'Laparostomy': a technique for the management of intractable intra-abdominal sepsis

Following laparotomy for severe intra-abdominal sepsis, the abdominal cavity was left open to heal by granulation in 18 patients. In 14 patients, operation was required because of recurrent gastrointestinal perforation or anastomotic dehiscence. In three, the indication for this procedure was recurrent pancreatic abscess. Of the 17, 13 had previously undergone multiple operations which had failed to control sepsis. Laparostomy was performed as a primary procedure in only one case, a patient with fulminating pancreatitis requiring pancreatic necrosectomy. All patients received parenteral nutrition. The overall mortality was 28 per cent. However, there was only one death among the last 9 patients treated compared with 4 in the previous 9. The median sepsis score in the first 9 (19, range 10-26) was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from that in the subsequent 9 patients (17, range 8-21). Three of the four who had initially presented with severe acute pancreatitis died. No patient eviscerated and only 9 (50 per cent) required mechanical ventilation for a median duration of 5 days. The median time for wound healing was 10 weeks and 6 patients have subsequently undergone definitive surgery with satisfactory results. Laparostomy is a valuable technique in the management of severe, intractable intra-abdominal sepsis.     

Management of pancreatic pseudocysts

Between 1969 and 1987, 68 patients with pancreatic pseudocysts were treated. The median cyst size was 10 cm (range 2-25 cm). Nine patients were managed conservatively with resolution of the pseudocyst occurring in eight patients. These patients had significantly smaller (median 4 cm) cysts compared with those in both percutaneously and surgically treated patients (P less than 0.01). In 22 patients the pseudocysts (median 9 cm) were punctured percutaneously under ultrasound guidance and the cyst fluid was aspirated or drained through a catheter. Complete resolution occurred in 13 patients after 1-4 (mean 1.8) punctures per patient, regression occurred in six patients after 1-4 (mean 2.0) puncture procedures per patient and three were unchanged. No complications were noted, except that two patients treated percutaneously required additional surgery. Thirty-seven patients were managed surgically (median cyst size 11 cm) with external drainage (12 patients), cystgastrostomy (17 patients), cystduodenostomy (three patients) cystjejunostomy (three patients) and pancreatic resection (two patients). Resolution of the cyst was noted in 29 patients, regression in five and three were unchanged. Five patients required additional surgery. Twelve complications were seen in ten patients (27 per cent), most frequently after external drainage. One patient died after surgical treatment. Mean hospital stay was 13 days among patients treated conservatively and 30 days in both percutaneously and surgically treated patients. Aspiration or catheter drainage of pseudocyst fluid guided by ultrasonography seems a safe and effective treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts and should be considered as initial therapy. If surgery is required cystgastrostomy is preferred.     

Pancreatic intubation ifn pancreas divisum

AIM: Long-term results of endoscopic pancreatic stenting in pancreas divisum is still debated. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of dorsal duct stenting in patients presenting with acute recurrent pancreatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 1998, among 34 patients presenting with recurrent acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum, 21 were treated by pancreatic stenting during a mean time of 11 months. There were 13 men and eight women (mean age: 50 years). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 50 (range 11-105) months. The number of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis before pancreatic stenting, at the end of stenting and at the end of the follow-up was respectively 21/21 (100%), 2/19 (10%) and 2/18 (11%) (P < 0.01). The number of patients presenting with chronic pain before stenting, at the end of stenting and at the end of the follow-up was respectively 17/21 (80%), 6/19 (31%) and 5/18 (27%) (P = 0.07). The overall morbidity rate was 8/21 patients (38%) including mainly acute pancreatitis (three cases); all but one complication were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreas divisum, dorsal duct stenting decreases the rate of recurrent acute pancreatitis but the improvement of chronic pain appears less obvious.     

