Spectrum of vascular complications in acute pancreatitis - challenges in management

Abstract

Background: Vascular complication of pancreatitis is a rare entity. Due to its rarity, the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for the management of this potentially life threatening problem remains undefined. The objective of our study is to highlight the spectrum of manifestations, challenges in the diagnosis and management of vascular complications of acute pancreatitis. Methods: Patients who were managed for vascular complication of acute / chronic pancreatitis were retrospectively analysed from the year 2000 to 2019. Results: There were a total of 79 patients ( 71 Male:8 Female) with a mean age of 34.8 years . 27 patients had chronic alcoholic pancreatitis 27- Tropical pancreatitis , 18- acute pancreatitis , 3- idiopathic and 1 had post traumatic pancreatitis. 8 patients were managed conservatively. Selective arterial embolization was attempted in 55 of 70 (78.5%) patients and was successful in 44 of the 55 (80 %). 27 of 76 (31.5%) patients required surgery. Overall mortality was 7.8 %. Conclusion: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with a history of chronic pancreatitis could be caused by HP. All hemodynamically stable patients with HP should undergo prompt initial angiographic evaluation, and if possible, embolization. Hemodynamically unstable patients and those following unsuccessful embolization should undergo emergency haemostatic surgery. Centralization of GI bleed services along with a multidisciplinary team approach and a well-defined management protocol is essential to reduce the mortality and morbidity of this condition.Tabled 1Table showing the statistics of the patient managed