Gallstone pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed due to a buildup of gallstones in the pancreatic duct. The pancreas is a digestive organ that releases chemicals that help to break down food. A channel called the pancreatic duct helps move waste and digestive chemicals into the small intestine from the liver and gallbladder. Since the pancreas sits between the small intestine and gallbladder, where gallstones form, they can get stuck in the pancreatic duct if they are too big for the body to pass on its own.
Common symptoms of gallstone pancreatitis include:
It’s essential to seek help immediately if you may be experiencing gallstone pancreatitis.
Gallstones do not have any one cause; instead, multiple factors can contribute to the formation of gallstones. These include high blood cholesterol, liver disease, disorders that do not allow the gallbladder to empty, and long-term high oestrogen levels.
Medical professionals think that gallstones cause pancreatitis in one of two ways. When a gallstone travels from the gallbladder toward the small intestine, it can get stuck if it gets big enough. This can cause bile, carried from the gallbladder toward the small intestine, to be pushed back onto the pancreas, irritating it severely.
Another issue that could arise is a buildup of the digestive chemicals that the pancreas releases to help digest food. If a gallstone is blocking the pancreatic duct, those chemicals will not be able to be released, and they will build up in the pancreas.
Risk factors for gallstone formation include being assigned female at birth, being of Native American or Hispanic descent, being overweight or obese, lack of regular exercise, diabetes, a family history of gallstones, rapid weight loss, certain blood disorders, and taking medications with oestrogen in them.
Your healthcare provider will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. If your symptoms indicate that you could have acute pancreatitis, they will perform specific tests to see if a blockage of the pancreatic duct is causing it.
These tests include blood tests to measure if enzymes related to liver health are abnormal or not and imaging tests like an abdominal ultrasound or computerised tomography (CT) scan to visualise where the gallstone is.
Complications of gallstone pancreatitis occur if it goes untreated and includes cholangitis, which is inflammation of all of the ducts that carry bile, jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, and death of pancreatic tissue. These complications can be life-threatening.
Treatment depends on how advanced the pancreatitis is. Most people only need supportive care, while some are taken to intensive care.
Treatment can include replenishing fluids, managing pain, ceasing food intake, antibiotics, and removing gallstones. While gallstone removal may not be done right away, removing any gallstones found to prevent them in the future is routine
While there’s no surefire way to prevent gallstones, exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet can help decrease the chances that gallstones will occur. Additionally, paying attention to the warning signs of future gallstones is essential. Many people at risk for developing gallstones experience physical symptoms, including aching on the right side of the abdomen or nausea after eating. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, consider talking to your doctor.