• hazardous alcohol use
• unusual-site thrombosis
• venous thromboembolism

• Humans
• Alcoholism/complications
• Alcoholism/epidemiology
• Thrombosis/epidemiology
• Risk Factors
• Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects

• Humans
• Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/complications
• Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/mortality
• Male
• Female
• Middle Aged
• Venous Thromboembolism/etiology
• Venous Thromboembolism/epidemiology
• Venous Thromboembolism/mortality
• Adult
• Anticoagulants/therapeutic use
• Anticoagulants/adverse effects
• Retrospective Studies
• Incidence
• Risk Factors
• Aged
• Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data

• acute pancreatitis
• anticoagulant therapy
• interventional radiology
• risk factor
• vascular complications

• Humans
• Male
• Female
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors
• Pancreatitis/etiology
• Pancreatitis/epidemiology
• Pancreatitis/complications
• Retrospective Studies
• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Prevalence
• Treatment Outcome
• Aged
• Acute Disease
• Anticoagulants/therapeutic use
• Anticoagulants/adverse effects
• Vascular Diseases/etiology
• Vascular Diseases/epidemiology

• 22ZDYF0621 Sichuan Science and Technology Program
• 82270649 National Natural Science Foundation of China

• Acute pancreatitis
• Amylase
• Ascites
• Duct disruption
• Pancreatic duct

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas characterized by self-digestion of pancreatic tissue, which can trigger a systemic inflammatory response. Venous thrombosis, resulting from a hypercoagulable state, is a vascular complication of AP. AP complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE) is very rare, and the combined use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with a vascular interventional procedure for AP complicated by PE is even rarer.

A 32-year-old man with a history of obesity developed rapidly worsening AP secondary to hypertriglyceridemia. During treatment, the patient developed chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrest. Computed tomography (CT) scans of his upper abdomen were consistent with pancreatitis. PE was identified by chest CT angiography involving the right main pulmonary artery and multiple lobar pulmonary arteries. The patient’s D-dimer level was significantly elevated (> 20 mg/L). The patient received high-frequency oxygen inhalation, continuous renal replacement therapies, anti-infective therapy, inhibition of pancreatic secretion, emergent endotracheal intubation, and advanced cardiac life support with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Following both ECMO and a vascular interventional procedure, the patient recovered and was discharged.

PE is a rare but potentially lethal complication of AP. The early diagnosis of PE is important because an accurate diagnosis and timely interventional procedures can reduce mortality. The combined use of ECMO with a vascular interventional procedure for AP complicated by PE can be considered a feasible treatment method. A collaborative effort between multiple teams is also vital.

• Acute pancreatitis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Case report

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common critical disease of the digestive system that is often associated with multiple complications. Vascular complications are relatively rare and are one of the causes of death. AP complicated with pulmonary embolism (PE) is even rarer, and there are no reports of AP complicated with PE in elderly patients.

We describe a rare case of AP complicated with PE and review the literature. A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with AP due to widespread abdominal pain. During the course of treatment, the patient had shortness of breath and progressively worsening dyspnea without chest pain or hemoptysis with a progressive increase in D-dimer and fibrin degradation product. Respiratory failure and right heart failure occurred, and refractory hypoxemia remained after mechanical ventilation. Plain chest computed tomography revealed a small amount of left pleural effusion and external pressure atelectasis in the lower lobe of the left lung but no findings that could lead to refractory hypoxemia. Color Doppler ultrasound indicated pulmonary hypertension and extensive venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. Chest computed tomography angiography finally suggested pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient’s dyspnea symptoms disappeared after anticoagulation treatment.

During the diagnosis and treatment of AP, it is necessary to dynamically monitor D-dimer and consider PE.

