Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Induced by Ketamine: A Case Report

IntroductionSphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a rare disease caused by sphincter of Oddi functional or mechanical abnormality. Misdiagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever is very high due to overlapping symptoms with many diseases. Our case is the first case report in the medical literature which describes the misdiagnosis of Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction as familial Mediterranean fever. Case presentationA 46-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and arthralgia. The patient had familial Mediterranean fever for ten years which was diagnosed clinically without performing genetic tests. Analysis of the mutation in the MEFV gene was performed and was negative. Thereby, the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever was eliminated and colchisine was discontinued. Afterward, laboratory and radiological tests were performed, and the diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi disfunction was confirmed. The patient underwent biliary sphincterotomy and take sulpiride daily. DiscussionThe most common diseases were misdiagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever are appendicitis, acute rheumatic fever, gastrointestinal diseases and inflammatory arthritis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with Manometry of the Sphincter of Oddi is the gold-standard test. ConclusionSphincter of Oddi dysfunction may interfere with many other disorders and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for any recurrent abdominal pain. Misdiagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever is common in endemic countries due to the reliance on clinical symptoms without analysis of the mutations in the MEFV genes particularly, before 1997.

Eluxadoline is a mixed opioid receptor agonist and antagonist approved for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is believed to decrease visceral hypersensitivity without completely inhibiting intestinal motility. Pooled safety data from two phase three randomized trials have reported few cases of pancreatitis especially in patients with sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunction and cholecystectomy patients. We present a rare case of eluxadoline-induced recurrent pancreatitis in a 31-year-old female without a gallbladder. Her medical history was significant for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), cholecystectomy, and depression. She was started on 75 mg of eluxadoline (the recommended dose for IBS-D patients without a gallbladder) three weeks prior to the first episode of pancreatitis. She had a recurrent episode of pancreatitis after few weeks and her symptoms and lipase levels improved significantly two days after stopping eluxadoline. The exact mechanism of eluxadoline to cause pancreatitis is unknown but it is believed to increase SO contractions. The absence of gallbladder prevents cholecystokinin mediated relaxation of the SO thus contributing more to spasms with eluxadoline. Few cases of severe pancreatitis and death have been reported even with the reduced dose of eluxadoline recommended for cholecystectomy patients. This case highlights the importance of considering drug-induced pancreatitis and avoidance of eluxadoline even in reduced doses in patients without a gallbladder.

BackgroundThe double-duct sign is defined as dilation of both the common bile duct and pancreatic duct, which usually indicates pancreatic malignancy. However, benign causes have also been reported to cause a double-duct sign.Case presentationWe present the case of a 59-year-old Caucasian female patient admitted to the Gastroenterology Department with intermittent right epigastric abdominal pain and an intact gallbladder. A double-duct sign was seen on endoscopic ultrasound. The suspicion of pancreatic malignancy was excluded through follow-up investigations. Biliary type II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction was diagnosed with an association of the double-duct sign. Sphincterotomy was performed to reduce pain, and there was no recurrence of symptoms during follow-up.ConclusionsThis is the third reported case in the literature of the double-duct sign associated with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. This case emphasizes that the double-duct sign is not always caused by a local malignancy. The literature review of the reported cases has been summarized to help in the diagnosis of future similar cases.

Myotonic Dystrophy(MD) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition affecting the musculoskeletal system. Recurrent acute pancreatitis(RAP) is a frequent presentation in the emergency surgical scenario with two or more episodes of established acute pancreatitis separated by a minimum of 3 month periods. We report here a case of a patient presenting with a background of Myotonic Dystrophy with a third episode of RAP. Diagnostic work up led to the discovery of microlithiasis as a possible cause of pancreatitis in our patient. Literature review reports two other case reports detailing a potential association between MD and pancreatitis at the time of writing. This could be due to disturbances of the pancreatobiliary system, resulting from the sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) and gallbladder myotonia as MD affects the smooth and striated muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. In our case report, we highlight the importance of understanding how MD is a rare cause for a common surgical emergency presentation clinicians should be aware of.

Idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis in the context of pancreas divisum: A case report

Chronic ketamine use can lead to sphincter of oddi dysfunction (SOD), causing various hepatobiliary complications. Recognizing substance abuse history is vital for early detection. Timely intervention can prevent irreversible liver and pancreas damage. Ketamine is commonly abused as a recreational drug worldwide due to its ability to induce euphoria-like effects. Ketamine abuse is associated with many hepatobiliary side effects ranging from cholestasis to biliary sepsis and death. Here we present a case of a young 29-year female with upper abdominal pain due to SOD resulting from chronic use of ketamine. SOD can result in obstruction or dysfunction of the bile and pancreatic ducts. Ketamine induces SOD by activation of the muscarinic receptors in the sphincter of oddi. Detail history of substance abuse is crucial for early identification of ketamine-induced SOD. Early identification and treatment of this rare condition can prevent permanent injury to the liver and pancreas.