Pancreatitis following bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is the second most performed bariatric surgical procedure. With the increasing number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery, the number of complications is also growing. Early diagnosis and treatment of the complications is crucial. CASE PRESENTATION: A very unusual complication was met after an uneventful laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) procedure due to an obstructing blood clot in the biliairy limb resulting in an acute pancreatitis and gastric distention, accompanied by an obstructing blood clot in the distal ileum causing small bowel obstruction. A review of the occurrence of these complications and the diagnosis and treatment is presented. CONCLUSION: Post-bariatric acute pancreatitis is uncommon, but could be fatal. Blood clots should be considered as possible causes of small bowel obstruction, ileus or pancreatitis.