Denmark's Approach to Cysts

September 12, 2004

Jeppe,

You wrote, " I have " water " cyst on pancreas. After a heavy attack of acute

pancreatitis I got CP. After 2 months it was drained from outside to make it

collapse/get flat to help it disappear by its own. After 6 month I was cut open

and the cyst was connected to my stomach. "

I think that is very interesting that this is the procedure you had. I have

read about this manner of treating pseudocysts and they seem to have good

results, even though the persons who tends to get these 'watery' cysts are

likely

to develop more. In the United States, it seems that the procedure is a wait

and see, during which time, the cysts usually just grows bigger, and bigger, and

bigger. Now, that is only taken from conversations I have had with others, as

I have not had any problems with cysts. Others said their Pancreatologists

said the risk of draining them was too high for a potential spillage of fluid

into the abdominal cavity. There was one woman who had her pseudocysts drained

in Ohio, but that did not end up being a very pleasing experience. It was, of

course, huge, by the time they decided to go in. In my opinion, that, like most

of the philosophy in the US for treating pancreatitis is a reactive approach

vs a proactive approach. They don't usually address the cysts until they are a

certain size. Then, well, yeah, they probably are a risk for damage to the

other organs. The other experience I heard about was from a few people whose

cysts ruptured while waiting for them to resolve. (Of course, three is only a

fraction of the total number of pancreatic cysts in the country.)

Denmark seems to be a medically aggressive country. What is the healthcare

funding / insurance like?

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Pancreatitis Association International

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