Management of biliary acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent pathology with 11,000 to 13,000 new cases per year in France. A biliary origin (30 to 70% of the cases) should be suspected when alanine amino-transferases are elevated during the first 48 hours, and it is confirmed by the presence of gallstones at trans abdominal ultrasound. Abdominal computed-tomography scan is performed around the fifth day, and is repeated according to clinical and biological evolution. Management of acute biliary pancreatitis varies according to its severity, which should be assessed according to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and organ failures. For mild acute pancreatitis, cholecystectomy should be performed during in-hospital stay, before oral feeding. For moderately severe and severe acute pancreatitis, treatment is based on resuscitation, early enteral continuous feeding, and management of complications. Interval cholecystectomy is performed at a later stage. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy should be performed in emergency when angiocholitis is associated, and in delayed emergency before oral feeding for persistent common bile duct stone. A common bile duct stone should be searched for during cholecystectomy and can be treated during the same surgical procedure if local conditions are adequate. Cholelithiasis is the most frequent cause of acute pancreatitis during pregnancy, and its diagnosis and the treatment have some particularities.