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Acute pancreatitis is usually a sudden and severe illness when the pancreas rapidly becomes inflamed. Pancreas enzymes and various poisons (toxins) may enter the blood stream in an acute attack, and injure other organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. Read more
Cholangitis refers to inflammation of the bile ducts. A gallstone, or a number of stones may pass from the gallbladder into the main (common) bile duct and become lodged, obstructing flow of bile from the liver to the intestine. Read more
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder that may be acute or chronic. Complaints of upper-right abdominal pain, usually following a meal, can last from minutes to days, although most last less than 24 hours. Read more
In chronic pancreatitis, inflammation and damage develop more slowly, and can increasingly worsen over time. The pancreas becomes scarred, loses its ability to make enough digestive enzymes and insulin, and may result in clogging of the ducts. Read more
Gallstones are pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder. More than one million people in the United States each year learn they have gallstones. A gallstone attack usually is marked by a steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen. Read more
If the pancreas is damaged, enzymes are not produced which results in malabsorption. Read more
SOD occurs when the opening mechanism is disturbed and can cause pain, leaking or other abnormalities. The sphincter goes into spasm which may lead to back up of biliary and pancreatic juices, resulting in pancreatitis. Read more
Digestive Disease Center