ACSTRAUMAVAULTACUTE CARE SURGERY← ACS Vault
HEPATOBILIARY & PANCREAS • SENIOR RESIDENT / SURGEON

Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Size alone does not mandate intervention; symptoms, complications, maturity, debris and duct anatomy should drive treatment.

PROTOTYPE REVIEW REQUIRED
01
The Call

36-year-old man six weeks after acute pancreatitis

Persistent upper abdominal pain, nausea and early satiety. CT shows a 7-cm mature cystic collection in the lesser sac.

Stable
The question is not simply how large it is, but whether it is symptomatic, complicated and anatomically suitable for drainage.
Read the Image • Clinical DataACS VISUAL
Pancreatic pseudocyst image from the ACS image archive.
Pancreatic pseudocyst image from the ACS image archive.
Make the Decision • Commit to a Plan

Six weeks after pancreatitis a patient has an 8-cm mature fluid collection but minimal symptoms, no infection and no gastric outlet obstruction. Best strategy?