Abstract
While acid-base disturbances are known to occur with chronic pancreatitis, few cases have been reported in which non-anion gap metabolic acidosis is caused by pancreaticopleural fistula, a known complication of chronic pancreatitis. The current report describes the case of a 49-year-old African American woman who presented with severe pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea at rest. The patient had a history of alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. Her chest radiograph was positive for a large left-sided pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a small connection between the pancreas and the thoracic cavity. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed non-anion gap metabolic acidosis in the absence of substantial urinary or diarrheal bicarbonate losses. The patient was diagnosed as having non-anion gap metabolic acidosis as a result of a pancreaticopleural fistula and was successfully treated with pancreatic ductal stent placement by means of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.