Role of percutaneous catheter drainage as primary treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Necrotizing pancreatitis has morbidity and mortality rates exceeding most of the other acute medical emergencies despite the best possible medical and surgical care. Early surgical intervention has a high operative risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective open-label study was designed to evaluate the role of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of pancreatic necrosis as primary treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. An ultrasound/computed tomography-guided drainage was performed with 10 or 12 Fr catheters using a 0.35 mm guide wire, irrespective of whether necrosis was infected or not. Patients were followed up for organ dysfunction, need for surgical intervention, and survival at week 8. RESULTS: A total of 20 (65% males) patients who had acute necrotizing pancreatitis with varied etiology were enrolled in the present study. Of these patients, 9 (45%) did not need surgery after PCD. The remaining 11 (55%) patients showed significant reversal of organ failure after PCD insertion (p<0.05 for improvement in serum creatinine, need for mechanical ventilation, and decline in C-reactive protein). Survival at week 8 was 95%. PCD was well tolerated with only two catheter-related complications being observed. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous catheter drainage can be a primary treatment option for necrotizing pancreatitis. In addition, it helps to stabilize critically ill patients and delay the surgical procedure to beyond 4 weeks to improve the surgical outcomes.

Severe Varicella Pneumonia in Adults: Seven Years' Single-center Experience from India.

CONTEXT: Varicella pneumonia is a rare but a serious complication of chickenpox in adults. There is paucity of data on varicella pneumonia from India. AIMS: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations, hospital course, treatment, and outcome of adult patients with severe varicella pneumonia. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective, observational study of patients with severe varicella pneumonia attending a tertiary care teaching hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The cases of varicella were identified by a computerized search of the medical record for the period between January 2010 and December 2016. During this period, 137 patients got admitted with varicella of which 22 had severe varicella pneumonia. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mean and standard deviation were computed. Fisher's Z-test of proportions and analysis of variance were applied. RESULTS: There were 17 (77.3%) men and 5 (22.7%) women. The mean age of the patients was 33.4 ± 10.8 years. History of contact with an infected person followed by high-grade fever and typical rash was present in all patients. Forty-five percent (10/22) of patients were immunosuppressed. All the patients received intravenous acyclovir. Forty-five percent (10/22) of patients received invasive mechanical ventilation. The various factors associated with the need for mechanical ventilation were partial pressure of oxygen:fraction of inspired oxygen ratio <150, quick sequential (sepsis-related) organ failure assessment (qSOFA) >2, and early bacterial coinfection. The mean Intensive Care Unit and hospital stay were 7 days (range; 1-16) and 9 days (range; 4-21), respectively. The overall mortality was 22.7% and reached 50% in those requiring invasive ventilation. The mortality was higher among patients with qSOFA >3, mean arterial blood pressure <60 mmHg, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe varicella pneumonia are at an increased risk of respiratory failure and death.