Pancreatic fistula

Pancreatic fistula
Classification and external resources
ICD-9-CM	577.8
MeSH	D010185

A pancreatic fistula is an abnormal communication between the pancreas and other organs due to leakage of pancreatic secretions from damaged pancreatic ducts. An external pancreatic fistula is one that communicates with the skin, and is also known as a pancreaticocutaneous fistula, whereas an internal pancreatic fistula communicates with other internal organs or spaces. Pancreatic fistulas can be caused by pancreatic disease, trauma, or surgery.

External pancreatic fistulas

An external pancreatic fistula is an abnormal communication between the pancreas (actually pancreatic duct) and the exterior of the body via the abdominal wall.

Loss of bicarbonate-rich pancreatic fluid via a pancreatic fistula can result in a hyperchloraemic or normal anion gap metabolic acidosis. Loss of a small volume of fluid will not cause a problem but an acidosis is common if the volume of pancreatic fluid lost from the body is large.

Internal pancreatic fistulas

First described by Smith (1953),^[1] and elaborated upon by Cameron et al. (1976),^[2] internal pancreatic fistulas can result in pancreatic ascites, mediastinital pseudocysts, enzymatic mediastinitis, or pancreatic pleural effusions, depending on the flow of pancreatic secretions from a disrupted pancreatic duct or leakage from a pseudocyst.^[2]

Clinical characteristics

Marked recent weight loss is a major clinical manifestation, and unresponsiveness of the ascites to diuretics is an additional diagnostic clue.

Pathogenesis

Internal pancreatic fistulas are most commonly caused by disruption of the pancreatic duct due to chronic pancreatitis. The chronic pancreatitis is usually alcoholic in origin in adults, and traumatic in origin in children. They may also be caused by leakage from a pancreatic pseudocyst.

Anterior disruption of a pseudocyst or a pancreatic duct leads to leakage of pancreatic secretions into the free peritoneal cavity, leading to pancreatic ascites. If the duct is disrupted posteriorly, the secretions leak through the retroperitoneum into the mediastinum via the aortic or esophageal hiatus. Once in the mediastinum, the secretions can either be contained in a mediastinal pseudocyst, lead to enzymatic mediastinitis, or, more commonly, leak through the pleura to enter the chest and form a chronic pancreatic pleural effusion.

Diagnosis

Pleural or ascitic fluid should be sent for analysis. An elevated amylase level, usually > 1,000 IU/L, with protein levels over 3.0 g/dL is diagnostic. Serum amylase is often elevated as well, due to enzyme diffusion across the peritoneal or pleural surface.^[2]^[3] Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may also assist in diagnosis, with the latter an essential component of treatment.

Treatment

The production of pancreatic enzymes is suppressed by restricting the patient's oral intake of food patient in conjunction with the use of long-acting somatostatin analogues. The patient's nutrition is maintained by total parenteral nutrition. This treatment is continued for 2–3 weeks, and the patient is observed for improvement. If no improvement is seen, the patient may receive endoscopic or surgical treatment. If surgical treatment is followed, an ERCP is needed to identify the site of the leak.

Fistulectomy is done in which the involved part of the pancreas is also removed.

References

↑ Smith EB (1953). "Hemorrhagic ascites and hemothorax associated with benign pancreatic disease". AMA Arch Surg 67 (1): 52–6. PMID 13064942.
1 2 3 Cameron JL, Kieffer RS, Anderson WJ, Zuidema GD (1976). "Internal pancreatic fistulas: pancreatic ascites and pleural effusions". Ann Surg 184 (5): 587–93. doi:10.1097/00000658-197611000-00009. PMC 1345487. PMID 984927.
↑ Lipsett PA, Cameron JL (1992). "Internal pancreatic fistula". Am J Surg 163 (2): 216–20. doi:10.1016/0002-9610(92)90104-Y. PMID 1739176.

Bibliography

Brooks JR (1983). "Pancreatic ascites". In Brooks JR. Surgery of the Pancreas (1st ed.). Philadelphia: WB Saunders. pp. 230–232. ISBN 0-7216-2082-5
Dugernier T, Laterre PF, Reynaert MS (2000). "Ascites fluid in severe acute pancreatitis: from pathophysiology to therapy". Acta Gastroenterol Belg 63 (3): 264–8. PMID 11189983.
Iacono C, Procacci C, Frigo F, Andreis IA, Cesaro G, Caia S, Bassi C, Pederzoli P, Serio G, Dagradi A (1989). "Thoracic complications of pancreatitis". Pancreas 4 (2): 228–36. doi:10.1097/00006676-198904000-00012. PMID 2755944.
Kaman L, Behera A, Singh R, Katariya RN (2001). "Internal pancreatic fistulas with pancreatic ascites and pancreatic pleural effusions: recognition and management". ANZ J Surg 71 (4): 221–5. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1622.2001.02077.x. PMID 11355730.
Takeo C, Myojo S (2000). "Marked effect of octreotide acetate in a case of pancreatic pleural effusion". Curr Med Res Opin 16 (3): 171–7. doi:10.1185/030079900750120269. PMID 11191006.

Diseases of the digestive system (primarily K20–K93, 530–579)

Upper GI tract

Esophagus	Esophagitis Candidal Eosinophilic Herpetiform Rupture Boerhaave syndrome Mallory-Weiss syndrome UES Zenker's diverticulum LES Barrett's esophagus Esophageal motility disorder Nutcracker esophagus Achalasia Diffuse esophageal spasm Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Esophageal stricture Megaesophagus

Stomach	Gastritis Atrophic Ménétrier's disease Gastroenteritis Peptic (gastric) ulcer Cushing ulcer Dieulafoy's lesion Dyspepsia Pyloric stenosis Achlorhydria Gastroparesis Gastroptosis Portal hypertensive gastropathy Gastric antral vascular ectasia Gastric dumping syndrome Gastric volvulus

Lower GI tract:
Intestinal/
Enteropathy

Small intestine (Duodenum/Jejunum/Ileum)	Enteritis Duodenitis Jejunitis Ileitis Peptic (duodenal) ulcer Curling's ulcer Malabsorption: Coeliac Tropical sprue Blind loop syndrome Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome Whipple's Short bowel syndrome Steatorrhea Milroy disease bile acid malabsorption

Large intestine (Appendix/Colon)	Appendicitis Colitis Pseudomembranous Ulcerative Ischemic Microscopic Collagenous Lymphocytic Functional colonic disease IBS Intestinal pseudoobstruction / Ogilvie syndrome Megacolon / Toxic megacolon Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis

Large and/or small	Enterocolitis Necrotizing Gastroenterocolitis IBD Crohn's disease Vascular: Abdominal angina Mesenteric ischemia Angiodysplasia Bowel obstruction: Ileus Intussusception Volvulus Fecal impaction Constipation Diarrhea Infectious Intestinal adhesions

Rectum	Proctitis Radiation proctitis Proctalgia fugax Rectal prolapse Anismus

Anal canal	Anal fissure/Anal fistula Anal abscess Anal dysplasia Pruritus ani

GI bleeding/BIS

Accessory

Liver	Hepatitis Viral hepatitis Autoimmune hepatitis Alcoholic hepatitis Cirrhosis PBC Fatty liver NASH Vascular Budd-Chiari syndrome Hepatic veno-occlusive disease Portal hypertension Nutmeg liver Alcoholic liver disease Liver failure Hepatic encephalopathy Acute liver failure Liver abscess Pyogenic Amoebic Hepatorenal syndrome Peliosis hepatis Metabolic disorders Wilson's Disease Hemochromatosis

Gallbladder	Cholecystitis Gallstones/Cholecystolithiasis Cholesterolosis Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses Postcholecystectomy syndrome Porcelain gallbladder

Bile duct/ Other biliary tree	Cholangitis Primary sclerosing cholangitis Secondary sclerosing cholangitis Ascending Cholestasis/Mirizzi's syndrome Biliary fistula Haemobilia Gallstones/Cholelithiasis Common bile duct Choledocholithiasis Biliary dyskinesia Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

Pancreatic	Pancreatitis Acute Chronic Hereditary Pancreatic abscess Pancreatic pseudocyst Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Pancreatic fistula

Abdominopelvic

Hernia	Diaphragmatic Congenital Hiatus Inguinal Indirect Direct Umbilical Femoral Obturator Spigelian Lumbar Petit's Grynfeltt-Lesshaft Undefined location Incisional Internal hernia

Peritoneal	Peritonitis Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis Hemoperitoneum Pneumoperitoneum

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 16, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.