Introduction

• Cause: mostly due to accidental blunt trauma or surgical manipulation. Penetrating trauma may involve multiple abdominal organs.
• Signs: abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, pyrexia.
• Diagnosis: biochemistry, clinical findings.
• Treatment: emergency exploratory coeliotomy may be necessary depending on degree of injury. Lavage.
• Prognosis: pancreatic abscess may occur post-operatively if some pancreatic tissue remains following debridement or partial pancreatectomy.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Accidental blunt trauma.
• Penetrating trauma.
• Surgical manipulation.

Pathophysiology

• Trauma → tear or subcapsular hematoma, or severe disruption of the pancreas, possibly involving entire pancreas.
• Trauma → interrupted blood supply to the pancreas +/- common blood supply to the pancreas and duodenum.
• Leakage of pancreatic enzymes → autodigestion → pancreatitis Pancreatitis: acute.

Timecourse

• Hours to days.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes