The Postoperative Pancreas Imaging

Abstract

Recent advances in the surgical techniques and postoperative intensive care have led to a decrease in the mortality rates after major pancreatic procedures, which now ranges from 1 to 3%. However, the morbidity rates are still high, resulting in longer hospital stays and greater cost. Imaging plays a fundamental role in the postoperative assessment. Specially, multidetector computed tomography scans (MDCT) is the modality of choice in the postoperative settings. Early diagnosis of the postoperative complications and differentiating them from being normal or expected postoperative findings is crucial to offer the best possible care for patients and to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with surgery. In this article, we will briefly review the normal pancreatic anatomy, discuss the main types of pancreatic surgeries, and illustrate the imaging findings during the early postoperative period and of the main postsurgical complications in both acute and chronic postoperative settings.

Keywords

• pancreatic cancer
• pancreatectomy
• postoperative complications
• pancreatic fistula
• stricture