Is pancreatic cyst surgery risky?

The pancreas is a relatively small organ in our body, and people often even ignore its existence. However, when the pancreas suffers from some diseases, it will cause great harm to the patient's health. In particular, when the pancreas is sick, it is often treated as a stomach disease, and the best time for treatment is often missed. Pancreatic cysts are a relatively common pancreatic disease. Currently, pancreatic cysts are treated with surgery.

Is pancreatic cyst surgery risky?

No matter which type of surgical treatment, there is a certain degree of uncertainty. It is difficult to say whether the risk is high or not for a specific person. Generally speaking, this is one of the major surgeries. If surgery is required to treat pancreatic cysts, try to choose a regular medical institution to avoid causing other problems.

Treatment of pancreatic cysts

1. Emergency surgery

When the cyst ruptures, bleeds, or causes secondary infection, which is life-threatening, emergency external drainage surgery (incision and drainage or cyst suturing) should be performed, and attention should be paid to replenishing water, electrolytes, and systemic treatment. After the fistula is formed, another operation will be performed.

2. Elective surgery

2 to 4 months after the formation of the pseudocyst, surgery is selected based on the severity and extent of the lesion. If the patient is located in the tail of the pancreas, pancreatic tail splenectomy can be performed; if the patient is located in the head or body of the pancreas, cyst gastric anastomosis, cyst duodenostomy, or cyst jejunostomy Roux-Y anastomosis can be performed. The anastomosis should be large enough to prevent backflow infection. When fistula exists, the intestine should be cleaned before surgery, neomycin should be taken orally, and vitamin K should be injected intramuscularly.

Causes of Pancreatic Cysts

1. Post-inflammatory pseudocyst: seen in acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.

2. Post-traumatic pseudocyst: seen in blunt trauma, penetrating trauma or surgical trauma.

3. Pseudocyst caused by tumor.

4. Parasitic pseudocyst: caused by Ascaris or Hydatid cyst.

Symptoms of pancreatic cysts

1. A small number of pseudocysts are asymptomatic and are only discovered during B-ultrasound examination. In most cases, clinical symptoms are caused by cysts compressing adjacent organs and tissues. 80% to 90% of patients experience abdominal pain. The pain is mostly located in the upper abdomen. The range of pain is related to the location of the cyst and often radiates to the back. Accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

2. Weight loss occurs in some cases. Fever is usually low-grade. Diarrhea and jaundice are less common. If the cyst compresses the pylorus, it may lead to pyloric obstruction; if it compresses the duodenum, it may cause duodenal stagnation and high intestinal obstruction; if it compresses the common bile duct, it may cause obstructive jaundice; if it compresses the inferior vena cava, it may cause symptoms of inferior vena cava obstruction and lower limb edema; if it compresses the ureter, it may cause hydronephrosis, etc.

3. Intramediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts may cause symptoms of compression of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, resulting in chest pain, back pain, difficulty swallowing, distended neck veins, etc. If the pseudocyst extends to the left groin, scrotum, or rectouterine recess, symptoms of rectal and uterine compression may occur. During physical examination, most patients have a palpable mass in the upper abdomen or left quasar. The mass is spherical, with a smooth surface and rarely a nodular feel, but may be fluctuating, with little mobility and often tenderness.