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Acute pancreatitis complicated by infected pseudocyst in a child with pancreas divisum

Roberto Luca Meniconi, Roberto Caronna, Monica Schiratti

    Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
    |September 25, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    This case study highlights a rare instance of severe acute pancreatitis in a child with pancreas divisum. Surgical drainage of a large infected pseudocyst proved to be a safe and effective emergency treatment.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Gastroenterology
    • Surgical Gastroenterology

    Background:

    • Acute pancreatitis is less common in children but increasingly recognized.
    • Pancreas divisum is the most frequent congenital pancreatic anomaly, with a debated role in pancreatitis.
    • Pancreatic pseudocysts are rare complications of pancreatitis in children.

    Observation:

    • A case of non-traumatic severe acute pancreatitis in an 8-year-old girl with pancreas divisum.
    • Rapid formation of a large, infected pancreatic pseudocyst complicated the pancreatitis.
    • The pseudocyst required surgical intervention for drainage.

    Findings:

    • A Roux-en-Y cystojejunostomy was performed for internal drainage of the infected pseudocyst.
    • Surgical management was chosen due to the severity and rapid progression of the pseudocyst.
    • This approach avoided potential complications associated with percutaneous or endoscopic drainage.

    Implications:

    • Surgical drainage of large, complicated pseudocysts in children is a safe and feasible emergency option.
    • This approach can be life-saving in critical situations like sepsis or acute abdomen.
    • Excellent long-term outcomes can be achieved with surgical intervention for pancreatic pseudocysts in pediatric patients.
    Abstract

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