# Pancreaticoduodenectomy for trauma in an adolescent female with complex pancreatic and duodenal injuries: Case report and review of the literature

## TL;DR

A 15-year-old girl survived complex pancreatic and duodenal injuries after a car crash through staged surgeries, including a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the successful use of a staged surgical approach for rare combined pancreaticoduodenal trauma in adolescents.

## Key findings

- Staged surgical repair allowed successful management of high-grade pancreaticoduodenal injury in a pediatric patient.
- The patient avoided TPN and was discharged within two weeks with only minor long-term complications.
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy was successfully performed in a pediatric case with limited prior literature.

## Abstract

We present a successful staged surgical repair of an adolescent who sustained a high grade combined pancreaticoduodenal injury following a high-speed motor vehicle collision.

We discuss our case as well as provide a thorough literature review made on databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase.

A fifteen-year-old female presented after a motor vehicle collision with abdominal pain and imaging suggestive of pancreatic and duodenal injuries. Emergent exploratory laparotomy confirmed a transection of the pancreatic neck in addition to disruption of the second portion of the duodenum. She sustained other injuries including an injury to the portal vein and a right colonic perforation. A damage control strategy was employed, and the patient underwent duodenal repair, wide drainage of the pancreatic injury, primary portal vein repair, right hemicolectomy, and temporary abdominal closure using negative pressure wound dressing placement. She remained stable overnight in the ICU and was taken back to the operating room for a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with a hepatobiliary surgeon the following afternoon. The patient required additional surgery for fixation of an unstable vertebral fracture but was discharged to inpatient rehab within two weeks of presentation. She did not require TPN, and the only long-term sequelae have been admissions for acute uncomplicated pancreatitis that have been treated medically.

Combined pancreatic and duodenal injury in the pediatric population is uncommon. We discuss our case of a patient requiring a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Despite postoperative pancreatitis and limited information in this field, we believe we provided the optimal surgical care, and this is a potential area for future investigation.