Acute pancreatitis after gastrointestinal endoscopy JOURNAL OF CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY Nevins, A. B., Keeffe, E. B. 2002; 34 (1): 94-95

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis is a well-recognized complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography but is not considered to be a complication associated with other endoscopic procedures. We present a case of acute pancreatitis that occurred after uneventful upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. The temporal relationship of the endoscopic procedures and development of acute pancreatitis suggests a causal relation. Furthermore, the patient had none of the usual etiologic factors associated with pancreatitis, i.e., alcoholism, cholelithiasis, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercalcemia, or use of a drug associated with pancreatitis. The causal mechanism of acute pancreatitis is uncertain but might potentially involve local trauma to the pancreas during a procedure or release of as yet undefined inflammatory mediators. In summary, three previous reports of clinical pancreatitis associated with endoscopy, in addition to the current case, suggests that acute pancreatitis should be considered as a rare complication of routine upper endoscopy or colonoscopy.

View details for Web of Science ID 000172991300019

View details for PubMedID 11743255