Background/aim: Postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy represents the most frequent procedure-related complication; however, a standard treatment is currently not available.
Case report: We herein report a case of postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in a patient affected by a platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer recurrence. The 59-year-old patient developed a pancreatic fistula on postoperative day 4. An endoscopic transgastric double-pigtail drainage was placed on postoperative day 13. The patient was discharged after 5 days and referred to adjuvant medical treatment. A month later, computed tomography revealed complete resolution of the fistula, the drainage was removed, and the patient continued chemotherapy. She recovered uneventfully at a 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion: EUS-guided drainage is a viable option in the management of postoperative pancreatic fistula, which can lead to a rapid resolution of peripancreatic fluid collections and to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy with the slightest delay in ovarian cancer patients.
Keywords: EUS-guided transgastric drainage; Pancreatic fistula; distal pancreatectomy; endoscopic ultrasound; interventional EUS; ovarian cancer; pancreas surgery; postoperative complication.
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