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The two most common causes of acute pancreatitis are a gallstone blocking the common bile duct after the pancreatic duct has joined; and heavy alcohol use. [1] Other causes include direct trauma, certain medications, infections such as mumps, and tumors. [1] Chronic pancreatitis may develop as a result of acute pancreatitis. [1]
Jaundice and/or clay-colored stool may raise suspicion of choledocholithiasis or even gallstone pancreatitis. [1] If the above symptoms coincide with fever and chills, the diagnosis of ascending cholangitis may also be considered. More than 70% of people with gallstones are asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally during ultrasound.
It tends to occur if the bile duct is already partially obstructed by gallstones. [1] [2] Cholangitis can be life-threatening, and is regarded as a medical emergency. [1] Characteristic symptoms include yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes, fever, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, low blood pressure and confusion.
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas.Causes include a gallstone impacted in the common bile duct or the pancreatic duct, heavy alcohol use, systemic disease, trauma, elevated calcium levels, hypertriglyceridemia (with triglycerides usually being very elevated, over 1000 mg/dL), certain medications, hereditary causes and, in children, mumps.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. [4] [7] This initial stage of sepsis is followed by suppression of the immune system. [8] Common signs and symptoms include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion. [1]
Complications from delayed surgery include pancreatitis, empyema, and perforation of the gallbladder, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and obstructive jaundice. [13] Biliary pain in the absence of gallstones, known as postcholecystectomy syndrome, may severely affect the patient's quality of life, even in the absence of disease progression. [14]
Other complications (less than 1%) may include heart and lung problems, infection in the bile duct called cholangitis, that can be life-threatening, and is regarded as a medical emergency. Using antibiotics before the procedure shows some benefits to prevent cholangitis and septicaemia. [25] In rare cases, ERCP can cause fatal complications. [26]
Septic shock is a result of a systemic response to infection or multiple infectious causes. The precipitating infections that may lead to septic shock if severe enough include but are not limited to appendicitis, pneumonia, bacteremia, diverticulitis, pyelonephritis, meningitis, pancreatitis, necrotizing fasciitis, MRSA and mesenteric ischemia.