Endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage alone to treat pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion are uncommon sequelae of pancreatitis and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic decompression of the pancreatic duct through transpapillary stent or nasopancreatic drain (NPD) has shown encouraging results but the experience is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic transpapillary nasopancreatic drainage in patients with pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion. METHODS: Over a period of 9 years, 10 patients (eight male) with pancreatic ascites and/or pleural effusion with pancreatic duct disruption documented on pancreatogram were studied. After informed consent, endoscopic transpapillary NPD was placed. The end-points were resolution of ascites and/or pleural effusion or need for surgery. RESULTS: Of 10 patients (age range: 13 months-46 years), four patients had only ascites, four had only pleural effusion and two had both ascites and pleural effusion. Ascites and/or pleural effusion resolved in all the patients within 4 weeks of placement of NPD. The healing of ductal disruption was demonstrated by nasopancreatogram as early as 2 weeks and NPD could be removed without necessitating another endoscopy. No major complications related to NPD placement were noted. There was no recurrence of pancreatic ascites and/or pleural effusion at a mean follow up of 39 months. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic ascites and pleural effusion can be effectively treated by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and transpapillary NPD placement.     

Ascites,pleural, and pericardial effusions in acute pancreatitis

Ascites and pleural and pericardial effusions can be observed during acute pancreatitis. The aims of this study were to evaluate their incidence, natural history, and prognostic role in patients with acute pancreatitis. One hundred patients consecutively admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis were prospectively submitted to abdominal, pleural, and cardiac ultrasonography at admission and during follow-up. Ascites was found in 18 patients, pleural effusion in 20, and pericardial effusion in 17. Twenty-four patients of this series had severe pancreatitis; three of them died. All effusions disappeared spontaneously in patients who survived pancreatitis up to two months after dismissal. At multivariate analysis ascites and pleural effusion were demonstrated to be accurate independent predictors of severity. The respective odds ratios were 5.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5–23.0%) and 8.6 (95% CI, 2.3–32.5%). Furthermore the presence of pleural effusion, ascites, and pericardial effusion were associated with an increased incidence of pseudocyst during follow-up. Ascites and pleural and pericardial effusions are frequent during acute pancreatitis. Pleural effusion and ascites are accurate predictors of severity in these patients.     

Outcome of pancreatic ascites in patients with tropical calcific pancreatitis managed using a uniform treatment protocol

Pancreatic ascites or internal pancreatic fistula is a known complication of chronic pancreatitis. This condition is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The management approach of pancreatic ascites in tropical calcific pancreatitis is infrequently reported owing to the low incidence of this condition. Between December 2005 and June 2007, 11 patients with pancreatic ascites with tropical calcific pancreatitis (male:female 7:4, mean age 29.5 [14.2] years) were treated. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent endotherapy and surgery for this condition based on an institutional protocol was performed. The end point was resolution of pancreatic ascites and relief of symptoms. All patients had pancreatic ascites, and one patient also had pancreatic pleural effusion. Endoscopic transpapillary stenting was possible in nine patients (81%). Identification of site of leak and placement of an endoscopic stent across the PD disruption was possible in five (45%) patients. All these patients had relief of ascites. Mean number of endotherapy sessions required before control of ascites was 1.8. Among the remaining four (36.6%) patients who had ERCP, placement of stent across the leak was unsuccessful; however stenting helped stabilize the general condition and nutritional status. These four patients and two patients who failed ERP underwent lateral pancreatojejunostomy surgery. Morbidity was observed in three patients who underwent surgery and one patient died due to sepsis and hemorrhage. All patients who had surgical drainage had complete relief of ascites and symptoms. In patients with pancreatic ascites in tropical calcific pancreatitis endotherapy and transpapillary stenting helps in resolution of ascites in nearly half of the patients. In the remaining patients preliminary conservative management followed by surgical pancreatic ductal drainage provides good relief of symptoms.     

Pancreatic ascites--a collected review of 37 cases in Japan

Thirty seven cases of pancreatic ascites in the Japanese literature were reviewed. The ratio of males to females was high, and the incidence of associated pancreatic pleural effusion was higher than in the English literature. Other aspects of pancreatic ascites in Japan were similar to those reported in the English literature. Twelve patients were completely cured by conservative therapy and 18 patients required surgery. With care, the progress of pancreatic ascites was usually good. The frequency of alcoholic pancreatitis has increased, so it is important to watch out for the occurrence of pancreatic ascites as a complication of chronic pancreatitis.     

