Acute pancreatitis after nitrous oxide abuse: A case report

The recreational use of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is sharply increasing among young adults. N(2)O abuse can cause serious complications. However, the association between acute pancreatitis and N(2)O is rarely reported. Here we report a case of a young and previously healthy female with widespread cutaneous lesions, neurologic symptoms, and abdominal pain. Acute pancreatitis was the patient's primary diagnosis when she was admitted to the gastroenterology unit. We added the diagnosis of N(2)O intoxication after an additional inquiry into the patient's personal history revealed that she had abused N(2)O for 1 month. With the application of mecobalamin and other symptomatic treatments, the symptoms and laboratory indexes improved gradually. In this case, we highlight that acute pancreatitis may be a rare complication induced by N(2)O.