Pancreatic pseudocyst: A review of 5 years' experience

This retrospective study reviews our five-year experience with the management of cases of pancreatic pseudocyst. The etiological pattern, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic measures are described. Biliary pancreatitis was the leading cause in our series, accounting for 45% of the cases. The majority of patients (69%) presented with acute pancreatitis, and pseudocyst subsequently developed during hospitalization. Twenty-one percent presented pancreatic pseudocyst associated with recurrent abdominal pain. No mass palpable in 48% of the patients. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic (CT) scanning were the two most useful investigations, yielding correct diagnosis in 95% and 100% of the cases, respectively. The pseudocyst completely resolved in 24% of the patients. Patients who presented with acute pancreatitis were initially treated conservatively until the cyst was mature enough for surgical intervention. Those who presented with well-developed cysts were operated on much earlier, after a mean period of 16.5 days. Interval drainage was used in 52% of the patients. The main complications were chest infection (31%) and wound infection (9.5%). The overall mortality was 5%.