Haemorrhage in pancreatic disease

Haemorrhage is a life-threatening complication in pancreatic disease. Twenty-five patients with this complication are described; 15 had major bleeding, nine had minor bleeding and one patient had a pseudoaneurysm identified at operation. Of the 15 patients with major bleeding, six presented with this complication and in nine cases it followed pancreatic resection. Of the six patients who presented with major bleeding, five underwent resection with one death while the patient managed conservatively died. The nine patients who had major bleeding after pancreatic resection were managed by ligation of the bleeding artery in six cases with one death, and one patient who rebled after ligation of the bleeding artery was successfully managed by further resection. Three patients with postresection major bleeding were managed conservatively with one death. All minor haemorrhages were managed conservatively without mortality. Deaths after major bleeding were a result of sepsis in three cases and respiratory failure in one. The severity of the underlying pancreatitis was an important factor in two patients. Pseudocysts and pancreatic fistulae were important underlying factors leading to the complication. It is recommended that patients with sepsis, a pancreatic fistula or severe underlying pancreatitis should have their haemorrhage treated by pancreatic resection, while those patients with bleeding following pancreatic resection without such complications can be managed by ligation.     

Colonic complications of severe acute pancreatitis

Colonic complications are rare in acute pancreatitis. Over the last 9 years at St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK, we have managed severe acute pancreatitis by intensive supportive therapy followed by sub-total pancreatic resection and/or debridement in those who fail to improve. Of the 22 patients who have undergone this form of surgery, nine were found to have colonic involvement in the form of either necrosis or perforation. In addition, one patient presenting at West Middlesex University Hospital, Isleworth, UK, had severe acute pancreatitis and almost total colonic necrosis as an unexpected finding at emergency laparotomy. These ten patients comprised seven men and three women of median age 59 years and with a median of four Ranson criteria. In seven patients, colonic involvement was discovered at the time of pancreatic surgery or laparotomy for pancreatitis and in the remainder it presented between 1 and 3 weeks later as either a faecal fistula (n = 2) or persistent abdominal sepsis (n = 1). The ascending colon was involved in one patient, the splenic flexure and descending colon in one, the transverse colon in three, the splenic flexure alone in four, and one patient had almost total colonic involvement. All patients underwent resection of the involved colon and exteriorization with either a proximal colostomy (n = 7) or ileostomy (n = 3) and a distal mucous fistula. Pathological examination of the resected colons revealed a spectrum of changes from pericolitis through to ischaemic necrosis suggesting at least two possible mechanisms. Six patients died from overwhelming sepsis between 1 day and 4 weeks (median 11 days) after colonic resection. Severe acute pancreatitis must be recognized as a cause of colonic ischaemia and necrosis; this complication is associated with a very poor prognosis despite surgical intervention.     

Sandostatin in the management of nonendocrine gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders: a preliminary study

Between October 1987 and July 1990 a prospective, nonrandomized, preliminary study was carried out to assess the efficacy of Sandostatin in treating complex pancreatic and gastrointestinal disorders. The study group consisted of 18 women and 12 men, ranging in age from 23 to 80 years (mean 50 years), in whom conventional medical or surgical therapy, or both, had failed. Nineteen patients had pancreatic disease (5 had chronic pancreatitis, 8 acute necrotizing pancreatitis and 6 pancreatic fistula). Thirteen patients had disorders of the small intestine (7 had enterocutaneous fistula and 6 diarrhea-associated short-gut syndrome). Sandostatin was found to be effective in the closure of pancreatic (five of six cases) and enterocutaneous fistulas (five of seven cases), of benefit in controlling the pain associated with chronic pancreatitis (three of five cases) and of some use in achieving short-term control of intractable diarrhea in patients with short-gut syndrome (five of six cases). It was of particular benefit in the management of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The standard principles of surgical management must be adhered to when using Sandostatin to treat patients with these disorders. Sandostatin can not correct underlying problems such as pancreatic-duct obstruction, malignant disease or unresolved sepsis. These preliminary results justify more widespread use of Sandostatin as part of a prospective randomized and controlled multicentre trial.     

Routine early endoscopic cholangiography, sphincterotomy and removal of common duct stones in acute gallstone pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE--To study the efficacy, safety and timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and sphincterotomy in patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis. DESIGN--Open study in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. SUBJECTS--45 consecutive patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis who underwent ERC, with or without sphincterotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The results of early, compared with late, ERC with or without sphincterotomy. RESULTS--ERC was successful in all 45 patients. Ampullary impacted stone was found in eight. Common duct stones were found in 21 (47%) and sphincterotomy was successful in 19 of these (90%). Nine patients developed complications (20%), five of the nine in whom severe disease had been predicted (56%) and four of the 36 in whom mild disease had been predicted (11%, p < 0.01). Three patients required operations for necrotising pancreatitis, in two of whom sphincterotomy had failed. There was no difference in outcome between the 21 patients who had ERC with or without sphincterotomy within 72 hours (median 48 h) of the onset of symptoms and the 24 in whom it was delayed for a median of 144 hours. CONCLUSION--ERC and sphincterotomy may be done safely as a routine in patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis, and delay for a median of six days (range 3-14) from the onset of symptoms did not seem to affect the outcome in our patients.     

Acute cholangitis in association with acute pancreatitis: incidence, clinical features and outcome in relation to ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy

Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) have been shown to be valuable in managing patients with acute cholangitis, their role in patients who have simultaneous acute cholangitis and acute pancreatitis is not known. We have reviewed 32 consecutive patients presenting with both conditions over ten years which represents 23.0 per cent of all cases of gallstone-related acute cholangitis and 14.4 per cent of all cases of biliary acute pancreatitis admitted during the same period. The majority of patients were elderly (median 76 years) and female (75 per cent). Five patients had previously undergone cholecystectomy. Eleven patients were clinically shocked (34 per cent) and blood cultures were positive in 9/14 cases (64 per cent). Twenty patients (63 per cent) had a predicted severe attack of acute pancreatitis (modified Glasgow criteria). Common bile duct (CBD) stones were identified in 15 of 23 patients with successful ERCP. Of these 23 patients, 9 were treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) alone, 5 by ES and surgery, 4 by surgery alone and 5 were treated conservatively. There was one death (4.3 per cent). Nine patients were managed without cholangiography; four had surgery and five were treated conservatively. There were three deaths (33 per cent; P = 0.10). Evidence of recent CBD stone passage was apparent in eight patients (25 per cent) compared with five out of eighty-seven patients (5.7 per cent) with acute cholangitis alone (P less than 0.005). The results indicate that ERCP and ES may have an important role in the management of these patients.     

“Diagnostic Value of MRCP in Biliary Pancreatitis: Result of Long-Term Follow-up”

Aim : Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has increasingly been used to evaluate the common bile duct. This study was to determine the role of MRCP instead of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the management of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis.

Methods : A total of 81 patients with mild or moderate biliary pancreatitis who underwent MRCP and were treated in our department with selective ERCP between May 2001 and July 2007 were entered into a prospective database. Results : MRCP was considered abnormal in 13 patients. Ten patients underwent ERCP. Three patients did not undergo ERCP due to protocol violations. In nine patients, stone extraction was performed. The remaining patient who had dilatation of the CBD underwent ES. The false positive rate of MRCP was 10%. The median follow-up of overall patients was 36 months (range 23–99 months).

The patients with normal MRCP had a median follow-up of 39.5 months (range 23–99 months). During the follow-up period in the normal MRCP group, five patients were diagnosed with recurrent biliary pancreatitis, of which three underwent ERCP (7.4%). There was no disease-related mortality during this period.

Conclusion : In conclusion, the use of MRCP in acute biliary pancreatitis is safe and may be recommended as a tool to aid in the selective use of ERCP.     

Serum ribonuclease elevations and pancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatic necrosis is a principal determinant of the severity, duration, and infectious complications of acute pancreatitis. There has been no objective index for pancreatic necrosis, and its recognition has necessarily rested upon nonspecific clinical signs, including later deterioration or appearance of sepsis. In search of such an index, we have measured serum levels of a poly-[C]-specific acid ribonuclease (RNase) in 38 patients with acute pancreatitis, 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 50 control patients. The values in chronic pancreatitis (mean, 52 units; range, 33 to 80 units) were within observed normal limits (mean, 51; range, 17 to 94). The values in acute pancreatitis segregated into two groups, normal values (group A) and high values (group B). Of 25 patients in group A (mean, 46; range, 19 to 87), only one developed evidence of pancreatic necrosis or abscess. In contrast, of the 13 patients in group B (mean, 192, range, 98 to 385), 11 required surgical debridement/drainage for pancreatic necrosis (six) or abscess (five) (P less than 0.001). Each of the other two patients had prolonged pancreatic inflammation with fever and a pancreatic mass which persisted for more than 2 weeks. RNase levels in group B patients rose within a few days after onset of pancreatitis and tended to parallel the clinical course. These findings suggest that measurement of serum RNase in acute pancreatitis gives a reliable indication of pancreatic necrosis. Therefore RNase determinations should be of value for earlier identification and monitoring of patients at high risk of late complications, and for helping to select those who will benefit from early debridement before secondary infection occurs.     

