Vol. 73 No. 5 (2021)
Case Reports

Post-traumatic pancreatic ascites, conservative management: A case

SILVIA INES GUERRERO MACIAS
UNIVERSIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE SANTANDER
Bio
ADA MERCEDES BUSTOS GUERRERO
UNIVERSIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE SANTANDER
Bio
SERGIO ANDRES CASTANEDA ALFONSO
UNIVERSIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE SANTANDER
Bio
MAYRA ZULAY JAIMES SANABRIA
UNIVERSIDAD INDUSTRIAL DE SANTANDER
Bio

Published 2021-09-10

How to Cite

1.
GUERRERO MACIAS SI, BUSTOS GUERRERO AM, CASTANEDA ALFONSO SA, JAIMES SANABRIA MZ. Post-traumatic pancreatic ascites, conservative management: A case. Rev Cir. [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 10 [cited 2026 Aug. 19];73(5). Available from: https://www.revistacirugia.cl/index.php/revistacirugia/article/view/1070

Abstract

Aim: To present the case of a young adult male patient, with pancreatic ascites secondary to pancreatic duct injury due to blunt abdominal trauma, treated successfully with conservative therapy.

Materials and Method: Data and images were obtained from the clinical chart of the “Hospital Universitario de Santander” with prior informed consent.

Results: 21-year-old male patient with a blunt abdominal trauma background, who consulted for distension, progressive abdominal pain, and subjective weight loss. Due to suspicion of a pancreatic duct injury, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was requested, which showed an alteration of the proximal segment of the main pancreatic duct associated with a cystic lesion at the anterior border of the junction between the pancreatic head and body. Treatment consisted of a 4-week conservative therapy with the placement of an abdominal drain, bowel rest, associated with total parenteral nutrition and somatostatin analogs.

Discussion: A 5% of blunt abdominal trauma can cause pancreatitis and pancreatic duct leaks. Conclusion: Pancreatic duct injury should be suspected in every patient with blunt abdominal trauma. Management must be done with careful and thorough planning.