2020 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 76-81
A 21-year-old man with severe motor and intellectual disabilities associated with chromosomal abnormalities was admitted to our hospital and underwent laryngotracheal separation for dysphagia. The postoperative course was uneventful except for fever of unknown origin, and he was discharged on postoperative day 13. However, he complained of abdominal pain the day after discharge. He was readmitted to our hospital because of a high serum amylase level and abdominal dilatation revealed by abdominal computed tomography. On the basis of medical history and test results, he was diagnosed as having acute pancreatitis due to superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. Although acute pancreatitis due to SMA syndrome is extremely rare and often requires surgical treatment, drainage with strict posture management has been shown to be successful. Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities often develop problems that require surgery at an early age, and a pediatric surgeon often follows up these patients, even after the transitional period. If a patient with severe motor and intellectual disabilities presents with biliary vomiting or abdominal pain, SMA syndrome or acute pancreatitis due to SMA syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis and treated as early as possible.
