The occurrence of acute gallstone pancreatitis requires a number of conditions to be present.
Risk factors for acute gallstone pancreatitis:
(1) small gallstones, especially when multiple
(2) a wide cystic duct (internal diameter greater than gallstone diameter)
(3) common (shared) duodenal opening for the pancreatic and common bile ducts
(3a) a long shared duct
(3b) a wide angle between the common bile duct and pancreatic duct
(4) frequent reflux of bile into the pancreatic duct
The occurrence of gallstone pancreatitis requires one or more of these factors.
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Specialty: Gastroenterology