Pancreatic Leak Related Hemorrhage Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy. A Case Series

Context Delayed arterial hemorrhage, secondary to pancreaticojejunal leakage, is an infrequent complication (2-4%) of pancreaticoduodenectomy but it carries a high mortality rate with more than half of the patients dying from overwhelming sepsis and/or bleeding. Its ideal management remains unclear. Case reports We hereby present our experience with respect to the presentation and management of this severe post-pancreaticoduodenectomy complication which occurred in 3/149 patients (2.1%) operated on between 1996 and 2008 in our department and we review the role of endoscopy, interventional radiology and surgery in its management. Conclusions The severity of the underlying sepsis and the prompt identification of the sentinel bleed determine surgical and angiographic intervention and define the outcome in the treatment of a pancreatic leak-related hemorrhage. Endoscopy has no role in this setting.