What is Gallstone Pancreatitis?

The Common Bile Duct drains the Liver, and the Gallbladder. It also merges with the pancreatic duct, which drains enzymes needed to absorb proteins. The anatomy is complicated and several possibilities are presented in the linked Meditoons animation help you understand your situation.

What are the signs and symptoms?

1. Jaundice
2. Severe Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain with radiation to the right scapula.
3. Fever
4. Elevated Amylase and Lipase (pancreatic enzymes)

What causes Gallstone Pancreatitis?

1. Gallstones

How is Gallstone Pancreatitis treated?

Often, we just don’t know for sure what is causing the blockage: It could be a stone, a stricture, or a cancer. Fortunately, many stones can be removed utilizing a special Procedure called ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholandio-pancreatogram), and a tumor can be ‘stented’ to decompress the bile build up, and treat the jaundice.

The ERCP can biopsy the blockage, decompress the biliary tree, remove any stones. This is a necessary step if surgery is needed.