The British journal of surgery
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Endoscopic stent placement for pancreaticocutaneous fistula after surgical drainage of the pancreas.
Spontaneous closure of an external pancreatic fistula is unlikely when a concomitant downstream obstruction of the pancreatic duct inhibits downstream flow. Early endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) and stent insertion may enhance fistula closure in these patients. ⋯ Based on these data, an active approach for external pancreatic fistula seems warranted. Early ERP and stent insertion enhances fistula resolution, facilitates wound care and surgery is postponed or even avoided.
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Postoperative ileus has traditionally been accepted as a normal response to tissue injury. No data support any beneficial effect of ileus and indeed it may contribute to delayed recovery and prolonged hospital stay. Efforts should, therefore, be made to reduce such ileus. ⋯ Pathogenesis mainly involves inhibitory neural reflexes and inflammatory mediators released from the site of injury. The most effective method of reducing ileus is thoracic epidural blockade with local anaesthetic. Opioid-sparing analgesic techniques and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents also reduce ileus, as does laparoscopic surgery. Of the prokinetic agents only cisapride is proven beneficial; the effect of early enteral feeding remains unclear. However, postoperative ileus may be greatly reduced when all of the above are combined in a multimodal rehabilitation strategy.