Acute ischemic pancreatitis: A rare complication of empirical gastroduodenal artery embolization

Abstract

Empirical embolization of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is accepted as a safe and effective treatment option for endoscopy-refractory nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients with high surgical risk. Nontarget embolization is a recognized complication of transarterial embolization, however, symptomatic pancreatic injury is extremely rare. We report a patient who developed acute ischemic pancreatitis immediately after embolization of the GDA, which was confirmed intraoperatively. Interventionists as well as referring clinicians need to be aware of this rare but life threatening complication.

Keywords

• acute pancreatitis
• empirical embolization
• gastroduodenal artery
• nonvariceal bleed
• upper gastrointestinal bleed