Introduction
Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is uncommon but still one of the major life-threatening complications. The incidence of PPH is relatively low at 6–7.2%, but it nevertheless has a high mortality rate of 14.1–20% [1, 2]. According to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGSP), PPH is classified into early PPH, occurring in the first 24 h postoperatively, and late PPH, occurring 24 h after operation [3]. Because of the different pathogeneses between early and late PPH, the treatment is different. Early PPH is mainly due to the nonsecured ligation of vessels, such as the suture line of the anastomosis or areas of resection, whereas late PPH mainly originates from the erosion or pseudoaneurysm of major arteries, which is often related to pancreatic fistulas and intra-abdominal abscesses [4]. Thus, early PPH often requires urgent reoperation for hemostatic management. However, late PPH is treated with radiological intervention and endoscopy as a first-line approach. However, management of rehemorrhage after the initial treatment for late PPH is controversial. It is difficult to control rehemorrhage, and there is no satisfying treatment for massive rehemorrhage with a severe pancreatic fistula and/or intra-abdominal abscess.
We report a rare case of successful relaparotomy for a massive arterial rehemorrhage from the stump of the gastroduodenal artery, and we review cases of rehemorrhage after hemostasis by the initial treatment for late intra-abdominal hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).
Case Presentation
A 57-year-old man underwent subtotal stomach-preserving PD with pancreaticogastrostomy for tumor-forming pancreatitis with possible pancreatic cancer. Surgical findings revealed adhesions around the pancreas head that were attributable to chronic pancreatitis. The patient developed a pancreatic fistula due to leakage at the pancreaticogastric anastomosis. On the 10th postoperative day, a bloody secretion was discharged through the abdominal drain tube. He was hemodynamically stable, but the decrease in hemoglobin required a blood transfusion with 4 units of packed red cells. Computed tomography indicated the presence of fluid collection, containing small gas bubbles anterior to the portal vein and hepatic artery in the abdominal space (Fig. 1). The next day (postoperative day 11), following reappearance of bleeding from the abdominal drainage and a sudden drop in pressure, an angiography was done immediately. Although angiography showed a suspected pseudoaneurysm originating from the common hepatic artery, the origin of bleeding could not be clearly identified (Fig. 2). Because the bleeding point was not clearly identified, the decision was made to proceed with an urgent explorative laparotomy. A large hematoma was found in the upper abdominal space close to the pancreaticogastric anastomosis. The source of bleeding was detected from the stump of the gastroduodenal artery (Fig. 3). The bleeding point was sewn with a nonabsorbable suture, and the area was drained with a large bore soft drain. Operative time was 174 min, and blood loss was 1,680 mL. Transfusion was required, and 4 units of packed red blood cells and 3 units of fresh frozen plasma were given during surgery. However, rehemorrhage from the abdominal drain developed on the 7th day after relaparotomy. We selected a relaparotomy for ligation of the bleeding point, because it was considered highly possible that hemostasis using transarterial embolization (TAE) was difficult due to potential rehemorrhage from the site of the initial hemorrhage. Thus, we performed an urgent relaparotomy and controlled the rehemorrhage by sewing the bleeding point with a nonabsorbable suture and compressing the area with absorbable hemostatic cotton. Operative time was 160 min, and blood loss was 2,790 mL. A blood transfusion with 4 units of packed red cells and 3 units of packed fresh frozen plasma were required during surgery. After relaparotomy, there was no further hemorrhage. Fortunately, he did not have a coagulation disorder or fatal hepatic failure and was discharged from our hospital 64 days after initial surgery.
Fig. 1.
Computed tomography on the 10th day after PD showed fluid collection (white arrows) causing pancreatic leakage anterior to the major vessels in the abdominal space.
Fig. 2.
Angiogram on the 11th day after PD showed a suspected pseudoaneurysm (white arrow) originating from the common hepatic artery. But the bleeding point could not be clearly identified.
Fig. 3.
Operative findings showed the site of bleeding from the common hepatic artery (white arrow). Surgical intervention to treat the bleeding point was performed with the suture technique.
