[Acute pancreatitis and pregnancy]

Acute pancreatitis during pregnancy is a rare and serious condition with a difficult diagnosis. The authors report a case of acute pancreatitis in a 37 year old woman in the 32nd week of pregnancy. Gallstones were the etiology found. One week after support care as medical management, a recurrent episode of pancreatitis occurred. The choice treatment was endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy. This procedure improved symptoms. Delivery, puerperium and breastfeeding occurred without any problem. Surgery (cholecystectomy) was performed 15 days after delivery, during a new acute episode. The Authors discuss the etiopathogenic, diagnostic and therapeutic management, feto-maternal morbidity and mortality for acute pancreatitis in pregnancy.