Multidisciplinary approach to pseudoaneurysms complicating pancreatic pseudocysts. Impact of pretreatment diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of thin-section, dynamic-contrast computed tomography and angiography in detecting the presence of pancreatic pseudoaneurysms. DESIGN: This case series consisted of 57 patients who were being examined for endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts. SETTING: All patients were examined in a tertiary care, teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-seven consecutive patients were examined for 2 years. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 2 years. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent thin-section, high-speed, dynamic-contrast computed tomography. Those patients with findings that were consistent with the presence of a pseudoaneurysm underwent angiography. Embolization was attempted if a pseudoaneurysm was present. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was used to determine pancreatic ductal anatomy before operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: No undetected pseudoaneurysm has complicated this series of endoscopically drained pseudocysts. RESULTS: Five patients had findings that were consistent with a pancreatic pseudoaneurysm on computed tomography. Angiographic findings confirmed a pseudoaneurysm in four patients, and angiographic embolization was successful in three. Four patients underwent resection, while one was treated with embolization and endoscopic stenting of a compressed pancreatic duct. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Before endoscopic drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst, a thin-section, high-speed, dynamic-contrast computed tomographic scan is essential. If there are findings consistent with the development of a pseudoaneurysm, angiography must be performed. This allows delineation of the arterial anatomy, as well as the option of performing angiographic embolization. While patients with pseudoaneurysms in the body and tail of the pancreas underwent resection, angiographic embolization alone was an acceptable alternative when the lesion was located in the head of the pancreas.

Management of major hepatic trauma involving interhospital transfer.

A recent 10-year experience with major liver trauma at the Maine Medical Center was reviewed in order to examine treatment options involving interhospital transfer in the management of major liver trauma in rural areas. Liver injuries of at least Grade III by the systems of Moore or Mirvis were included, except for patients admitted without vital signs. We found 98 cases of major hepatic trauma, of which 54 had been referred by 21 smaller hospitals. Of 15 patients received after laparotomy elsewhere, nine underwent reoperation for control of bleeding or removal of packs, and three died of associated injury or multiple organ failure (MOF). Of the other 39 transferred patients, 23 diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) were selected for nonoperative management with success, 11 survived after operation, one died of hemorrhage, and four died of associated injuries or MOF. For the entire group of 98 cases, adjuncts perceived as useful included perihepatic gauze packing (11 cases) and angiographic embolization (6 cases). Mortality increased with increasing magnitude of injury. Even with major hepatic trauma on CT, stable patients are unlikely to require surgery. Active hemorrhage in unstable patients may be controlled temporarily by expeditious operative techniques including gauze packing. These findings usually allow cooperation between rural hospital and referral center in the management of these potentially serious cases.