Pancreatic Trauma: Proposal for Management Algorithm

Introduction: Pancreatic trauma is potentially lethal despite recent improvements in surgical techniques and conservative management. However, no guidelines for the management of pancreatic trauma have been established. In this report, we propose an algorithm for the management of pancreatic trauma based on our experience of 9 cases and 1 literature review. Case presentation: This study included 9 patients with pancreatic trauma (5 men and 4 women). The patient median age was 40 years (range, 17-75 years). The overall mortality rate was 22.2%, and the postoperative mortality rate was 16.7%. Superficial trauma was present in 2 patients. Deep trauma without injury to the main pancreatic duct was present in 1 patient, and this patient was treated successfully with endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage. Active bleeding was present in 2 patients and controlled by interventional radiology. Deep trauma with injury to the main pancreatic duct was present in 6 patients. Among them, 1 patient died after conservative treatment with endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage. The other 5 patients underwent surgery (pancreatic resection in 4 and necrosectomy in 1). Conclusion: The herein-described algorithm recommends interventional radiology for active arterial bleeding, conservative management for trauma without ductal injury, and surgery for trauma with ductal injury. This algorithm may provide a basis for future establishment of guidelines.