Surgical experience and clinical outcome of traumatic pancreatic injury

Traumatic pancreatic injury is rare and various surgical procedures can be applied according to the severity of injury. We reviewed our experience of pancreatic injury and investigated the clinical outcome.

Fifty-six patients were treated conservatively or with surgery for pancreatic injury at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Medical Center of Korea University College of Medicine from January 2001 to February 2012.

Forty-one men and 15 women were included (mean age, 32 years; range, 5-66 years). Twelve patients were hypotensive at admission. According to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade, 15 patients were grade I, 16 were grade II, 10 were grade III, 13 were grade IV, and one patient was grade V. A total of 41 patients underwent exploratory surgery. Complications developed in 35 patients, and 19 patients demonstrated intra-abdominal abscesses associated with pancreatic leakage. Four mortalities occurred. More adult patients (n=42) required intensive care than that of pediatric patients (n=14) (p=0.03). However, more pediatric patients had hyperamylasemia at admission (p=0.023). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the hypotensive group had blunt abdominal injuries, associated extra-abdominal injuries, combined intra-abdominal injuries, longer ICU stays, and a higher mortality rate.

Associated intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal injuries are frequent in patients with traumatic pancreatic injury. Despite the complication rate, most patients recovered. Mortalities were associated with combined injuries being placed into bleeding, hypovolemic shock, and multiorgan failure.