Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a significant complication of bariatric surgery, but its frequency and outcomes are not well-studied. If EPI is not diagnosed, it can result in nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and acute kidney damage. Our patient, a 47-year-old woman, underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery due to morbid obesity four years ago and lost contact with outpatient follow-ups. She came to us presenting chronic diarrhea and fatigue and was diagnosed with chronic pancreatic exocrine deficiency based on a low fecal elastase level. After starting her on pancreatic enzymes, her symptoms resolved. It is crucial to maintain a high degree of suspicion in order to diagnose EPI in patients who have undergone RYGB. The fecal elastase test, which is both reliable and inexpensive, is an effective diagnostic tool for EPI; prompt treatment can alleviate symptoms within days.
Source: Journal of Surgery and Medicine
DOI: 10.28982/josam.7897
Authors: Laxman Wagle, Dhiraj Raj Regmi, Sabita Regmi
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404366287