Pseudocyst of Pancreas: A Clinical Study

Introduction:Pancreatic pseudocysts belong to a large and heterogeneous group of cystic pancreatic lesions and represent a complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. The objective of this observational study was to study the different etiologies, clinical features, investigations and management of pseudocyst of pancrease in patients being treated at KMC hospital Manipal. Methodology:A prospective observational study was carried out on patients diagnosed with a pancreatic pseudocyst in the Department of Surgery/Medicine/Gastroenterology in Kasturba hospital, Manipal. The study was conducted over a period of 2 years from 1st September 2012 to 31st August 2014. A total of 50 patients were included in the study. Results:The majority of patients belonged to the age group of 30-39 yrs(40%) and showed a predisposition towards males (96%). Abdominal pain was the presenting symptom (98%) and abdominal tenderness was present in 62% of patients. Majority of the patients had history of alcohol abuse (47%). CECT abdomen was more useful for details of pseudocyst. The mean size of pseudocyst was 9.62 cms. Most common site for pseudocyst was body and tail (24%). The major complication seen was hemorrhage in cyst (8%).The most commonly done procedure was cystogastrostomy (18%). Conclusion: Surgery is the traditional modality for treating pancreatic pseudocysts, with high success rates and low morbidity and mortality, and it still plays an important role in therapy. Laparoscopic management has been reported with very encouraging results, but long-term follow-up has still to show equivalence to open surgery. Endoscopic therapy is a reasonable alternative to surgery, particularly for chronic pseudocysts, and is increasingly being used.