Pancreatic Ascites: A Rare Complication of Pancreatitis in Childhood

Pancreatic ascites is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis. Only 14 cases of ascites accompanying pancreatitis have so far been reported in the English and American literature. Difficulties in diagnosis may be overcome if in all obscure cases of ascites in childhood the amylase content of the ascitic fluid is estimated. The patients whose cases were reported were treated in different ways, nine by a drainage operation, one by distal pancreatectomy, and four by non‐operative means. It is recommended that laparotomy should be performed to drain the pancreas if the child's condition deteriorates .