Acute pancreatitis due to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: a rare complication

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is considered the treatment of choice for most renal and upper ureteral stones. Although extensive data have documented its safety, serious complications have been reported in 1% of patients, including acute pancreatitis, perirenal hematoma, urosepsis, venous thrombosis, biliary obstruction, bowel perforation, lung injury, and rupture of aortic aneurysms. Here, we report a 41-year-old woman who underwent ESWL for a calculus at the right renal pelvis and immediately developed acute pancreatitis after the procedure. Although the possibility of post-ESWL acute pancreatitis is extremely low, physicians must be aware of this complication in emergency departments.