Ascites in infants with severe sepsis - treatment with peritoneal drainage

BACKGROUND: Ascites in neonates and infants is usually caused by cardiac failure and urinary or biliary tract obstruction. The objective of this study was to characterize our experience with ascites as a complication of sepsis. METHODS: We retrospectively collected and analyzed data of patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the university-based children's hospital, in whom ascites developed during nosocomial sepsis. Ten infants admitted to the ICU in the first 2 days of life developed sepsis on the mean 31.5 (+/-21.9) postnatal day. Gram-negative bacteria were the causative organism in nine cases, and Staphylococcus hemolyticus in one. Because of sepsis, reintubation and mechanical ventilation were necessary. All patients received broad spectrum antibiotics (including meropenem and ciprofloxacin), blood transfusions, catecholamines and intravenous immunoglobulin preparations. Ascites was observed on the median 13.5 day of sepsis (range 3-36), and severely compromised gas exchange. Continuous peritoneal drainage was applied by means of an intravascular catheter placed in the right lower abdominal quadrant. RESULTS: The mean drained fluid volume was 44.7 (+/-20.4) ml.kg(-1).day(-1), drainage was continued for a median of 5.5 (range 1-56) day, and enabled significant reduction of ventilator settings 24 h after its implementation. No severe complications related to drainage occurred; six of 10 babies survived. CONCLUSIONS: Ascites can develop in infants with sepsis and cause respiratory compromise. Continuous drainage of ascitic fluid by means of an intravenous catheter is relatively safe and can improve gas exchange.     

Late mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Mortality due to severe or necrotizing acute pancreatitis most often results from multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) occurring either early (within the first 14 days) or 2 weeks or more after the onset of symptoms due to septic complications. The aim of this study was to analyse the course of the disease in patients who died from severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Between January 1994 and August 2000 details of 263 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were entered prospectively into a database. All patients were treated in an intermediate or intensive care unit. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 4 per cent (ten of 263 patients). The mortality rate was 9 per cent (ten of 106) in patients with necrotizing disease. No patient died within the first 2 weeks of disease onset. The median day of death was 91 (range 15-209). Six patients died from septic MODS. Ranson score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score during the first week of disease, pre-existing co-morbidity, body mass index, infection and extent of necrosis were significantly associated with death (P < 0.01 for all parameters). However, only infection of the necrotic pancreas was an independent risk factor in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Early deaths in patients with severe acute pancreatitis are rare, mainly as a result of modern intensive care treatment. Nine of the ten deaths occurred more than 3 weeks after disease onset. Infection of pancreatic necrosis was the main risk factor for death.     

Immediate postlaparotomy small bowel obstruction: a 16-year retrospective analysis