Recurrent attacks of autoimmune pancreatitis result in pancreatic stone formation

OBJECTIVES:   Autoimmune pancreatitis has been characterized by irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and sonolucent swelling of the parenchyma, both of which are due to lymphoplasmacytic inflammation at the active stage of the disease, and by the absence of pancreatic stone formation. The aim of the present study was to confirm or deny whether or not this disease is progressive with recurrent attacks, resulting in pancreatic stone formation like ordinary chronic pancreatitis.
METHODS:   Forty-two patients, 36 of whom were treated with prednisolone, were followed up for periods longer than 12 months (median follow-up period: 54.5 months, range: 13–111 months) by regular interview and examination of their medical records for laboratory tests and image tests.
RESULTS:   Eleven patients (26.2%) who were treated with prednisolone showed recurrent attacks during median follow-up periods of 22 months. Eight patients (19%) showed the formation of pancreatic stones during the follow-up periods. Because 6 of 11 patients (54.5%) who suffered relapse showed pancreatic stone formation, it is significantly associated with relapse in comparison with nonrelapse ( p = 0.0019).
CONCLUSIONS:   Contrary to previous reports, we observed both relapse and pancreatic stone formation in some patients with autoimmune pancreatitis, which suggests that autoimmune pancreatitis has the potential to be a progressive disease with pancreatic stones.     

重症胰腺炎并发浆膜腔积液50例临床分析

目的探讨浆膜腔积液在重症胰腺炎诊断及预后估计中的作用。方法分析经手术证实的50例重症胰腺炎伴发的浆膜腔积液的发生率，发生时间，积液性质及其与预后的关系。结果重症胰腺炎时腹水，胸水，心包积液的发生率分别是94％，24％，2％，积液淀粉酶水平均高于同步血清淀粉酶水平；合并腹水，合并胸水，合并胸腹水，合并胸腹水和心包积液的死亡率分别是：23．7％，33．3％，50％，100％。结论急性胰腺炎时出现浆膜腔积液强烈提示重症胰腺炎；多浆膜胜出现积液时预后凶险。     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis: Clinical, radiographical and serological markers of dissemination

Background and objective:   This study aimed to identify markers of disseminated infection in patients presenting with pulmonary cryptococcosis.
Methods:   Patients diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis at a tertiary hospital between April 1998 and April 2005 were included and their clinical, radiological and pathological data analysed retrospectively.
Results:   Thirty-one patients (14 male) were recruited into the study. Disseminated infection was seen in nine patients (29%), with the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from the blood of five patients and the cerebrospinal fluid of seven (three patients had both positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid findings). Patients with disseminated infection had a significantly higher incidence of impaired cellular immunity (immunosuppressant use, AIDS and haematological malignancy) ( P  = 0.015), fever ( P  < 0.001), interstitial abnormalities on CXR ( P  < 0.001), pleural effusion ( P  = 0.017) and death ( P  = 0.04) when compared with patients with localized infection. Serum cryptococcal antigen (sCRAG) was positive in 17 of the 19 patients tested at the time of diagnosis. Significantly higher sCRAG titres were noted in patients who had fever ( P  = 0.001), interstitial abnormalities on CXR ( P  = 0.004), pleural effusion ( P  = 0.018), disseminated disease ( P  = 0.003) and in those who died ( P  = 0.05).
Conclusions:   In pulmonary cryptococcosis patients, the presence of fever, interstitial abnormalities on CXR or pleural effusion should lead clinicians to suspect disseminated infection. High titres of sCRAG may indicate more extensive extra-pulmonary involvement and a worse prognosis.     

Pleural fluid viscosity may help identifying malignant pleural effusions

Background and objective:   Cancer cells are larger in size and more rigid than blood cells. As the size and rigidity of cells contribute to blood viscosity, an association may exist between high pleural fluid viscosity and cancer cells in pleural effusions. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between pleural fluid viscosity and cell constituents or laboratory data in pleural diseases with different aetiologies.
Methods:   Fluid viscosities were determined in pleural effusions obtained via thoracocentesis. Pleural fluid viscosities were correlated with the laboratory data and with the percentages of different cellular constituents as assessed by cytological examination.
Results:   Pleural fluid viscosity was highest in malignant pleural effusions with positive results on cytological examination, and was correlated with the percentages of tumour cells (Spearman's rho = 0.24, P  = 0.037) and mitotic figures (rho = 0.23, P  = 0.041) in the exudates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pleural fluid viscosity was a significant determinant of positive results on cytological examination (odds ratio (OR) 6.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–29.8), as were the levels of protein (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.01–2.16) and LDH (OR 1.001, 95% CI 1–1.002).
Conclusion:   High pleural fluid viscosity may suggest a potential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion.     