• Acute pancreatitis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Vein thrombosis
• D-dimer
• Diagnosis
• Case report

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas with variable clinical presentations. Splanchnic venous thrombosis is a well-known vascular complication of AP and commonly present as thrombosis of the splanchnic venous system: splenic vein (SplV), portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV), either separately or in combinations. Involvement of extra-splanchnic vessels is rare and associated with morbidity and mortality. Vascular complications are late phenomena and usually associated with local complications of AP, namely acute fluid collections, necrotizing pancreatitis and walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Pathogenesis of venous thrombosis is multifactorial in which pancreatic inflammation and systemic inflammatory response play a key role. At present, there are no consensus guidelines on treatment and use of anticoagulation for venous thrombosis in the setting of AP. Limited literature suggests the use of anticoagulation in presence of PV with or without SMV thrombosis and extrasplanchnic vessel involvement. Literature on extra-splanchnic vessels involvement in acute pancreatitis is sparse. Here we present two cases with multiple extra-splanchnic vessels involvement and their management.

• Acute pancreatitis
• extra-splanchnic venous thrombosis
• splanchnic venous thrombosis

Background  Acute pancreatitis is fraught with a variety of complications, which account for the mortality associated. Our case had a fulminant course, with three rare, near-fatal complications and was successfully managed conservatively. Pleural effusion due to pleuro-pancreatic fistula is uncommon, seen in only 1% cases, of which right-sided effusions are rarer still. Management modalities include conservative, endoscopic, and surgical options. Chylous ascites is an extremely rare complication of pancreatitis and is managed with high protein, low lipid diet, restricted to medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Extra-splanchnic venous thrombosis is uncommon in pancreatitis, and isolated renal vein thrombosis is very rare.

Case Presentation  A 34-year-old, chronic alcoholic male, presented to the outpatient department (OPD) in a state of shock and respiratory distress. Chest radiograph showed massive right-sided pleural effusion. The pleural fluid was hemorrhagic with markedly elevated amylase levels, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) confirmed the presence of a right-sided pleuro-pancreatic fistula. Left renal vein thrombosis was also noted. The patient improved with chest drain, intravenous (IV) octreotide, and anticoagulants. Subsequently, he developed hemorrhagic pancreatic ascites, which later turned chylous. This was managed with dietary modifications. The patient had a prolonged recovery but was finally discharged after 45 days.

Conclusion  It is a challenge managing the various complications of acute severe pancreatitis. We describe this case to emphasize maintaining a high sensitivity for timely diagnosis and appropriate addressal of all the complications for better patient outcomes.

• acute pancreatitis
• chylous ascites
• pancreatic ascites
• pleuro-pancreatic fistula
• renal vein thrombosis

Vascular complications of acute pancreatitis are common. Splanchnic thrombosis accounts for 11% of these complications, whereas extrasplanchnic thrombosis remains a rare entity. These complications are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is established on the basis of clinical and radiological evaluation, especially computed tomography. Renal vein thrombosis has been reported previously, but only in association with thrombosis of the inferior vena cava. To our knowledge, renal vein thrombosis without inferior vena cava thrombosis has never been reported in the literature. We report a case of a woman who developed acute pancreatitis complicated with splanchnic thrombosis and renal vein thrombosis with a patent inferior vena cava.

A 48-year-old Moroccan woman with no significant past medical history presented to our emergency department with worsening epigastric pain and vomiting. Her physical examination was notable only for moderate epigastric tenderness. She was apyrexic and had no jaundice or any features of liver failure. An initial computed tomographic scan showed Balthazar grade C pancreatitis with multiple splanchnic thromboses involving the portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, and left renal vein and enteromesenteric venous infarct with no signs of bowel perforation. The inferior vena cava was patent. Therapeutic anticoagulation and analgesia were started with resumption of enteral feeding 72 h later. The result of a thrombophilia screen was negative. Two months later, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with acute liver failure. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed worsening ischemic liver lesions and no signs of bowel perforation. Biochemical analysis showed acute hepatitis with hepatocellular insufficiency. The clinical evolution was unfavorable, and the patient died 48 h later.

Association of splanchnic and renal vein thrombosis without inferior vena cava thrombosis as a complication of acute pancreatitis has never been reported before. There are no specific aspects of management of this complication; therapeutic anticoagulation and symptomatic treatment are the main measures used owing to the lack of available organs for liver transplant. The prognosis depends on the consequences of splanchnic thrombosis and their complications.

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13256-019-2053-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

• Left renal vein thrombosis
• Pancreatitis
• Splanchnic venous thrombosis

• Deep venous thrombosis
• Iliofemoral
• Post-thrombotic syndrome
• Surgery