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a particularly vexing problem in the postoperative period. The goal of this study was to compare the results of operative versus nonoperative treatment. A secondary goal was to explore risk factors for necessitating reoperation in the immediate postoperative period. We conducted a historical cohort retrospective chart review at a university-affiliated hospital. The medical records of patients treated between 1985 and 2000 at the Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) who developed SBO after undergoing a laparotomy during that admission were reviewed. Postoperative SBO was defined as cessation of flatus or bowel movements after their resumption following operation. To compare operative versus nonoperative management of early postoperative mechanical SBO we used the following outcome measures: Reoperation rate, time to return of function, length of stay, and mortality. Of 52 patients who developed SBO in the immediate postoperative period 37 were male, 25 had colorectal surgery, and nine had a gastrectomy as the initial operation on admission; five had inflammatory bowel disease, six had a previous SBO, 22 had virgin abdomens before the current operation, and 11 had adhesions noted at the initial operation. The median time to the development of obstructive symptoms was 8 days (range 1-33). The reoperation rate was 42 per cent overall (67% in women and 32% in men, P = 0.02). For operatively treated patients the median time between onset of symptoms and surgery was 5 days [range 1-23, interquartile range (IQR) = 5]. The median time to the return of bowel function was greater in the operatively treated patients compared with nonoperatively treated patients [11.5 days (range 4-37, IQR = 11) vs 6 days (range 1-28, IQR = 7), P < 0.0001] as was median length of stay from onset of obstruction [23 days (range 6-60, IQR = 14) vs 12 days (range 2-45, IQR = 16), P < 0.009]. Operatively treated patients also stayed longer after their obstruction was relieved although not significantly longer [8 days (range 1-35, IQR = 11) vs 4.5 days (range 0-40, IQR = 10), P = 0.15]. There were 11 complications in nine of 22 patients who underwent operative treatment of their SBO. Immediate postoperative SBO can be treated nonoperatively in stable patients resulting in significantly quicker return of bowel function and shorter lengths of hospital stay. Definitive risk factors for immediate SBO could not be identified.     

Pancreatitis after liver transplantation in children: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND AND METHOD: Posttransplantation acute pancreatitis (PTAP) is a rare but serious complication after pediatric liver transplantation (LTx). We performed a retrospective review in a large cohort of pediatric liver transplant recipients at a single institution to define the impact of this problem in children. RESULTS: Between January 1986 and December 1999, 634 pediatric LTx were performed. Twenty-six patients developed serious acute pancreatitis. The mean age at transplantation was 7.7 years (9 months to 19 years), and the indications for transplantation were biliary atresia in seven, fulminant hepatic failure in six, chronic rejection in seven, and other etiologies in six patients. PTAP was more likely to occur early after LTx (61% within the first week), was associated with the presence of an infrarenal aortic graft in 14 (54%) of 26 patients, was more likely to occur after retransplantation (11/26 patients), and was associated with blood loss and prolonged surgery in four cases. Acute renal failure occurred in 15 (58%) of 26 patients. Mortality was 42% (11/26); causes of death were sepsis or multiple organ failure in nine and hemorrhage in two patients. Management of PTAP included antibiotics, sphincterotomy, debridement with drainage, hepatic arterial revascularization, and arterial ligation. Of the 14 patients with complicated pancreatitis, 5 were treated conservatively and died. Nine patients had extensive operative interventions and four survived (45%). CONCLUSIONS: Several risk factors such as retransplantation, extensive dissection at the time of LTx, and use of infrarenal arterial graft contribute to development of PTAP in children. Early exploration and debridement in patients with complicated pancreatitis may result in a better outcome. Retransplantation in the presence of clinical pancreatitis has a high failure rate.     

Ischemic colitis following abdominal aortic reconstruction for ruptured aneurysm. A 10-year experience

Between January 1, 1978, and December 31, 1987, a total of 103 patients had operations for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. The average age was 73 years (range, 53 to 91 years). Thirty-two patients died during surgery or in the immediate postoperative period. In 19 of the remaining 71 patients ischemic colitis developed, an incidence of 27 per cent. This report reviews the clinical findings and course of these patients. The average age of patients developing ischemic colitis was 72 years (range, 53 to 90 years), not significantly different from the group as a whole. There was no correlation between the type of vascular reconstruction and the development of ischemic colitis. Eleven patients died and eight survived, for a mortality rate of 58 per cent. The most common clinical finding was diarrhea early in the postoperative period, which was noted in 20 patients. Thirteen of these patients had ischemic colitis confirmed by flexible sigmoidoscopy. Eight (62%) of these 13 patients survived; three were managed nonoperatively and five had colectomy. Six patients presented between postoperative days 9 and 20 with signs of increasing sepsis but with no diarrhea or other significant clinical findings; ischemic colitis was confirmed by sigmoidoscopy in all six patients. All of these patients died of septic complications. Seven patients with early postoperative diarrhea had normal sigmoidoscopic findings. None developed septic complications and five survived; two died of cardiac events.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Laparoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts

Background A multicentric study was performed to evaluate the clinical results after laparoscopic treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts (PP). Methods We collected the data of 17 patients presenting with PP and operated on by laparoscopy between 1996 and 2001. There were nine men and eight women with a median age of 42 years (range 30–72). In 15 patients the PP developed after acute pancreatitis and the median delay between the acute onset and surgery was 7 months (range: 2–24). In two patients the PP was associated with chronic pancreatitis. All the patients has a single PP with a median diameter of 9 cm (range: 5–20). Results According to the location of the PP, a cystogastrostomy was performed in 10 patients and a cystojejunostomy in seven patients. The median operative time was 100 min (range: 80–300). Laparoscopic PP surgery was completed suscessfully in 16 patients and the median size of the cystoenterostomy was 3 cm (range: 2–5). Necrotic debris was present within the PP in 11 patients. The median, postoperative hospital stay way 6 days (range: 4–24). No mortality and no immediate morbidity were recorded. However, two patients were readmitted within the first 3 postoperative weeks because of secondary PP infection. The first patient had an early closure of cystograstrostomy and was treated by endoscopic placement of a stent. The second represented with a right retrocolic abscess after cystojejunostomy and was treated by percutaneous drainage. One patient was lost for follow-up 2 months after surgery. The others had regular clinical and radiological controls. With a median follow-up of 12 months (range: 6–36), no recurrence of PP was observed. Conclusions The laparoscopic treatment of PP was associated with a low postoperative complication rate and an effective permanent result. That approach avoided some difficulties, particularly bleeding that is classically linked with endoscopic internal drainage.     

Acute pancreatitis after aortic surgery

Acute pancreatitis (AP) after aortic surgery has rarely been reported. A retrospective review of all abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic operations complicated with AP from January 1982 to March 1992 was performed to study the presentation and outcome of this infrequently recognized complication. Thirteen cases of AP were found among 1965 abdominal aortic operations (0.7% incidence). The distribution of the original aortic operations was as follows: eight elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, two aortoiliac grafts for aortoiliac occlusive disease, and three aortorenal bypasses. Two cases of pancreatitis complicated 170 thoracoabdominal aortic operations (1.2% incidence). Ten patients had mild pancreatitis, nine were discharged without any pancreatic complications after receiving supportive treatment. Five patients with severe AP died of multisystem organ failure despite aggressive surgical treatment; 4 had infected necrosis. The overall mortality was 40 per cent; severe AP resulted in a 100 per cent mortality. The diagnosis of severe AP was usually made in the second postoperative week, significantly later (P < 0.01) than for patients with mild disease. Typically, patients with mild AP presented with hyperamylasemia at a median of 5 postoperative days, and severe AP was found at reoperation or autopsy after a period of unexplained sepsis. Five patients with mild AP were found to have biliary tract stones, with one requiring endoscopic stone extraction. In conclusion, pancreatitis is an uncommon, although perhaps underreported complication. Underreporting may be due to a lack of hyperamylasemia when severe pancreatitis is diagnosed. The severe form is diagnosed late in patients with postoperative sepsis, associated with infected necrosis, and lethal. The complication may be reduced by incidental cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis.     

Long peritoneal lavage decreases pancreatic sepsis in acute pancreatitis.