High adenosine deaminase activity in the pleural effusion of a patient with Legionnaires' disease

Abstract:   Although Legionnaires' disease (LD) is frequently accompanied by pleural effusion, the characteristics of pleural effusions in LD have not been well studied. Levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural fluid >40 IU/L have a high sensitivity (81–100%) and specificity (83–100%) for tuberculosis. ADA activity in pleural effusions due to LD has not been previously reported. The case of a patient with LD complicated by a pleural effusion with high ADA activity is reported. In countries where the prevalence of tuberculosis is high and pleural fluid ADA activities are frequently measured, LD should be included in the differential diagnosis of an exudative pleural effusion with high ADA activity.     

Diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis

Background and objective:   Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Many studies have investigated the utility of pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the early diagnosis of MPE. The present meta-analysis determined the accuracy of CEA measurement in the diagnosis of MPE.
Methods:   A systematic review of English language studies was conducted and data on the accuracy of pleural CEA concentrations in the diagnosis of MPE were pooled using random effects models. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarize the overall test performance.
Results:   Forty-five studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The summary estimates for CEA in the diagnosis of MPE were: sensitivity 0.54 (95% CI: 0.52–0.55), specificity 0.94 (95% CI: 0.93–0.95), positive likelihood ratio 9.52 (95% CI: 6.97–13.01), negative likelihood ratio 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44–0.54) and diagnostic odds ratio 22.5 (95% CI: 15.6–32.5). Analysis of a subset of 11 studies which examined the value of pleural CEA in ruling out a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma found that the sensitivity and specificity of a CEA level exceeding cut-off values were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93–0.99) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.55–0.65), respectively.
Conclusions:   Measurement of pleural CEA is likely to be a useful diagnostic tool for confirming MPE, and is also helpful in the differential diagnosis between malignant pleural mesothelioma and metastatic lung cancer. The results of CEA assays should be interpreted in parallel with clinical findings and the results of conventional tests.     

A study of the complications of small bore 'Seldinger' intercostal chest drains

Background and objective:   Use of small bore chest drains (<14F), inserted via the Seldinger technique, has increased globally over the last few years. They are now used as first line interventions in most acute medical situations when thoracostomy is required. Limited data are available on the associated complications. In this study, the frequency of complications associated with 12F chest drains, inserted using the Seldinger technique, was quantified.
Methods:   A retrospective case note audit was performed of consecutive patients requiring pleural drainage over a 12-month period. One hundred consecutive small bore Seldinger (12F) chest drain insertions were evaluated.
Results:   Few serious complications occurred. However, 21% of the chest drains were displaced ('fell out') and 9% of the drains became blocked. This contributed to high morbidity rates, with 13% of patients requiring repeat pleural procedures. The frequency of drain blockage in pleural effusion was reduced by administration of regular normal saline drain flushes (odds ratio for blockage in flushed drains compared with non-flushed drains 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01–0.37, P  < 0.001).
Conclusions:   Regular chest drain flushes are advocated in order to reduce rates of drain blockage, and further studies are needed to determine optimal fixation strategies that may reduce associated patient morbidity.     

Fungal pleural effusion secondary to a rare cause of pancreatic pseudocyst

We report a case of fungal pleural effusion secondary to presumed valproate induced pancreatitis with pseudocyst and stricture formation. A child with dyskinetic cerebral palsy who had been on sodium valproate for several years was transferred for drainage of a left sided pleural effusion. Pleural fluid culture consistently grew Candida glabrata although the patient was treated with broad‐spectrum antibiotic and antifungal therapy. Clinical deterioration ensued with abdominal discomfort, feed intolerance, and re‐accumulation of the effusion. Investigations revealed a large pancreatic pseudocyst compressing the stomach and impairing pancreatic function. Subsequent therapeutic evacuation of pancreatic fluid demonstrated C. glabrata. This case underscores that pleural disease may be secondary to abdominal pathology, and always to consider rare side‐effects of medication in the face of a puzzling clinical picture. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:616–618. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Pleural fluid interleukin-8 and C-reactive protein for discriminating complicated non-purulent from uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions

