Biliary emergencies: pancreatitis, cholangitis, and more.

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones, although many other etiological factors have been identified. The management of the initial episode depends on the severity of the attack and the etiology. In most patients, acute pancreatitis has a benign, self-limited course. However, in the minority who develop infected pancreatic necrosis the mortality can reach 25%. The early assessment of severity and aggressive management of these patients is critical. The roles of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, surgical intervention, enteral feeding and use of antibiotics in acute pancreatitis are discussed in this article. Finally, the origin of recurrent acute pancreatitis is discussed, with particular reference to conditions such as pancreas divisum and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction whose role in the development of acute pancreatitis is controversial, and to hereditary or familial pancreatitis.