We have previously covered gallstones and pancreatitis on this blog, but we have yet to touch on Gallstone Pancreatitis. In this article, we are going to discuss gallstone pancreatitis – what it is, what causes it, and how to effectively treat the disease.

What is Gallstone Pancreatitis?

Gallstone pancreatitis is essentially pancreatitis caused by gallstones. Gallstones are actually one of the most common causes of pancreatitis. When gallstones form in the gallbladder they can block the bile duct and prevent the pancreas from sending enzymes into the small intestine. With nowhere else to go, these enzymes are forced to stay in the pancreas, and may leak into the body of the pancreas, where they can cause irritation and inflammation. The symptoms of gallstone pancreatitis include pain in the back and abdomen, fever with chills, and potentially jaundice (yellowing of the skin).

Preventing Gallstones & Pancreatitis

There are a few preventative measures you can take to lower your chances of developing d pancreatitis. Here are a few lifestyle tips for lessening your risk:

• Keep your alcohol consumption to a moderate level.
• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid hormone and cholesterol-lowering medications if possible.

Even the healthiest patient who follows all of these recommended prevention tips may develop gallstones and/or pancreatitis. So what should you do if you find yourself in that situation?

Treating Gallstone Pancreatitis

Treating gallstone pancreatitis is similar to treating pancreatitis caused by other factors. The first step is to treat the pancreatitis through bowel rest, IV fluids and pain control.  Once the pancreatitis has resolved and the liver enzymes have returned to normal, the gallbladder should be removed to prevent subsequent attacks.  In most case this is accomplished on the same admission or shortly afterwards.

If you have been diagnosed with gallstone pancreatitis and are considering surgery, make sure you find a surgeon who has experience performing gallbladder surgery. This is a complicated procedure and you want a surgeon who has a great track record of success in performing these procedures.