Background and objective:   This study was designed to test the hypothesis that measurement of IL-8 and CRP in pleural fluid could improve the identification of patients with non-purulent parapneumonic effusions that ultimately require chest tube drainage.
Methods:   We assessed IL-8, CRP and three classical parameters (pH, glucose and LDH) in the pleural fluid of 100 patients with parapneumonic effusions. Forty-nine of these patients had non-purulent complicated effusions (complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion, CPPE), and 51 had uncomplicated parapneumonic pleural effusions (UPPE). Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid biochemical parameters for differentiating among the two patient groups. IL-8 production was determined using a commercially available ELISA kit, and CRP was measured by immunoassay.
Results:   At a cutoff value of 1000 pg/mL, IL-8 differentiated CPPE from UPPE with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 82%. Likewise, CRP levels were higher in CPPE than in UPPE, and showed 72% sensitivity and 71% specificity at a cutoff value of 80 mg/L. We found that all five pleural fluid tests showed similar diagnostic accuracies when evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. However, multivariate analysis indicated that the size of the effusion, as well as pleural fluid pH and IL-8 concentration, were the best discriminatory parameters, with likelihood ratios of 6.4, 4.4 and 3.9, respectively.
Conclusions:   Pleural fluid IL-8 is an accurate marker for the identification of non-purulent CPPE.     

Osteopontin is upregulated in malignant and inflammatory pleural effusions

Background and objective:   Osteopontin (OPN) is an important mediator of inflammation and cancer progression. In the present study, we asked whether pleural fluid (PF) and serum OPN concentrations differed between patients with pleural effusions of different aetiologies, and whether assessment of OPN levels was useful for diagnostic purposes.
Methods:   One hundred and nine consecutive patients with pleural effusions of different aetiologies were recruited prospectively during daily clinics. OPN levels were measured by ELISA.
Results:   PF OPN levels were 10-fold higher in exudates than in transudates and were significantly correlated with markers of pleural inflammation and vascular hyper-permeability, such as PF/serum LDH or protein ratios, PF protein and PF vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Patients with malignant pleural effusions had higher PF and lower serum OPN concentrations than those with benign disease. The diagnostic accuracies of PF and PF/serum OPN for malignancy were 71.5% (95% CI: 64–80) and 70.6% (95% CI: 62–80), respectively.
Conclusions:   OPN levels were elevated in exudative pleural effusions, as compared with the levels in blood or transudative pleural effusions. While PF and PF/serum OPN were higher in patients with malignancies, the diagnostic accuracy of the tests was not sufficient to permit routine use in clinical practice.     

胸腔积液联合血液浓缩对急性胰腺炎严重度评估的临床价值

目的：探讨胸腔积液、血液浓缩和二者的联合应用对急性胰腺炎疾病严重程度的评估价值，并观察胸腔积液与急性胰腺炎病因，并发症及死亡率的关系。方法：对136例急性胰腺炎住院患者作回顾性分析，急性胰腺腺炎及其严重度评估的标准依据患者的临床表现，实验室检查及增强CT检查。记录患者的胸片和红细胞压积检测结果，并分析胸腔积液与急性胰腺炎患者的病因，并发症及预后的相关性。结果：轻型急性胰腺炎（MAP）96例，重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）40例。SAP患者合并胸腔积液者18例（45％），有血液浓缩现象者6例（15％），胸腔积液和血液浓缩同时存在者5例（12．5％）；MAP患者合并胸腔积液者10例（10．4％），血液浓缩者2例（2．1％），无胸腔积液和血液浓缩同时存在者，两者相比有显著性差异（P＜0．01）；此外，胆源性急性胰腺炎合并胸腔积液者11例（14．4％），酒精性急性胰腺炎合并胸腔积液者5例（48．1％），P＜0．05，结论：胸腔积液，血液浓缩均可作为SAP的独立预测指标，但以胸腔积液联合血液浓缩最为准确。胸腔积液与酒精性急性胰腺炎的病因具有明显的相关性，但未发现胰腺局部并发症如胰腺假性囊肿以及患者死亡率与胸腔积液的关系。     

