The possibilities of radiological methods in the diagnosis of acute postoperative pancreatitis

Among the instrumental methods for diagnosing diseases of the pancreas, computed tomography (CT) of the abdominal organs, radiological examination, and ultrasound examination (US) of the pancreas are highlighted. However, it is necessary to point out the existence of limited studies regarding the indications for the use, availability, and comparison of these imaging methods, as well as their role in the diagnostic process when examining patients with acute postoperative pancreatitis. Objective of the study. To assess the improvement in diagnostic results of acute postoperative pancreatitis through the use of computed tomography. Material and methods. The study was conducted at the radiology department of the M.A. Topchubashev Scientific Surgery Center in Baku from 2019 to 2022. The study included 60 patients aged 30 to 70 years. All patients underwent an assessment of the degree of clinical manifestations, their structure, dynamics of laboratory indicators combined with the analysis of data from instrumental examination methods (US, CT) throughout the observation period. Results. The data obtained indicate that surgical interventions on the pancreas are relatively often accompanied by the occurrence of acute postoperative pancreatitis. Acute postoperative pancreatitis leads to disturbances in the functional state of the gastrointestinal organs, manifested by nausea, recurrent vomiting, as well as severe dull pain and bloating in the epigastric region. The sensitivity and specificity of US as the “gold standard” in the diagnosis of postoperative acute pancreatitis were 91.7% and 86.1% for CT, respectively. Conclusions. CT was found to be more sensitive than US for diagnosing pathological changes in the pancreatic duct in the examined patients, and it is considered most reasonable to use CT in the early stages of the pathological process to clarify the degree of its spread and to predict the development of more severe complications.