In trauma, expect the unexpected: a rare case of post-traumatic pancreatitis associated with salmonellosis and enterocolitis

Abstract

A 16-year-old Hispanic man was transferred to our level I paediatric trauma centre with pancreatitis. Ten days prior, he had sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen requiring an exploratory laparotomy for repair of a traumatic left diaphragmatic injury. Additional injuries included gastric, renal, liver and pancreatic lacerations as well as a T12 burst fracture that resulted in paraplegia. Conservative management of pancreatitis was unsuccessful over the next 10 days, resulting in progressive symptoms of severe unresolved pain, nausea, emesis and rising lipase. Workup for post-traumatic, biliary and drug-associated causes of pancreatitis was negative, and no anatomical abnormalities were found on imaging. A fever workup on hospital day 10 revealed a urinary tract infection with non-typhoidSalmonellasp, and subsequent stool and imaging studies revealed salmonellosis associated with right-sided colitis andClostridium difficileinfection. Pancreatitis resolved within 48 hours following treatment of salmonellosis andClostridium.