Pancreaticomediastinal fistula as a rare cause of recurrent pleural effusions

A 45-year-old male with chronic alcoholism was transferred to our hospital with progressive dyspnoea, bilateral pleural effusions and ascites. Serum concentrations of lipase and CRP were increased. Pleural effusions recurred despite repeated thoracentesis, antibiotic therapy and total parenteral nutrition. A CT scan of chest and abdomen showed a lipomatous pancreas without signs of necrosis. Endosonography (EUS) demonstrated as signs of chronic pancreatitis an increased lobularity of the parenchyma without calcifications and two small cystic lesions in the pancreatic head. The pleural fluid lipase levels were markedly increased compared to a low lipase concentration in ascites. As an explanation for the pleural effusions ERCP showed a retroperitoneal fistula in the head/body region into the mediastinum and a stenosis of the pancreatic duct in the pancreatic head. For the ascites an inflammatory pathogenesis due to the exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis had to be assumed because the analysis showed an exudate with leukocytosis. After papillotomy via the pancreatic duct a 10 French wide 9 cm long stent was inserted into the pancreatic duct bridging the pancreatic fistula. Within 10 days pleural effusions had completely receded. After three weeks pancreaticography showed a total regression of the fistula and the stent was exchanged. After 6 weeks the pancreatic stent was removed with a lasting remission of the pleural effusions.     

Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Carcinoma Presenting with Leg Edema Treated with Pancreatic Exocrine Replacement Therapy

An 89-year-old woman underwent examinations for leg edema. Blood tests indicated low nutrition and low pancreatic enzymes, and a stool examination indicated fatty stool. Computed tomography showed pleural effusion, ascites, and cystic lesions in the pancreatic head and mural nodules within the cysts. Pancreatic juice cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis was pancreatic exocrine insufficiency caused by intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma. The patient did not wish to undergo surgery. Therefore, diuretics, component nutrients, and pancreatic exocrine replacement therapy using pancrelipase were initiated. After starting treatment, her leg edema, pleural effusion, and ascites disappeared, and her activities of daily living improved markedly.     

Eosinophilia Associated with Chronic Pancreatitis: An Analysis of 122 Patients with Definite Chronic Pancreatitis

Among 122 patients with chronic pancreatitis, marked eosinophilia (greater than 500 eosinophils/mm3 in the peripheral blood) was observed in 21 cases (17.2%). All of the affected patients were males, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of eosinophilia between patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic pancreatitis. In the patients with eosinophilia, endocrine pancreatic function was maintained comparatively well, despite marked exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. The eosinophilia of chronic pancreatitis frequently developed in association with severe damage to neighboring organs (pleural effusion, pericarditis, and ascites), as well as in association with pancreatic pseudocyst. Our findings suggest that there is a close correlation between marked eosinophilia and severe tissue injury during acute exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis.     

Prevalence and outcome of fungal infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

Background and Aim:  To study the prevalence of risk factors and outcome of fungal infections in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
Methods:  Fifty consecutive patients with severe acute pancreatitis were investigated for evidence of fungal infection by weekly culture of body fluids and aspirate from pancreatic/peripancreatic tissue and samples collected at necrosectomy. All patients were managed as per a standard protocol. Patients with documented fungal infection were treated with intravenous amphotericin or fluconazole. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 13), and risk factors for fungal infection and mortality were determined.
Results:  Fungal infection was documented in 18 (36%) of 50 patients with Candida albicans (the commonest species). The incidence of fungal infection steadily increased with increasing duration of hospital stay. Those with fungal infection more often had evidence of respiratory failure ( P  = 0.031) and hypotension ( P  = 0.031) at admission, prolonged hospital stay > 4 weeks ( P  = 0.034), longer duration of antibiotics ( P  = 0.003), received total parenteral nutrition ( P  = 0.005), and required mechanical ventilation ( P  = 0.001) in contrast to those without fungal infection. The logistic regression analysis found the independent risk factors for fungal infection to be antibiotic therapy for > 4 weeks and hypotension at hospitalization. Of the 18 patients with fungal infection, 13 were administered intravenous antifungals; eight of these patients survived, while the five who did not receive antifungals died.
Conclusion:  Fungal infection was detected in 36% of our patients. The independent risk factors associated with it were hypotension at hospitalization and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Antifungal therapy improved their chances of survival.     

Pancreatic Pleural Effusion: Case Report and Review of 113 Cases in Japan

A patient with pancreatic pleural effusion in whom a fistulous tract was demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) is presented, and reports on 113 cases of this entity in the Japanese literature are reviewed. The most common (99%) underlying cause of this entity was chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. In most cases, the patients complained of chest symptoms (68%), and complained of abdominal symptoms less frequently (24%). It is important to maintain suspicion for this entity in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis who have unexplained pleural effusion. Surgical intervention was required in 58 of 95 recorded cases. With care, the prognosis of pancreatic pleural effusion was good. Recently, as endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) and CT have been performed more frequently, the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of pancreatic pleural effusion has been determined. We stress that ERP and CT should be performed to direct surgical therapy and learn more about the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic pleural effusions.