A
pancreatic pseudocyst is a complication of abdominal
trauma in pediatric patients.
Octreotide acetate is an effective adjunct
therapy used in combination with traditional surgical approaches. We describe a 19-month-old boy with a
pancreatic pseudocyst secondary to blunt abdominal
trauma who was successfully managed with
octreotide acetate in combination with percutaneous drainage and the placement of a pancreatic
stent.
Octreotide acetate 1 μg/kg/hour was administered as a continuous
intravenous infusion for 24 hours, followed by 2.5 μg/kg/dose every 12 hours subcutaneously for 11 days. The patient was discharged after the pseudocyst had resolved and oral feeding was restored. He had no recurrence of the pseudocyst. The published literature regarding
octreotide acetate therapy for pediatric
pancreatic pseudocysts is limited. Previously reported cases demonstrated successful resolution of
pancreatic pseudocysts with varying doses of intravenous and subcutaneous
octreotide acetate within 23-30 days; however, with our patient's regimen, along with surgical interventions, the pseudocyst resolved within 11 days. In addition, our patient's regimen involved higher doses of
octreotide acetate given more frequently than those reported in the literature. This case report illustrates that use of higher
octreotide acetate dosages may be a potential adjunct
therapy to surgical interventions for the management of
pancreatic pseudocysts in children.