Acute Pancreatitis after Major Spine Surgery: A Case Study.

Abstract

Postoperative acute pancreatitis can be a relatively common complication regarding abdominal surgery, especially for general surgeons who have a high suspicion and expertise in the specific field. After spine surgery, on the other hand, it is considered rare, and when it settles, it is non-negligible as it may progress to a life-threatening condition. Although there is a plethora of reports regarding postoperative acute pancreatitis after spine surgery, especially scoliosis correction surgery or extended fusion surgery, many spine surgeons do not acknowledge this rare complication. Factors that may favor the apparition of acute pancreatitis include intraoperative hypoperfusion, hemodynamic instability, correction techniques in spinal deformity conditions, and mechanical abdominal pressure due to the patient's position. We report a case of acute pancreatitis after posterior lumbar fixation and decompression for spinal canal stenosis.