Satyanesan Jeswanth, Rajagopal Surendran, Velayutham Vimalraj, Devy Gounder Kannan, Colonel S Krishnan
Context ERCP can provide information which is invaluable in managing chronic pancreatitis but it is associated withinfrequent, although significant, complications and rare mortality. The complications uniquely associated withdiagnostic ERCP include pancreatitis and sepsis (primary cholangitis). Case report A 32-year-old man presented with severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, associated with vomiting and abdominal distension. The patient was diagnosed as having had chronic calcific pancreatitis recently and had undergone ERCP with pancreatic duct stenting elsewhere. Two days after the procedure, the patient developed severe abdominal pain, vomiting and abdominal distention, and patient was referred to our hospital 7 days after the procedure. Investigation revealed massive liver necrosis and portal vein thrombosis. This patient had a life-threatening complication following pancreatic duct stenting for chronic pancreatitis and was managed medically.Conclusion Therapeutic pancreatic endoscopy procedures are technically demanding and should be restricted to highvolume centers. There is a continuing need for evaluation and comparison with alternative strategies. In a good surgical candidate, it is better to avoid stenting.
