title: Not Your Everyday Case of Acute Pancreatitis: A Rare Complication of a Common Diagnosis.
abstract: Pancreaticopericardial fistula is an extremely rare complication of chronic pancreatitis and is virtually unheard of in the setting of acute pancreatitis. A 67-year-old male presented with acute pancreatitis complicated by pancreaticopericardial fistulization. The patient's initial presentation was consistent with tamponade physiology. Computed tomography demonstrated a gas-containing pericardial fluid llection extending into the anterior upper abdomen and ill-defined fluid collections within the pancreas representing necrosis with probable infection. Surgical exploration of the window revealed a pancreatic pericardial fistula and an infected window. The patient ultimately passed away from septic shock. We present this rare complication of pancreatitis and review the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
authors.forename: Parth J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howerton
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Johnson