Introduction
Inflammation and blockage of the pancreatic duct due to gallstones can cause gallstone pancreatitis. It is the most common cause of pancreatitis. The gallstone can travel from the gallbladder to the pancreas and the duodenum. This condition is very painful and can be life-threatening. The symptoms include fever, chills, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting. In mild cases of gallstone pancreatitis, only avoiding food and fluid intake for a few days can cure the disease. However, in cases of severe pancreatitis, the gallstone is removed surgically.
What Are Pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen. It performs both exocrine and endocrine functions for the body. The exocrine functions include the secretion of digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and peptidase, which help in digestion. The endocrine function refers to the secretion of hormones insulin and glucagon, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
What Is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It can be acute and appear suddenly with sharp symptoms and last for a few days, or it can be chronic and occur over many years. The symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
What Are Gallstones?
A small, hard crystalline deposit of digestive fluids formed in the gallbladder is gallstone. It ranges from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. The number can vary from one to multiple. Symptoms include sudden intensifying pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen or the center of the abdomen. Nausea and vomiting can also occur. The treatment for gallstone is the removal of it or, in severe cases, removal of the gallbladder.
How Serious Is Gallstone Pancreatitis?
Gallstone pancreatitis is a serious condition that needs immediate attention. The symptoms may be mild or severe but immediate treatment should be done. If left untreated it can become a life-threatening issue. There may be severe complications when the bile ducts are blocked, it is better to treat it immediately.
What Causes Gallstone Pancreatitis?
The gallstone formed in the gallbladder travels from the gallbladder to the pancreatic duct and blocks it. It obstructs fluids that have to travel through both the pancreatic duct and the bile duct. This obstruction of fluid leads to inflammation of pancreatic tissue and gallstone pancreatitis.
Causes for the formation of gallstones include:
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Heavy alcohol intake for a long period.
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Genetic diseases that are inherited from the parents.
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Infectious agents such as microorganisms.
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Endoscopic procedures involve the bile duct and pancreas.
What Are the Symptoms of Gallstone Pancreatitis?
The most common symptom of the disease is severe pain.
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Chills and Fever: Increase body temperature with a sudden feeling of cold.
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Jaundice: Yellowish discoloration of the skin, eye sclera, and mucous membrane.
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Nausea: Feeling of uneasiness and vomiting.
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Pain: Sharp and squeezing pain felt in the left upper abdomen or back. Radiating pain from the site of origin to the shoulder and chest.
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Vomiting: Throwing up food from the stomach involuntarily.
How to Diagnose Gallstone Pancreatitis?
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Medical history is the first and most important step of diagnosis. Patients with gallstone pancreatitis may have a history of biliary colic (pain in the abdomen due to obstructions like stones).
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A complete blood count shows the presence of inflammation in the body. The WBC (white blood cell) count is elevated.
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Amylase and lipase level evaluation is a test where the serum amylase and lipase help diagnose pancreatitis. In almost 75 percent of cases of gallstone pancreatitis, amylase is increased. However, amylase elevation can not be considered a sure diagnosis as it can be elevated in other disorders.
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Several tests such as alanine aminotransferase (ACT), alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, and serum bilirubin can help to diagnose pancreatitis.
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Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is a method where the presence of gallstones is detected by the imaging method.
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Endoscopic ultrasonography helps to give a sure diagnosis of gallstones in the pancreas or gallbladder.
How to Treat Gallstone Pancreatitis?
The treatment for gallstone pancreatitis includes the following:
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Assistive Care: The course of treatment starts with:
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Intravenous (IV) Liquids: Most patients will require blood volume restoration since they are dehydrated. To continuously supply fluids, including electrolytes, the medical staff will insert an intravenous catheter into a vein in the arm or hand.
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Pain Reduction: The majority of patients will require intense pain management, either by IV or injection.
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Bowel Relaxation: Individuals should probably cut back on eating till their pancreas settles down. The pancreas generates more enzymes while the gastrointestinal system is active, and the gallbladder and liver generate more bile. This exacerbates the illness by increasing the pressure inside the bile ducts.
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Nutritional Assistance: The medical staff may choose to give individuals sustenance through a nasogastric tube or the IV, or they may choose to simply add a small amount of glucose to their IV fluids to provide them energy, depending on how serious the situation is in addition to how lengthy they are going to spend in the hospital.
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Interventions for Gallstones: Any gallstones that become lodged in the duct system will eventually need to be eliminated. Depending on the situation, it could be a sudden emergency treatment or it might occur following supportive care. All other stones will need to be removed as well, regardless of whether the primary stone that created the obstruction has passed. Either of the following methods could apply:
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ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is referred to as ERCP. This internal examination allows the healthcare practitioner to make any necessary corrections based on findings made throughout the examination. An endoscope and X-rays are used in the ERCP test to investigate the bile ducts. The endoscope is a long tube that is placed into the stomach through the throat and has a lit camera at the end. Subsequently, a second tube is inserted into the bile ducts through the first tube. These ducts will be visible to the healthcare professional through fluoroscopic X-ray equipment. Gallstones can be removed with tools inserted into the tubes, and obstructions can be relieved with stents.
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Gallbladder Removal: The only reliable and secure cure for gallstones that create complications is gallbladder ectomy. The majority of the time, minimally invasive surgery can be used. Utilizing a laparoscope, a tiny camera is introduced using one of the incisions, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy eliminates the gallbladder through a couple of minor incisions
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What Complications Occur if Gallstone Pancreatitis Is Left Untreated?
If gallstone pancreatitis is left untreated, it can be life-threatening and cause complications such as:
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Accumulation of digestive fluids of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas leads to infections such as cholangitis.
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Severe jaundice leads to pallor of the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane.
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Necrosis of pancreatic tissues leads to their death.
When to Contact the Healthcare Provider?
Symptoms of gallstone pancreatitis, particularly excruciating pain, are alarming indicators. Seek immediate medical attention if individuals experience any of the symptoms.
How to Prevent Gallbladder Pancreatitis?
It is not completely possible to prevent the formation of gallstones; however, following a proper diet, low cholesterol intake, and regulation of diabetes can reduce the risk of gallstone formation.
What Is the Outlook of Gallstone Pancreatitis?
Most of the cases disappear in a few days whereas some cases may end up as life-threatening issues. This condition results in death when,
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There is bleeding in the pancreas.
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There are problems present in the liver, heart, and kidneys.
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The abscess is formed in the pancreas.
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There is necrosis of a huge amount of tissues in the pancreas.
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The infection will not be healed completely and there may be reassurance of pancreatitis episodes.
Conclusion
Gallstone pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas caused due to blockage of the pancreatic duct. Gallstones are hardened masses formed from digestive fluids in the gallbladder and liver. It can vary in size and lead to several inflammatory disorders. The symptoms of gallstone pancreatitis can be severe pain in the abdomen which can be acute or chronic. The treatment of the disorder is necessary as it can lead to fatal complications like necrosis and sepsis.
