Pancreatic panniculitis is a rare disease in which necrosis of fat in the panniculus and other distant foci occurs in the setting of pancreatic diseases; these diseases include acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic carcinoma, pseudocyst, and other pancreatic diseases. This malady is manifested as tender erythematous nodules on the legs, buttock, or trunk. Histopathologically, it shows the pathognomonic findings of focal subcutaneous fat necrosis and ghost-like anucleated cells with a thick shadowy wall. We herein report a case of fatal pancreatic panniculitis that was associated with acute pancreatitis in a 50-yr-old man. He presented with a 3-week history of multiple tender skin nodules, abdominal pain and distension. Laboratory and radiologic findings revealed acute pancreatitis, and skin biopsy showed pancreatic panniculitis. Despite intensive medical care, he died of multi-organ failure 3 weeks after presentation.
Acute Disease ; Biopsy ; Erythema/pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pancreas/pathology ; Pancreatitis/*complications/*mortality ; Pancreatitis, Alcoholic/diagnosis/pathology ; Panniculitis/*complications/*mortality ; Skin/pathology ; Skin Diseases/diagnosis/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

PURPOSE: Despite the recent increasing application of minimally invasive techniques to treat necrotizing pancreatitis, few reports on laparoscopic necrosectomy have appeared. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role played by laparoscopic necrosectomy in treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis. We review our own experience and the relevant literature. METHODS: All patients undergoing laparoscopic necrosectomy at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from March 2005 to January 2016 were included in the study. Data on patient demographics, CT severity index score, American Society of Anesthesiologists' score, preoperative procedures, operative methods, operation time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were retrospectively analyzed. We also performed an up-to-date review of the relevant literature. RESULTS: Laparoscopic necrosectomy was performed on four patients with infective pancreatic necrosis that was inadequately treated by percutaneous drainage. A transgastrocolic, transmesocolic, or retrocolic approach was used. The median time from diagnosis to operation was 57 days (range, 34~109 days) and the median operation time 203 min (range, 180~255 min). There was no operative mortality. The necrotic tissue was successfully removed in a single operation in three of the four patients. Three patients experienced postoperative complications, including pleural effusion and recurrence of necrosis. The median postoperative hospital stay was 39 days (range, 16~99 days). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic necrosectomy is safe and effective when used to treat necrotizing pancreatitis. Such treatment is especially useful for patients with solid, necrotic pancreatic components that are not removed by percutaneous or endoscopic drainage.
Demography ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Necrosis ; Pancreatitis* ; Pleural Effusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Preoperative Care ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe acute pancreatitis occurs in about 20% of the patients with acute pancreatitis and can be associated with multiorgan failure and local complications. In patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis, overall mortality rates are about 15-30%. The aim of this study was to determine the factors correlated with mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: We reviewed five hundread and seventy two consecutive cases of acute pancreatitis from January, 2000 to December, 2005. Of them, 109 patients who fulfilled the criteria of Atlanta classification for severe acute pancreatitis were enrolled. Data were collected by chart reviews including age, gender, etiology, body mass index (BMI), modified Glasgow score, APACHE II score, APACHE III score, Balthazar CT index, and other laboratory parameters performed within 48 hours after the initial admission. RESULTS: Severe acute pancreatitis was most commonly caused by alcohol. Overall mortality rate was 20.2% in severe acute pancreatitis and 10 (45%) deaths occurred within the first week. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified serum creatinine, corrected calcium concentrations, and CT index as predictors of mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. The risk score (R) was calculated by combining 3 prognostic values with regression coefficients; R=2.512 log(e) (creatinine mg/dL)+1.729 log(e) (CT index)-4.780 log(e) (corrected calcium mg/dL). The AUC for this score was 0.877 and a cutoff level of 0 was determined to predict the mortality with 83.3% sensitivity and 89.5% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The newly designed risk score comprising 3 parameters can be used as the significant early predictor for hospital mortality in severe acute pancreatitis.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure/etiology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatitis/complications/diagnosis/*mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis often progresses into infection, sepsis, multiorgan failure and then, mortality and morbidity which are very high. From January 1988 to December 1996, 14 patients with surgically proved acute necrotizing pancreatitis at the Department of Surgery, Catholic University were analysed. 1) The patients consisted of 12 men and 2 women ranging in age from 27 to 74 years. 2) The ethiological factors included excessive alcohol abuse in 8 patients, biliary tract disease in 2 patients and unknown in 4 patients. 3) In clinical findings, the majority of the patients complained of sudden severe upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, and abdominal distension. 4) Serum amylase level did not increase in 50% although the necrosis was severe, but aspartate transaminase increased in 13 cases. The lactic dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein increased in all tested cases. 5) In regards to diagnostic methods, computerized tomography was highly effective in getting early diagnosis and in finding the complications. 6) Early necrosectomy and drainage procedure was safe and effective. 7) Postoperative complications included pulmonary complications in 3 patients, pancreas fistula in 2, pancreas pseudocyst in 2, acute renal failure in 2, Diabetes mellitus in 2, gastrointestinal bleeding 1, and subphrenic abscess in 1 case. 8) Mortality rate was 36 %. In conclusion, computerized tomography may be used for early detection of acute necrotizing pancreatitis;. Aspartate transaminase, Lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein may be good diagnostic and prognostic indicators upon admission. Necrosectomy and drainage should be chosen as the best surgical treatment in acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients.
Abdominal Pain ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Alcoholism ; Amylases ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biliary Tract Diseases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Male ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Oxidoreductases ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing* ; Postoperative Complications ; Sepsis ; Subphrenic Abscess ; Tachycardia ; Vomiting