What procedures are used for pancreatic and peripancreatic collections?
- Various acute and chronic pancreatic and peripancreatic collections can be percutaneously aspirated and drained using image guidance if clinically indicated.
- According to the revised Atlanta classification system for acute pancreatitis, collections should be defined as acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC), pancreatic pseudocyst, acute necrotic collection (ANC), or walled-off necrosis (WON). The term pancreatic abscess is not used in the current classification.
- These collections can be aspirated to determine whether they are sterile or infected. In this setting, bowel should not be crossed with the aspiration needle to avoid contaminating and superinfecting otherwise sterile fluid.