Pancreatitis after cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation.

In a review of 176 patients who died after either cardiac or cardiopulmonary transplantation, 15 cases of pancreatitis were identified. The diagnosis was clinically inapparent in 11 of the 15 cases of pancreatitis. A high index of suspicion should therefore be maintained when these patients are cared for. A variety of factors may have contributed to the occurrence of pancreatitis in these patients. These include infection, steroids, azathioprine, low-flow states, extracorporeal circulation, vasopressors, renal failure, and rejection.