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Gallstone pancreatitis

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Biliary tract disease (gallstones) is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis in non-alcoholic Americans, and is the leading cause worldwide. Other etiologies include penetrating peptic ulcer, trauma, post-ERCP, post-operative, metabolic (hypertriglyceridemia), and drug-induced. Presenting symptoms include severe constant abdominal pain, nausea, emesis, fever and tachycardia.

In approximately 85 to 90% of patients, acute pancreatitis is self-limited and resolves completely in 3 to 7 days after treatment is instituted. Medical therapy is aimed at reducing pancreatic secretion, thereby "resting" the pancreas, and usually involves analgesia, intravenous fluids, eliminating oral intake, and occasionally nasogastric suction.