Case Report: Bezoar in allograft duodenum—rare cause of bowel obstruction 13 years post-pancreas transplant

TL;DR

A rare case of bowel obstruction caused by bezoars in a pancreatic allograft 13 years after a transplant is reported.

Contribution

This is the first reported case of a pancreatic allograft duodenal bezoar causing bowel obstruction.

Findings

A 69-year-old female had life-threatening obstruction due to bezoars in a pancreatic allograft duodenum.

The bezoars were identified during surgery and removed, highlighting the importance of considering rare causes in transplant patients.

This case expands the understanding of post-transplant complications beyond common causes like adhesions or hernias.

Abstract

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) following pancreatic transplantation is a recognized complication, most often caused by adhesive disease and hernias. To our knowledge, a pancreatic allograft duodenal bezoar has not been previously described as a cause of obstruction. A 69-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) with severe abdominal pain and computed tomography (CT) findings concerning for a SBO. Given imaging characteristics concerning for a mass and her complete obstruction, we performed an immediate exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a large, solidified bezoar within the pancreatic allograft duodenum and a smaller bezoar causing a SBO in the efferent jejunal limb were removed. This case reveals a previously undescribed cause of life-threatening obstruction within a pancreaticoduodenal allograft and highlights the importance of considering rare entities in pancreas transplant patients to preserve graft function and prevent further complications.

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