Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians : the official publication of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians
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J Assoc Acad Minor Phys · Jan 1996
Case ReportsNasopancreatic drainage: a novel approach for treating internal pancreatic fistulas and pseudocysts.
Internal pancreatic fistulas are rare but debilitating complications of chronic pancreatitis. Fistulous tracts from the pancreatic duct to the peritoneal or pleural cavities have been treated by medical therapy and surgical management, with success rates of 41% and 89%, respectively. Endoscopic stent placement for internal and external pancreatic fistulas has also been shown effective. ⋯ Following discharge, all three patients were pain free, without evidence of recurrent fistulas or pseudocyst. In conclusion, the use of nasopancreatic/cyst drainage is an effective and convenient way to treat internal, communicating collections and pseudocysts of pancreatic origin. Furthermore, this method provides a simple means of assessing closure of fistulas and pseudocysts.