Isolated pancreatic injury in blunt abdominal trauma
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Plain Language Summary The pancreas is an organ that is rarely injured in trauma due to its retroperitoneal location. Isolated pancreatic injury in blunt trauma occurs in only 0.5% of cases. Mortality rates are 23.4% and 30.2% for blunt and penetrating trauma, respectively. The management of pancreatic injury, whether conservative or surgical, is determined by the extent of the damaged parenchyma, the location of the injury, and the integrity of the main pancreatic duct (MPD), which is classified into five grades proposed by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). We present a case report of a 34-year-old male with blunt pancreatic trauma. The injury was classified as grade III; however, surgical treatment was not adopted, and conservative management was implemented alongside Video-Assisted Retroperitoneal Debridement (VARD) for infected pancreatic necrosis. This approach resulted in the resolution of sepsis and abdominal collections, and at six months post-discharge, the patient exhibited normal laboratory values, no pancreatic insufficiency or other metabolic disorders, and magnetic resonance imaging showed only sequelae from the primary condition. Plain Language SummaryPancreatic injuries from blunt trauma are rare, occurring in only 0.5% of cases, and can be life-threatening with high mortality rates. Treatment depends on the injury's severity and location, and the condition of the main pancreatic duct. This case report discusses a 34-year-old male with a grade III blunt pancreatic injury. Instead of surgery, doctors opted for conservative management and Video-Assisted Retroperitoneal Debridement (VARD) to treat infected pancreatic necrosis. This approach successfully resolved sepsis and abdominal issues. Six months later, the patient showed no signs of pancreatic insufficiency or metabolic disorders, and imaging revealed only residual effects from the initial injury. Text is machine generated and may contain inaccuracies. FAQ
Source: Journal of Pancreatology
Authors: Lucio Garciandia, Fiorella Campagno, Federico Veracierto, Roberto Salgado, Juan Bautista Rolla, Tomás Lancelotti
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415283409