Background: Respiratory complications are frequent in acute pancreatitis, and respiratory dysfunction, presenting as Acute lung injury (ALI) or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), is a major component of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), with a frequent need for ventilator support, which contributes to early death in severe acute pancreatitis. The current study was done with the objective of assessing the morbidity and mortality of acute pancreatitis cases with respiratory complications and to find out whether there is any association between the aetiology of acute pancreatitis and respiratory complications. Methodology: It was a prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care centre in Kerala. All participants admitted with symptoms suggestive of acute pancreatitis were screened for potential enrolment. The inclusion criteria employed were that the patients should be aged above 18 years, and presenting with the first episode of pancreatitis, irrespective of aetiology. All the patients who were admitted were monitored daily for the worsening of any respiratory complications and provided with adequate respiratory supports. Results: Out of the 101 participants recruited, males were 84.2%. Mean (SD) age was 42.1 (11.4) years. Majority of cases (61%) had alcoholic aetiology. Fourteen patients required high flow nasal oxygen support, four patients were given face mask support, five patients required ventilator support and three patients required tracheostomy support. Respiratory complications and requirement of support were found to be associated with higher morbidity as well as mortality. Respiratory complications were higher in those with alcoholic etiology but this was not significant in univariate analysis. Conclusion: Respiratory complications pose challenges in clinical course of acute pancreatitis in terms of morbidity as well as mortality. Aetiology did not seem to play a major role in development of respiratory complications.

Melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease endemic in South East Asia and Northern Australia is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a potential bioterror agent. It is a motile, aerobic non-spore forming gram negative bacillus often characterised by pneumonia and multiple abscesses, but it can also present as septic arthritis, cutaneous ulcer and osteomyelitis. Modes of acquisition are inhalation, inoculation and rarely ingestion from a contaminated environment.1 General and gastro surgeons rarely come across abdominal melioidosis and rare is a lesser sac haematoma secondary to mycotic aneurysm of splenic artery caused by melioidosis. Clinical manifestations can vary from asymptomatic infections to localised abscesses to fulminating diseases with multiorgan involvement and eventual death. Due to evolving lifestyle, extensive travel and climate changes the disease which was previously confined to specific countries has crossed its boundaries. Increase in cases of comorbid conditions like diabetes and immunocompromised states have added on to the cause of increasing rates of the disease worldwide. India has seen isolated case reports from few states. Most often Burkholderia pseudomallei is misreported as pseudomonas species especially in resource-poor laboratories making the disease potentially fatal due to error in the treatment protocol.2 Due to its high chance of recurrence, prolonged treatment with combinations of antibiotics is required for complete eradication.

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ABSTRACT Meliodosis, a potentially fatal disease endemic in south east asia and northern Australia is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a motile ,aerobic , non spore forming gram negative bacillus. It can present with asymptomatic infections to localized abscesses to fulminating diseases with multi organ involvement and eventual death. Mycotic aneurysm is a very rare presentation of meliodosis. Although isolation of