Discussion
This patient’s course provided two important clinical suggestions. Surgical laparotomy is one of the feasible procedures for massive delayed arterial PPH in cases where the bleeding point cannot be clearly identified. Proper blood vessel ligation is necessary for reliable hemostasis and proper drainage of pancreatic juice and abscesses to prevent delayed arterial PPH.
Surgical laparotomy is one of the feasible procedures for hemostasis of a massive delayed arterial hemorrhage in cases where the bleeding point cannot be clearly identified and after failed TAE. Recently, radiological interventions, such as TAE or covered intraluminal stenting, have become the standard first-line procedures for management of PPH instead of surgical intervention [5]. However, the prognosis of late PPH remains poor, despite advances such as radiological diagnosis or the technology of angiography [6]. Wellner et al. [1] showed that the success rate of radiological intervention was 50%, and in the remaining 50%, there was no target because of intermittent bleeding cessation or hemostasis being technically not feasible. There is a meta-analysis that evaluated delayed hemorrhage after PD, which found no difference between angiography and operative interventions [7]. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether radiological interventions or surgical interventions provide optimal management of late arterial PPH. Surgical laparotomy is still irreplaceable and is considered to be the only option for rapidly deteriorating patients with unstable hemodynamics where hemostasis by TAE was not technically feasible or after failed TAE.
Proper blood vessel ligation is necessary for reliable hemostasis and proper drainage of pancreatic juice and abscesses to prevent arterial hemorrhage. Late arterial PPH was a secondary complication caused by a pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal abscess. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage after PD is closely associated with pancreatic fistula, and the incidence is 44.4–100% [4, 6, 8-17] (Table 1). Rehemorrhage is especially closely associated with a severe pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal abscess [6]. Damage control procedures, including bleeding control, abscess drainage, pancreatic duct fistulation, and completion pancreatectomy, are the cornerstone treatments for repeated PPH. Surgical laparotomy is necessary for optimal hemostasis of a massive arterial hemorrhage and proper drainage of pancreatic leakage and an intra-abdominal abscess. In the present case, hemostatic treatment using the sewing technique and abscess drainage was performed for the initial hemorrhage; however, rebleeding developed 7 days after surgical laparotomy. Hemostasis using the ligation technique for an arterial hemorrhage is often difficult for vascular fragility due to inflammation influenced by pancreatic fistula and infection. Thus, the bleeding point was sewn with a nonabsorbable suture and compressed with an absorbable hemostatic cotton to control arterial rehemorrhage.
Late hemorrhage after PD is a rare but life-threatening complication with reported morbidity 4.3% and in-hospital mortality 24.4% [4, 6, 8-17] (Table 1). In recent years, late arterial hemorrhage has often been treated with radiological intervention as a first-line approach. However, the incidence of rehemorrhage after successful hemostasis is 13.8% [4, 6, 8-17] (Table 1). If the hemostatic treatment of rehemorrhage fails, the mortality rate after second treatment is as high as 70% [6]. It is difficult to control rehemorrhage, especially in patients whose rehemorrhage comes with a severe pancreatic fistula and an intra-abdominal abscess. There is no satisfying treatment for a severe arterial rehemorrhage. Once the bleeding is controlled, vigorous treatment of the pancreatic fistula and abscess is the most effective management to prevent rehemorrhage [6]. Moreover, various surgeons have developed different surgical techniques in an attempt to prevent arterial hemorrhage due to pseudoaneurysm formation. Lee et al. [15] reported that the gastroduodenal artery stump should leave behind a long segment with a Hemolok® clip to minimize the initial gastroduodenal artery injury. We previously reported that protecting the major vessels and pancreaticogastrostomy with the falciform ligament and greater omentum prevented a pancreatic fistula in the soft pancreatic texture after PD [18]. The goal is to prevent an arterial hemorrhage if pancreatic leakage develops after PD. It is most important in delayed arterial PPH to prevent a pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal abscess.
In conclusion, this case highlights two important issues. It is better to perform emergency laparotomy when the source of the bleeding is unclear and the hemodynamics are unstable based on interventional radiology. Relaparotomy is one of the selective treatments for rehemorrhage after successful hemostasis of delayed arterial PPH.
Statement of Ethics
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.
Disclosure Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to this case report.
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