Abstract
Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is a severe complication of acute pancreatitis,
characterized by encapsulation of necrotic debris. The management of WOPN poses significant
challenges due to its potential for infection, hemorrhage, and multi-organ failure.
Homeopathy, known for its gentle and noninvasive approach, offers a treatment mode
that aims to support healing without aggressive interventions. This case report talks
about a patient presenting with WOPN with ascites managed with homeopathy. A 2-year-old
boy was brought to the pediatric clinic with a chief complaint of worsening abdominal
distension. The parents reported a gradual increase in the size of the child's abdomen
over the past few weeks, accompanied by persistent and severe abdominal pain. The
child exhibited signs of discomfort, frequently expressing pain through crying and
restlessness. In addition to abdominal distension and pain, the child presented with
episodes of vomiting. Despite multiple attempts with various medications, including
domperidone for controlling vomiting, there was no significant improvement in these
symptoms. The parents also noted a concerning loss of appetite in the child, with
a noticeable decrease in oral intake. The primary diagnosis was cystic lesion replacing
pancreatic body and tail (12.2 × 12.3 × 9.1 Cubic centimeter) likely WOPN with gross
ascites, confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen done in
the Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER, Chandīgarh. The patient underwent homeopathic
treatment at the Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy in Shimla. Following
the intervention, the patient achieved full recovery from the signs and symptoms of
WOPN. Radiological investigations, specifically a whole abdomen ultrasound, revealed
the complete dissolution of the cystic lesion along with the resolution of gross ascites.
The success was evidenced by the resolution of both clinical symptoms and radiological
findings, as observed in the complete dissolution of the cystic lesion and the absence
of gross ascites. This suggests a potential positive role for homeopathy in the management
in such life-threatening and intractable cases of WOPN, encouraging further exploration
and research in this area.
Keywords
homeopathy - pancreatic necrosis - ascites - alternative medicine - case report
