Korean J Med.  2003 Nov;65(Suppl 3):S693-S697.

Cardiac tamponade complicated by chronic recurrent pancreatitis

• Lee JS
• Kim YS
• Chang WC
• Lee JW
• Moon JS
• Yum HK
• Choi SK

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis causes a variety of complications such as glucose intolerance, pancreatic pseudocyst and duodenal obstruction. However pericardial effusion is very rarely complicated with chronic pancreatitis and life-threatening. The hypothesis of the development of pleuropericardial effusion in chronic pancreatitis has been variously proposed; fistula formation through esophageal or aortic hiatus, local transfer of pancreatic enzyme. Recently, we experienced a case of pleuropericardial effusion complicated by chronic recurrent pancreatitis causing cardiac tamponade. There was a contrast leakage appearing from the pancreatic duct to the mediastinum in endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography. The transpapillary pancreatic stent insertion led to the disappearance of pleuropericardial effusion on the radiography. We report this unusual manifestation of chronic recurrent pancreatitis with the review of literature.

Keyword

Pancreatitis; Cardiac tamponade; Stent

MeSH Terms

Cardiac Tamponade*
Duodenal Obstruction
Fistula
Glucose Intolerance
Mediastinum
Pancreatic Ducts
Pancreatic Pseudocyst
Pancreatitis*
Pancreatitis, Chronic
Pericardial Effusion
Radiography
Stents