Small Bowel Obstruction as a Complication of Acute Pancreatitis

Epigastric pain and vomiting are common presentations associated with various causes of acute abdomen. Acute abdomen encompasses a range of different pathologies, with epigastric pain narrowing the differential diagnosis to conditions such as pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, acute cholecystitis, gastritis, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and peptic ulcer disease, such as gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers with/without perforation. This is a case of a male patient in his 80s who came to the emergency department with symptoms of generalized abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Initial investigations and imaging supported a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis complicated by bowel obstruction. The patient was subsequently referred to the surgical team for further management.