Recurrent Large Bowel Obstruction Caused by Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Rare Manifestation

Mechanical obstruction of the colon is rare with necrotizing pancreatitis but is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, pancreatic ileus, colonic necrosis, and pancreatic colonic fistulae with necrotizing pancreatitis are well known. The anatomic proximity of the pancreas to the transverse colon becomes clinically relevant when a patient with pancreatitis demonstrates a localized ileus of the transverse colon (an old term “the colon cut-off sign”), even when the disease is mild, or lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to necrosis of the segment in severe acute pancreatitis. We present the case of a 25-year-old female with choledocholithiasis who presented with severe abdominal pain and was found to have recurrent large bowel obstruction secondary to walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Bowel obstruction is a rare complication of walled-off necrosis, but clinicians should be aware of it due to significantly increased mortality rates. Recurrent bowel obstructions are rarely known in necrotizing pancreatitis and may warrant a bowel resection either electively or acutely. Walled-off necrosis does not respond to typical treatment of symptomatic pseudocysts, which includes endoscopic cystogastrostomy or percutaneous drainage with small-bore catheters. Endoscopic or surgical necrosectomy is necessary for the resolution of walled-off necrosis to evacuate the non-liquefied components.