Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy – a case report and literature review

Introduction. Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is a rare condition with an approximate incidence of 1 over 1,000–12,000 pregnant women, but it is associated with increased incidence of maternal and fetal mortality. Can occur during any trimester but over half (52%) occur during the third trimester and rarely during post-partum period. Difficulty in diagnosis and treatment put significantly in danger the maternal and fetal health. The treatment of pancreatitis in pregnancy should be conservative as far as possible with delaying the definitive treatment until after delivery. Case report. We report a case of a 20-year-old woman, at 32 week of gestation who presented with severe pain confined to the upper abdomen and radiating to the back to the upper abdomen. Investigation undertaken led to the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis which was managed conservatively. She recovered within several days and then delivered a healthy baby. Conclusions. Acute pancreatitis is rare in pregnancy, occurring most commonly in the third trimester. Pancreatitis in pregnancy remains a challenging clinical problem to manage, but if treated early, preterm labor can be avoided.