Visakhapatnam, April 16: In a significant medical achievement, doctors at KIMS ICON Hospital successfully treated a life-threatening pancreatic abscess using a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, avoiding the need for open surgery.
The pancreas is a highly sensitive organ, and complications affecting it can quickly become life-threatening. In this case, a 44-year-old patient from Visakhapatnam had been suffering from severe abdominal pain for nearly two months. He was initially diagnosed with acute pancreatitis at a local hospital and received standard treatment. However, his condition worsened over time, leading to the formation of a large collection of pus around the pancreas, accompanied by persistent fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and difficulty in eating.
Seeking advanced care, the patient approached KIMS ICON Hospital. After conducting comprehensive investigations, including blood tests and a CT scan, the medical team identified a large pancreatic pseudocyst with infection.
Under the guidance of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), doctors performed a minimally invasive drainage procedure. A metal stent was placed to facilitate the safe removal of approximately one litre of infected fluid (pus) from around the pancreas.
Following the procedure, the patient showed rapid recovery. He was able to resume oral intake within two hours, experienced significant relief from abdominal pain, and was discharged within 48 hours.
Doctors noted that conventional surgery for such conditions would typically require a longer recovery period. The success of this case highlights the effectiveness of EUS-guided minimally invasive techniques in managing complex pancreatic conditions without the need for open surgery.
The procedure was carried out by Senior Consultant Interventional Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist Dr. Sunil Raviraj, along with gastroenterologists Dr. Sivakrishna Sirasapalli and Dr. Gangadhar Malla. They emphasized that this case reflects their expertise in handling complex pancreatic disorders using advanced, minimally invasive endoscopic approaches.
