Successful postoperative pancreatic fistula treatment with the use of somatostatin infusion after duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor resection

Abstract

Introduction According to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula, a postoperative pancreatic fistula is defined as every case of fluid leak on the third (or later) postoperative day, in which the level of amylase in the collected fluid is at least three times higher than the serum amylase level. Depending on the stage and the designated management, pancreatic fistulas are divided into the following three categories: A (mild), B, and C (severe). Regardless of favorable conditions, exocrine pancreatic secretion is the key factor in fistula formation. The decrease in pancreatic secretion caused by somatostatin and its analogues combined with parenteral nutrition is a well-established treatment method in pancreatic fistula management. Case outline The case of a 69-year-old patient who had undergone a resection of a duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor located directly above the major duodenal papilla is presented. Excessive drainage of amylase-rich fluid was observed in the postoperative period. Treatment comprised continuous infusion of somatostatin and parenteral nutrition. Fistula closure was accomplished on postoperative day 14, confirmed by a radical decrease in the volume of drainage and low amylase levels in the collected fluid. The patient remained in a good clinical state and was discharged from hospital on postoperative day 20. Conclusion This is an example of the early diagnosis of a postoperative pancreatic fistula, treated conservatively with the use of somatostatin. Post-surgery clinical awareness of the importance of direct contact between the stromal tumor and pancreatic tissues, in connection with routine amylase level assessment, led to a quick diagnosis of pancreatic fistula and the therapy led to an uneventful outcome.