Published online Dec 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i45.8453
Revised: October 10, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: December 7, 2013
During the past decade, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has gained increasing acceptance in the surgical community as a viable treatment option for distal pancreatic lesions. However, the possible complication of post-LDP pancreatic leakage remains a challenge, because it may lead to a series of events resulting in intraperitoneal abscess formation, sepsis, pseudoaneurysm formation, and occasional fatal hemorrhage. Dealing with these complications is extremely difficult and not much experience has been reported to date. We report a case involving the aforementioned post-LDP complications successfully managed by interventional radiological techniques while avoiding reoperation. We conclude that these management options are attractive, safe and minimally invasive alternatives to standard protocols.
Core tip: A 48-year-old man who suffered from a series of complications of pancreatic leakage and resultant abscess formation, sepsis, and intra-abdominal hemorrhage after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP), was treated successfully by interventional radiology, with avoidance of reoperation. These interventional radiological approaches seem to be attractive, safe and minimally invasive options for treatment of post-LDP complications.