The effect of size of giant pancreatic pseudocysts on the outcome of internal drainage procedures
1992

Giant Pancreatic Pseudocysts: Management Procedures

Sample size: 52 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Johnson, L.B., Rattner, D.W., Warshaw, A.L.

Primary Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital

Hypothesis

Cystgastrostomy may not be appropriate for the treatment of giant pancreatic pseudocysts.

Conclusion

Cystgastrostomy fails to provide adequate drainage for giant pancreatic pseudocysts, suggesting that alternative methods may be safer.

Supporting Evidence

  • Four patients with giant pancreatic pseudocysts had serious postoperative complications.
  • Two of the four patients with giant pseudocysts died after surgery.
  • Cystgastrostomy was performed on all four patients with giant pseudocysts.

Takeaway

When treating large fluid-filled sacs in the pancreas, a different surgery might work better than the usual one, which can cause serious problems.

Methodology

Patients with pancreatic pseudocysts were treated and outcomes were analyzed based on the size of the cysts.

Limitations

The number of patients with giant pseudocysts was too small for a definitive conclusion.

Participant Demographics

Patients treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1982 to 1986.

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