Introduction: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a sequela of repeated pancreatic injury resulting in loss of exocrine and endocrine function of the pancreas. In most cases, CP presents with chronic abdominal pain and patients usually have either clinical and radiological features of CP, with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) as a very rare occurrence. Herein is a presentation of recurrent obscure GIB caused by chronic pancreatitis.
Case Description/Methods: A 48-year-old male with a prior history of PUD and recurrent GIB episodes for several years presents with dark red bleeding per rectum for two days. Of note, the patient had undergone several endoscopies and the most recent endoscopies done six months prior were all unremarkable. He denied hematemesis, NSAIDs, or anticoagulant use. Denied liver or pancreatic disease but endorsed a prior history of moderate alcohol intake. Physical examination was unremarkable except for tachycardia and epigastric tenderness. He was mildly anemic with leukocytosis. The abdominal and pelvic CT scan was unremarkable. EGD revealed a small gastric oozing site (Image 1) suspected to be an AVM or dieulafoy's lesion and clipped. He continued to have a frank bloody stool and developed hemorrhagic shock requiring multiple transfusions and vasopressors. Findings on two additional EGDs were unremarkable. He had mesenteric angiography performed with ligation of the gastroduodenal artery empirically. Despite the intervention, he continued to bleed. Abdominal CTA (Image 1) noted active extravasation in the 2nd segment of the duodenum. Explorative laparotomy revealed an edematous head and uncinate portion of the pancreas with venous engorgement. There was erosion into the duodenum with acute hemorrhage (Image 1). A duodenotomy and Roux-en-y (duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy) were performed. On account of the above findings, a tissue biopsy was not obtained. Following surgery, he remained hemodynamically stable and got discharged.
Discussion: Massive obscure GIB due to complications of pancreatitis rarely does occur. A few cases reported are due to complications resulting from hemosuccus pancreaticus, pseudoaneurysm from a vascular supply, or erosion into adjacent viscus in the setting of known pancreatitis. Our patient represents an unusual presentation in which his recurrent obscure massive GI bleeding was the initial presentation of CP. We present this case to broaden our knowledge that obscure GI bleeding can be a complication of CP and the only manifestation of the disease.
Figure: The image on the left shows an EGD with the gastric oozing site with clips, and the middle image shows CTA with extravasation in the second segment of the duodenum. The image on the right shows the posterior aspect of the head of the pancreas, the uncinate, and venous engorgement.
Disclosures:
Amaka Onyiagu indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Christopher Alabi indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Kelechi Ibe-Ekeocha indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Joshua Shaw indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Murali Shankar indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Amaka Onyiagu, MD1, Christopher O. Alabi, MD1, Kelechi Ibe-Ekeocha, MD1, Joshua Shaw, MD2, Murali Shankar, MD2. C0057 - An Unusual Case of Chronic Pancreatitis Presenting With Recurrent Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding, ACG 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Charlotte, NC: American College of Gastroenterology.
