Recurrent acute pancreatitis in bowel malrotation

Recurrent acute pancreatitis is an uncommon diagnosis in teenagers. Excluded alcohol and biliary stones, more prevalent aetiologies in these group of patients are genetic pancreatitis, pancreatic duct system abnormalities, neoplasia, traumas and congenital abnormalities of the duodenum such as duodenal duplication or diverticulum. Two reported cases of recurrent pancreatitis associated to midgut malrotation were described in English literature. Bowel malrotation is a difficult diagnosis in a teenager or a young adult and a common delay is documented. Ladd's procedure is largely recognized to be the standard treatment for a symptomatic malrotation.

Our Report describes in details a case of recurrent pancreatitis, where a late diagnosis of midgut malrotation was obtained and an endoscopic management was attempted. A literature review and an analysis of two previously reported cases were performed to explore a possible aetiopathogenesis of the recurrent acute pancreatitis in patients with midgut malrotation.

24 months of follow-up showed an asymptomatic patient on a free diet, with a mild deranged Liver Functional Tests and a normal Amylase and Lipase. The recurrence of acute pancreatitis has not been observed until the present day.

Recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis in young adults, without a history of alcohol abuse or evidence of gallstones, might be an atypical presentation of midgut malrotation and it should be in the differential diagnosis. In this case, a Ladd's operation is beneficial and an endoscopic procedure does not obtain advantages.