title: Painless pancreatitis after implantation of a biventricular assistive device.
abstract: This young cardiac transplant patient developed painless acute pancreatitis within 10 days of implantation of a biventricular assist device (BIVAD). Historical, physical, laboratory, and imaging data allowed conservative management leading to a favorable outcome. Acute pancreatitis after cardiac transplantation is common with a significant mortality rate. Immunosuppression may play an important role in this process as well as infectious and pancreaticobiliary etiologies. Whereas acute pancreatitis is a well-documented complication of cardiac transplantation, this event has not previously been reported in patients who have received a BIVAD. The mechanism by which BIVAD placement may result in pancreatitis is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wolfsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases