title: Pancreatic pleural effusion: an indication for emergency distal pancreatectomy and Roux-en-Y pancreatico-jejunostomy.
abstract: A previously healthy 2-year-old boy was admitted because of shortness of breath, cough, and fever; there was minimal abdominal pain. He had recurrent right, followed by left pleural effusions, which contained markedly elevated amylase levels and high protein content. The pleural fluid amylase levels were disproportionately higher than the serum amylase levels. His abdominal signs were minimal. Surgical exploration showed a disruption of the proximal pancreatic duct. Distal pancreatectomy and Roux-en-Y pancreatico-jejunostomy were performed. After a complicated postoperative course he was discharged well and has remained so for more than 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saing
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mya
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*