Acute Pancreatitis: A Rare Complication of Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a well-tolerated therapeutic and diagnostic procedure. Although colonoscopy is relatively safe, a few complications have been reported. Abdominal pain after colonoscopy is one of the most reported symptoms, and acute pancreatitis is uncommon after colonoscopy. We present a case of acute pancreatitis in a 51-year-old female who presented with a complaint of melena. She underwent colonoscopy to rule out lower gastrointestinal pathology and developed sudden onset diffuse abdominal pain and vomiting two hours after the procedure. She was diagnosed with colonoscopy-induced acute pancreatitis based on physical examination and detailed investigations after ruling out all other potential causes. She was treated conservatively with bowel rest, intravenous fluids, analgesic, and prophylactic antibiotics. Abdominal symptoms improved quickly in a few days with complete resolution of abdominal pain, fever, and normalization of serum amylase and lipase. Early recognition and diagnosis can lead to successful treatment, and the patients should be informed about the possibility of this complication before undergoing colonoscopy.