Supplementary L. plantarum 299 was effective in reducing pancreatic sepsis and the number of surgical interventions.

No abstract

Covering the stapled pancreatic remnants with a seromuscular patch is a simple method that decreased overall pancreas-related complications such as fistula. This technique did not affect clinically relevant outcomes as severe complications requiring treatment were similar with both techniques.

Background and Aims: Pancreatic trauma is relatively uncommon, but carries high morbidity and mortality rates, especially when diagnosis is delayed or inappropriate surgery is attempted. Patient Material: The clinical course and surgical management of 14 patients with distal pancreatic transection or severe laceration with or without main pancreatic duct (MPD) injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma were analyzed in a university teaching hospital. The average age of the 14 patients (12 male, 2 female) was 28.9 years (range 5–56). Six patients had isolated pancreatic trauma, and intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal (mean 0.8) injuries associated with pancreatic transection were seen in the other 8 patients. Results: Nine patients were diagnosed and operated on within the first 24 h. Eight of them underwent transection of the gland with MPD injury; distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed in 3 and without splenectomy in 2, distal pancreatogastrostomy in 1, and – due to associated duodenal laceration and/or contusion of the pancreatic head – pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in 2. In 1 case (grade II laceration) only external drainage was necessary. All the patients with early, correctly diagnosed parenchymal and ductal injury survived. Only 1 patient required reoperation due to haemorrhage after pancreatoduodenectomy. The other 5 cases were referred elsewhere after initial treatment, and all of them underwent some kind of external drainage. Three had undetected MPD injury, and in the other 2 cases the parenchymal lesions were either underestimated or missed. All of these cases required subsequent resection (1), internal drainage due to fistula (2), or drainage of developed abscess (2). Three of them had severe septic and pulmonary complications; 1 patient with MPD injury was lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Patients requiring delayed surgical intervention after an unsuccessful period of observation or a subsequent operation due to undected MPD injury demonstrated a higher rate of pancreas-specific mortality and morbidity.

The authors present the case of a 21-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis. Azathioprine treatment was complicated with pancytopenia and septic shock. Acute cytomegalovirus infection related to the immunosuppressive therapy, resulting in hemophagocytosis syndrome and neutropenic fever was diagnosed. Recovery was achieved by the administration of parenteral ganciclovir, broad spectrum antibiotic and complex intensive care.