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Query: UMLS:C0030305 (pancreatitis)
 16,014 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Gallstone pancreatitis is usually related to small stones, which may not be detected by conventional cholecystographic techniques. In the current study, it was hypothesized that some patients with acute pancreatitis of unknown cause could harbor occult microstones in the gallbladder. Therefore, evidence was sought prospectively of missed gallstones by biliary drainage and microscopic examination of centrifuged duodenal bile in 51 patients recovering from an attack of acute pancreatitis, including 24 patients with relapsing episodes. Clusters of cholesterol monohydrate crystals, calcium bilirubinate granules, and/or CaCO3 microspheroliths were found in 67% of the patients. Biliary drainage showed no abnormal findings in 12 patients convalescing from a bout of known alcoholic pancreatitis. Examination of gallbladder bile at cholecystectomy and/or serial ultrasonography of the gallbladder for up to 12 months showed that 73% of the patients with unexplained pancreatitis had biliary sludge or microlithiasis; the prior finding of biliary crystal/solid markers predicted their existence with both a sensitivity and a specificity of 86% and a predictive value of 94%. The probability of harboring occult gallstones was also associated with age (P = 0.004), prior recurrent pancreatitis (P = 0.024), and altered liver function tests results during an index episode (P = 0.003). In 13 patients with cholesterol monohydrate crystals in bile, ursodeoxycholic acid (10 mg.kg-1.day-1) eliminated gallbladder microlithiasis within 3-6 months, and subsequent maintenance treatment with a daily dose of 300 mg prevented both gallstone recurrence and further attacks of pancreatitis over a mean follow-up period of 44 months. Cholecystectomy also prevented gallstone-associated relapses in 17 of 18 patients followed up for a mean postoperative period of 36 months. This study provides firm evidence showing that in most patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis, the disease is related to microscopic gallstones, as evidenced by the follow-up development of macroscopic stones or sludge and by the prevention of relapses with either cholecystectomy or a cholelitholytic bile acid. Occult gallstones should be strongly suspected when acute pancreatitis of unknown cause occurs in a relapsing manner and in aged patients and when it is associated with altered liver function test results. Biliary microscopy and/or follow-up ultrasonography of the gallbladder provide a simple means of uncovering them to institute appropriate therapy and prevent further attacks.
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PMID:Occult microlithiasis in 'idiopathic' acute pancreatitis: prevention of relapses by cholecystectomy or ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. 158 52

Gallstone pancreatitis is caused by transient obstruction of the ampulla of Vater by a migrating gallstone. Intraglandular activation of pancreatic enzymes occurs (by an unclear mechanism), and their entry into the circulation causes most of the local and systemic events of pancreatitis. The diagnosis is based on history and physical examination, an elevation of serum amylase above 1000 IU/L, and ultrasound and CT scans. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography can be used in less certain cases to confirm the presence of common bile duct stones. Because of the absence of an agent that can abort progression of the disease, therapy should consist of adequate resuscitation, nutritional support, and careful monitoring to detect early complications. In patients with mild pancreatitis, surgery usually can be performed within 48 or 72 hours of admission or as soon as symptoms and amylase levels return to normal. For patients with severe disease, endoscopic sphincterotomy is emerging as the therapeutic modality of choice. Elective treatment of the associated biliary disease should be performed during the same hospitalization after the acute phase of the disease has subsided.
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PMID:Gallstone pancreatitis. 224 15

Gallstone pancreatitis is one of the more prevalent causes of pancreatitis. It accounts for more than two thirds of the cases of acute pancreatitis worldwide and 25 to 45% of the cases in the United States. Furthermore, it is one of the most important treatable causes of pancreatitis. These two important features of the disease make its recognition and proper management critical. Key to recognition and proper management of gallstone pancreatitis is understanding that this disease can exist in three different forms. It can exist as impacted gallstone pancreatitis, as nonimpacted gallstone pancreatitis, or as sludge-related pancreatitis. Each of these forms of the disease will have some unique features relating to their pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. This update focuses on "take-home" features that will allow (1) clinical differentiation between the three forms of the disease and (2) understanding the unique features that relate to their pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
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PMID:Gallstone pancreatitis: an update. 868 49

Gallstones are found within the main bile duct (MBD) of 7% to 20% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. MBD stones are the commonest cause of acute cholangitis and acute pancreatitis. Acute cholangitis is the result of infection superimposed on an obstructed biliary system and carries a high mortality rate if left untreated. The mainstay of treatment is a regimen of broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics followed by prompt decompression of the obstructed biliary tree. Decompression is best accomplished by the endoscopic route, although transhepatic approaches may also be employed. Gallstone pancreatitis may be associated with cholangitis but is also common as a separate entity. Initial treatment is supportive, although new agents designed to suppress the systemic inflammatory response are under development and have proved beneficial in clinical trials. Severe cases should be treated with systemic antibiotics and early removal of the obstructing stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Prophylactic cholecystectomy is recommended to prevent further episodes of gallstone pancreatitis.
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PMID:Acute cholangitis and pancreatitis secondary to common duct stones: management update. 982 24

Gallstone pancreatitis is triggered by migrating stones that cause transient or continuous bile-pancreatic duct obstruction. One might hypothesize that the great clinical variability of acute pancreatitis is related to the inconsistent number and duration of a series of stone migrations. A new setting for the opossum model of acute pancreatitis was developed allowing reversible bile-pancreatic duct obstructions. We compared the effects, on the pancreas and pancreatitis severity, of repeated transient obstructions to those of continuous obstruction of varying duration. Repetitive intermittent duct obstruction in American opossums was achieved using an extraductal balloon occluder connected to a subcutaneous port system that was inflated three times for 24 hr within a five-day period. Continuous duct obstruction was achieved by duct ligation. Sham-operated animals served as controls. After one, three, or five days of continuous obstruction and at the end of the third consecutive 24-hr obstruction (day 5), animals were killed and the severity of pancreatitis was determined quantitating the extent of acinar cell necrosis, pancreatic edema, and acinar cell fragility. Three repetitive one-day periods (total 72 hr) of bile-pancreatic duct obstruction resulted in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The severity of pancreatitis was similar to that observed after five days of continuous obstruction and was more severe than that noted after three days (72 hr) of continuous obstruction. In conclusion, these observations suggest that the pancreas is susceptible to sensitization by factors related to transient duct obstruction. A series of minor events such as repeated stone passage may thus contribute to the progression to severe pancreatitis.
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PMID:Repetitive short-term obstructions of the common bile-pancreatic duct induce severe acute pancreatitis in the opossum. 1049 49

Gallstone pancreatitis was first recognized as an entity by Opie in 1901 (1), and since then has generated volumes of literature which have attempted to explain its pathophysiology. Multiple animal experiments and human clinical studies in the past thirty years have led to a better understanding of both macro- and microscopic events which lead to pancreatic inflammation in the setting of a passing or impacted gallstone. Evidence suggests that pancreatic duct outflow obstruction is the initial event. Several possible sequelae of duct obstruction, including refluxed biliary-pancreatic secretions, pancreatic duct hypertension, and/or aberrant acinar cell secretion may result in pancreatic duct injury and release of pancreatic enzymes into the glandular interstitium, thus triggering a bout of acute pancreatitis. The details of many events related to gallstone pancreatitis remain unclear; this chapter attempts to present the pathophysiology of this disease as it is known today. Additionally, clinical presentation and treatment of gallstone pancreatitis will be reviewed briefly.
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PMID:Pathophysiology of gallstone pancreatitis. 1157 66