Role of interventional radiology in the management of complications after pancreatic surgery: a pictorial review

Abstract

Pancreatic resections are surgical procedures associated with high incidence of complications, with relevant morbidity and mortality even at high volume centres. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in the management of these events and interventional radiology plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients developing post-surgical complications. This paper offers an overview on the interventional radiological procedures that can be performed to treat different type of complications after pancreatic resection. Procedures such as percutaneous drainage of fluid collections, percutaneous transhepatic biliary procedures, arterial embolisation, venous interventions and fistula embolisation are viable treatment options, with fewer complications compared with re-look surgery, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. A selection of cases of complications following pancreatic surgery managed with interventional radiological procedure are presented and discussed. Teaching Points \u2022 Interventional radiology is crucial to treat complications after pancreatic surgery \u2022 Percutaneous drainage of collections can be performed under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance \u2022 Percutaneous biliary procedures can be used to treat biliary complications \u2022 Venous procedures can be performed effectively through transhepatic or transjugular access \u2022 Fistulas can be treated effectively by percutaneous embolisation