Pancreas pseudocysts in children: therapeutic alternatives

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic pseudocysts are rare in child. The aim of this study is to review the experience of the Pediatric Surgery Department of the Casablanca Children Hospital and to evaluate the therapeutic results. We retrospectively reviewed 19 cases of pancreatic pseudocyst. Mean age of children was 8 year-old. The post-traumatic origin was the most frequent etiology. Main clinical symptoms were abdominal pain, vomiting and abdominal mass. Diagnosis was based on abdominal ultrasound and CT scan in 42% of cases. Two patients were only observed with a good outcome. Three patients had percutaneous drainage, six needed an open external drainage and 9 had an open internal drainage with a success rate of 78%. Kystojejunostomy is a reliable technique of treating a PSK. However new techniques of endoscopic and percutaneous drainage may be useful in some indications