Late infection of devitalized pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue has become the major cause of morbidity in severe acute pancreatitis. Previous experience found that peritoneal lavage for periods of 48 to 96 hours may reduce early systemic complications but did not decrease late pancreatic sepsis. A fortunate observation led to the present study of the influence of a longer period of lavage on late sepsis. Twenty-nine patients receiving primary nonoperative treatment for severe acute pancreatitis (three or more positive prognostic signs) were randomly assigned to short peritoneal lavage (SPL) for 2 days (15 patients) or to long peritoneal lavage (LPL) for 7 days (14 patients). Positive prognostic signs averaged 5 in both groups but the frequency of five or more signs was higher in LPL (71%) than in SPL (47%). Eleven patients in each group had early computed tomographic (CT) scans. Peripancreatic fluid collections were shown more commonly in LPL (82%) than in SPL (54%) patients. Longer lavage dramatically reduced the frequency of both pancreatic sepsis (22% LPL versus 40% SPL) and death from sepsis (0% LPL versus 20% SPL). Among patients with fluid collections on early CT scan, LPL led to a more marked reduction in both pancreatic sepsis (33% LPL versus 83% SPL) and death from sepsis (0% LPL versus 33% SPL). The differences were even more striking among 17 patients with five or more positive prognostic signs. In this group the incidence of pancreatic sepsis was 30% LPL versus 57% SPL and of death from sepsis 0% (LPL) versus 43% (SPL) (p = 0.05). In these patients, overall mortality was also reduced (20% LPL versus 43% SPL). When 20 patients treated by LPL were compared with 91 other patients with three or more positive prognostic signs who were treated without lavage or by lavage for periods of 2 to 4 days, the frequency of death from pancreatic sepsis was reduced from 13% to 5%. In those with five or more signs, the incidence of sepsis was reduced from 40% to 27% (p = 0.03) and of death for sepsis from 30% to 7% (p = 0.08). These findings indicate that lavage of the peritoneal cavity for 7 days may significantly reduce both the frequency and mortality rate of pancreatic sepsis in severe acute pancreatitis.     

早期血液净化联合早期肠道去污治疗重症急性胰腺炎的疗效观察

【摘要】〓目的〓观察早期血液净化联合早期选择性肠道去污治疗重症急性胰腺炎的疗效。方法〓回顾性分析2012年3月至2015年3月份入住ICU的39例重症急性胰腺炎患者的临床资料,按胰腺炎的干预措施分为干预组和对照组,在胰腺炎其他基础治疗的前提下,干预组为严格执行早期血液净化联合肠道去污治疗的病例,对照组为未早期执行血液净化和/或肠道去污治疗的SAP患者,比较两组患者治疗后膀胱压降至15 mmHg以下的时间、血管活性药物使用时间、呼吸机使用时间、ICU住院时间、平均住院费用、住院病死率等临床预后指标。结果〓与对照组比较,干预组患者患者膀胱压降至15 mmHg以下的天数明显下降(6±0.9 VS 8±1.8天,P<0.05),血管活性药物使用时间明显缩短,但使用呼吸机时间无明显差异,干预组比对照组患者ICU住院时间明显缩短(15±3.2 VS 23±4.6天,P<0.05),干预组的平均住院花费也明显降低(22±4.8 VS 31±7.3万元,P<0.05)。最终,干预组住院病死率为9.5%,治疗组为22.2%,两组比较差异有显著性。结论〓早期血液净化联合早期肠道去污治疗重症急性胰腺炎,能明显减轻患者的临床症状,改善预后。     

Repair of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is worthwhile in selected cases.

INTRODUCTION: The risks and benefits of operating on patients with ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) have not been defined. The aim of the present study is to report this unit's experience with operations performed for ruptured TAAA over a 10-year period. METHODS: Interrogation of a prospectively gathered computerised database. PATIENTS: Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 1996, 188 consecutive patients with TAAA were operated on, of whom 23 (12%) were operated for rupture. RESULTS: There were nine survivors (40%). Patients whose preoperative systolic blood pressure remained above 100 mmHg were significantly more likely to survive (4/8 vs. 13/15, p = 0.03 by Fisher's exact test). Survival was also related to Crawford type: type I (two of three survived); II (none of six); III (two of six); and IV (five of eight). All non-type II, non-shocked patients survived operation. Survivors spent a median of 28 (range 10-66) postoperative days in hospital, of which a median of 6 (range 2-24) days were spent in the intensive care unit. Survivor morbidity comprised prolonged ventilation (> 5 days) (n = 3); tracheostomy (n = 1); and temporary haemofiltration (n = 2). No survivor developed paraplegia or required permanent dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in shock with a Crawford type II aneurysm have such a poor prognosis that intervention has to be questioned except in the most favourable of circumstances. However, patients with types I, III and IV who are not shocked on presentation can be salvaged and, where possible, should be transferred to a unit where appropriate expertise and facilities are available.