Travis Barker was ‘hospitalized for pancreatitis’ after undergoing colonoscopy that ‘triggered’ the condition, it has been revealed.
The 46-year-old Blink-182 drummer remains under medical care at at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where his new wife Kourtney Kardashian is by his side.
According to TMZ, Travis’ doctors believe that his pancreatitis – which is an inflammation of the pancreas – was ‘triggered’ by a recent colonoscopy.
Sources tell the site that Barker underwent the colonoscopy exam recently; the procedure is usually performed to look for changes in the large intestine and rectum, such as swollen, irritated tissues, polyps or cancer.
However, in very rare cases, a colonoscopy – which involves a long tube being inserted into the rectum – can cause pancreatitis, a condition that usually requires hospitalization and can last for several days or, in some cases, occur over many years.
Symptoms of the condition – which can also be caused by gallstones or chronic and heavy alcohol use – include upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Revealed: Travis Barker was ‘hospitalized for pancreatitis’ after undergoing colonoscopy as he remains under care with wife Kourtney Kardashian by his side
Hospital: Travis was taken to a local Los Angeles hospital by ambulance on Tuesday after suffering from a mysterious medical issue
The star was taken to a Los Angeles hospital by ambulance on Tuesday after suffering from the medical issue, with his new wife Kourtney by his side as he arrived at local facility West Hills.
He was later transferred to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in an ambulance – while Kourtney, 43, followed behind in her Range Rover. It was not initially known what condition the rocker was suffering from, however ‘multiple sources connected to the family’ have now told TMZ that he has been diagnosed with pancreatitis as a result of a colonoscopy.
The procedure can be life-saving treatment as it allows your doctor to check the insides of your colon and rectum for cancer and polyps, which can be early signs of cancer.
However, although it is considered to be a fairly safe exam, it is not without risk and the most common side effect is stomach pain, cramping or the feeling of being bloated afterward. In very rare cases, the procedure can also cause pancreatitis – although there is limited understanding as to how this occurs, according to the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.
The medical journal states that ‘pancreatitis should be considered a rare potential complication for patients who develop acute abdominal pain after colonoscopy’, adding that the condition will most likely be triggered by ‘procedural difficulties’ during the procedure, including ‘mechanical trauma’ to the pancreas.
A colonoscopy is performed using a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope that lets your doctor check the inside of your colon (large intestine).
But as the tool is passed through the splenic flexure, it can cause pressure trauma to the pancreas tail, which can then result in pancreatitis.
Serious: The Blink-182 drummer, 46, arrived at the West Hills hospital on Tuesday with wife Kourtney Kardashian by his side. Doctors apparently deemed the issue so serious that he was later transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Save: Barker had cryptically tweeted ‘God save me,’ at 10:45 AM PST on Tuesday morning, before it was revealed what he had been hospitalized for
Prayers: Barker’s daughter Alabama, 16, took to her Instagram Stories to ask that her followers ‘Please send your prayers’ alongside a sad emoji on Tuesday prompting concern among fans
Still under medical care: Barker is believed to have recently undergone a colonoscopy, that allows your doctor to check the insides of your colon and rectum for cancer and polyps, growths that can be early signs of cancer
The reality star was then pictured walking into the hospital alongside her husband who was being wheeled into the facility on a gurney.
Travis was seen lying on the gurney while wearing an all-black outfit, the hood of his sweatshirt raised over his head, with his distinctive tattoos visible on his right hand, which was raised in the air as he was wheeled into the hospital by EMTs.
Kourtney was also dressed in all-black and had her hood up over her hair, her face shielded from the public.
Barker also cryptically tweeted, ‘God save me,’ at 10:45 AM PST on Tuesday morning prompting huge concern among fans before his condition was revealed.
Hours later, Barker’s daughter Alabama took to her Instagram Stories to ask his fans to ‘Please send your prayers’, adding a sad emoji – indicating that her father’s condition may be quite serious.
The incident comes days after Kourtney made a full recovery from her second bout with COVID-19.
She had contracted the virus for a second time in mid-June but had made a full recovery as of last week.
The couple were married just weeks ago in Italy, following a fairytale proposal that was captured on the new Hulu series The Kardashians.
The proposal came exactly one year after they first ‘hooked up,’ after several years of friendship.
Kourtney follows: Kourtney followed behind Travis Barker’s ambulance in a black Range Rover on Tuesday
Cedars-bound: Travis is seen heading to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center via ambulance with wife Kourtney at his side
