Pancreatic necrosis as a rare complication of left hemicolectomy—case report

A 77-year-old female patient was hospitalized due to acute renal failure, during which a colonoscopy was performed because of constipation. The examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. A left hemicolectomy was performed without intraoperative complications. Three days after surgery, the patient reported severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Initially, subileus with an anastomotic leak was suspected. A surgical re-exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed. During the procedure, a sealed anastomosis and necrosis of the pancreatic tail were found. Conservative treatment was initiated; however, the patient died 4 days later.