Acute pancreatitis after the removal of a hyperplastic duodenal polyp: a case report

A 59-year-old patient underwent the duodenal endoscopic mucosal resection of a hyperplastic polyp. Four hours after the procedure she developed severe epigastric pain. Laboratory and imaging results were consistent with mild acute edematous pancreatitis. After several days of dietary therapy and intravenous crystalloid fluids the patient recovered, and 1 month later was asymptomatic and had no signs of pancreatic inflammation. This case illustrates a rare but clinically important complication of therapeutic upper endoscopy, which may be attributable to thermal injury of the duodenal wall and the adjacent pancreas. It also underscores the importance of the close follow up of patients who undergo invasive endoscopic procedures and the need for additional preventive measures to be taken when resecting duodenal lesions.