Acute pancreatitis after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for a renal calculus

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is currently considered the standard treatment for most renal and upper ureteral calculi. The complication rates with ESWL have been reported to be low, resulting in its widespread acceptance and use. However, as the technique has become more widely available, serious complications as a result of injury to the kidney and the surrounding organs have been recognized. We report on the development of severe acute pancreatitis in a patient after ESWL for a right-sided renal calculus. The patient history and chronologic clinical course strongly suggest a causal association between the ESWL and the development of pancreatitis.