of time in the hospital were also analyzed. Presence of compartmental abdominal syndrome and necessity to close trauma temporarily were studied and compared to morbimortality in patients. RESULTS: All patients were male, with an average age of 28,6 years (13 to 60 years of age), presenting postoperatory traumatic pancreatitis. Seven patients, showed penetrating wounds due to firearms; three had closed abdomen; two had knife wounds and one had severe burns (> 50% of body area). Trauma classification showed, I and II degree in 38,46%; III degree in 15,38% and IV degree in 7,7% of patients. Pancreatic drainage, lesion hemostasia and distal pacreactomy with splenectomy associated with cavity drainage were performed. Eight patients were classified as non-severe. According to Balthazars' criteria, grades D and C were predominant, with four patients each. There were no grade A patients and only one was grade E. Only three patients were reoperated (average of 1,7 surgeries per patients). In 46,15% intra-abdominal hypertension occurred, making it necessary to apply the Bogota bag procedure. The period of admission varied between 30 to 365 days (average of 53,4 days). Only one death was registered. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatitis due to trauma has elevated morbimortality rates and is one of the most significant complications related to pancreatic trauma. Consequently early diagnoses along with intensive multidisciplinary follow-up are important and determinant factors which directly interfere in a favorable evolution of these patients.