Patient concerns: A 63-year-old man was hospitalized with history of abdominal pain since more than 1 year, and that of fever with chills since 2 weeks.
Diagnoses: Based on the laboratory investigations and radiologic findings, a preliminary diagnosis of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with recurrent cholangitis and severe jaundice was made.
Interventions: An initial attempt at endoscopic and image-guided drainage proved unsuccessful. Due to cholangitis, liver dysfunction, and hypoalbuminemia, the patient was deemed to be medically unfit for radical surgery. Therefore we considered a novel strategy of associating pancreaticostomy and biliary-irrigation for staged pancreaticoduodenectomy (APBSP). In the first stage, biliary tract double irrigation (endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and T-tube) in combination with pancreaticostomy was performed, which alleviated the symptoms and helped improve the general condition of the patient. In the second stage, radical pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed.
Outcomes: Over a follow-up period of 23 months, no recurrence occurred.
Lessons: In this report, we present a previously unreported treatment strategy for pancreatic IPMN with recurrent cholangitis and jaundice. The innovative treatment approach may help advance the understanding and management of this condition.