A Study of Clinical Features and Management of Pseudocyst of Pancreas

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pseudo pancreatic cyst is a common complication of pancreatitis. Accurate diagnosis and timely management is important. This study is to know the various etiological factors, relative frequency of occurrence of pseudo pancreatic cyst in relation to age and sex, establish accurate diagnosis by various investigations and to study various modes of management like conservative, percutaneous drainage and surgery. The different modes of treatment and their efficacy will be dealt in detail. This is necessary to know the better treatment of choice. METHODS: 32 patients were selected, who were diagnosed as pseudo pancreatic cyst admitted in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital during August 2012 to July 2014. All the Patients underwent definitive treatment. Data related to the objectives of the study was collected. FINDINGS: From our study it is observed that 1. Majority of patients belonged to the age group of 31-50 years, which constituted 16(50%) patients in the study. M: F is 4.33:1. 2. Most common etiological factor was alcohol. 3. Most common mode of presentation was pain abdomen followed by abdominal distension / mass per abdomen. 4. Incidence of palpable mass was in 75% of the patients studied, but with the usage of USG and CT scan, pseudocyst was detected in all the patients. 5. Conservative treatment was useful in uncomplicated, acute pseudocysts till they regress or mature when surgery became necessary. The results of internal drainage were excellent, which was done in 56.25% of the patients in our study. 6. The postoperative complications include pain abdomen and wound infection seen in 9 patients of the study. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: We conclude that, the pseudo pancreatic cyst is the most common complication of pancreatitis. Early diagnosis and timely management with the use of serial USG and internal drainage for mature cyst, external drainage for complicated cyst results in good prognosis.