A Rare Case of Acute Idiopathic Pancreatitis in Third Trimester Which Aggravated in Early Postpartum Period

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) in pregnancy and post-partum period is a rare event and can have a lethal effect on the mother and the fetus. Gallstone disease is thought to be the most common causative factor of AP; however, in many cases the cause remains unclear. Here, we present a case of severe AP occurring in late pregnancy which aggravated in the early postpartum period. A 32-year-old multiparous woman, para 7, presented with severe abdominal pain, abdominal distension and multiple episodes of vomiting. The pain was localized to the upper abdomen and radiating to the back, aggravated by food and bending forward. She had neither a history of chronic alcoholism nor any evidence of viral infection was found. The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic severe AP on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, which was managed conservatively and recovered within several days. She did not have any recurrence thereafter and had a good clinical recovery. Therefore, it is important to consider AP when a woman presents with upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and during the postpartum period to improve the maternal outcome for patients with AP.