Facial Nerve Palsy in Hypertriglyceridemia- Induced Pancreatitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Acute pancreatitis is associated with multiple local or systemic complications in response to systemic inflammation that may eventually result in multi-organ failure. Neurological complications are uncommon in acute pancreatitis. Examples include cerebral hemorrhage, infarction, cerebral fat embolism, Wernicke encephalopathy, and cranial nerve (CN) palsy. Facial nerve palsy is a rare event in the setting of acute pancreatitis, with various theories about its etiology and pathophysiology. We report the case of a 46-year old female who presented with acute pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia. She developed right sided facial palsy on the third day of admission. Her clinical condition improved with standard conservative medical management of acute pancreatitis. Facial nerve palsy improved after a short course of oral glucocorticoids, supportive measures, and physiotherapy. This case demonstrates a rare occurrence of facial nerve palsy in the setting of acute pancreatitis, although the etiopathology behind this manifestation remains unclear.