Acute pancreatitis as a rare complication of gastrointestinal endoscopy: A case report

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon complication of gastrointestinal endoscopy, especially if the patient has none of the common risk factors associated with pancreatitis; such as alcoholism, gallstones, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercalcemia or the use of certain drugs. CASE SUMMARY A 56-year-old female patient developed abdominal pain immediately after the completion of an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The pain was predominantly in the upper and middle abdomen and was persistent and severe. The patient was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Treatment included complete fasting, octreotide injection prepared in a prefilled syringe to inhibit pancreatic enzymes secretion, ulinastatin injection to inhibit pancreatic enzymes activity, esomeprazole for gastric acid suppression, fluid replacement and nutritional support. Over the next 3 d, the patient's symptoms improved. The patient remained hemodynamically stable throughout hospitalization and was discharged home in a clinically stable state. CONCLUSION Pancreatitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain after upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.