Pancreas Stone Treatment in Mumbai, India

Pancreatic stones, also known as Pancreatolithiasis, is a condition in which stones form in the pancreas due to hardened digestive fluids. These stones can travel from the gallbladder to the small intestine, causing blockages in the natural flow of pancreatic fluid or leading to the backflow of bile into the pancreatic duct. This disruption can result in pancreatic injury or pancreatitis.

The treatment of choice for small-sized pancreatic calculi is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by sphincterotomy and extraction. For large-sized calculi, fragmentation is necessary prior to extraction, which is typically achieved through extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)."

Alternate Name

Gallstone pancreatitis

Associated Anatomy

Pancreas

Pancreas Stone Symptoms

The symptoms of pancreas stone vary from person to person depending upon the severity of the disease. In some cases, it is acute, whereas some experience chronic symptoms of prolonged inflammation on diagnostic imaging scans. Other symptoms are:

• Fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss
• Swollen and tender abdomen and intense abdominal pain
• The yellow color of one’s eyes, skin, or both
• Fast heart rate

People with chronic pancreas stones may also experience steatorrhea, which is a sign of malabsorption. In this condition, the body does not get all the important nutrients because the pancreas is not able to secrete enough digestive enzymes to break down the food.

Pancreas Stone Causes

There are several causes of pancreas stones:

• High levels of biliary calcium in the body can cause pigment gallstones in the body.
• Hypertriglyceridemia is a condition in which the levels of fatty acids called triglycerides increase in the body and increase the risk for gallstones. Overweight and insulin-resistant patients are at a higher risk.
• Autoimmune and genetic diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and primary sclerosis cholangitis can lead to pancreas stones.
• Certain medicines like antibiotics, diuretics, corticosteroids, and estrogen can cause pancreatic stones.
• Heavy alcohol consumption and excessive smoking can increase the risks of pancreatic stones.

Stages of Pancreatic Stones

There are no stages that occur in pancreatic stones. Nevertheless, in this condition:

• Gallstones from the gallbladder enter the pancreas.
• If at least one gallstone enters the pancreas, thereby blocking the pancreatic duct, the size of it is less than 5 mm, and it is in the shape of a mulberry, there are chances of it leading to acute pancreatitis that causes inflammation in the pancreas, which clears up quickly on treatment.

Pancreas Stone Treatment

The possible Pancreas Stone treatments to cure this condition include:

• During this condition, when patients are not able to eat via their mouths, doctors give fluids to the patient via an intravenous (IV) line.
• IV medicines are given for relief from any type of pain and for gallstones to pass through the body so that the pancreas is eased.
• In severe cases, doctors remove gallstones by surgery or endoscopy, and in other cases, the entire gallbladder is removed from the body.

Pancreatic Stones Prevention

Primary Prevention

There are no ways to entirely prevent this disease from occurring, but certain measures can be taken that involve:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a nutritious diet. A person should eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, monounsaturated fats, and foods that are rich in vitamin D, folate, B6, and B12.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol must be avoided.
• Drinking enough water to keep the body hydrated.
• Maintain the body’s cholesterol and calcium levels.

Secondary Prevention

Considering secondary prevention of pancreatic stone,

• Doctors suggest that patients could have their gallbladder removed at an early stage when there are painful gallstones in the gallbladder itself and they have not entered the pancreatic duct.

Pancreatic Stones Diagnosis

After the aforementioned imaging tests confirm an inflammation in the abdomen, some doctors suggest an endoscopic ultrasound to get detailed images of the pancreas to analyze the acuteness of the problem. Endoscopic ultrasound is performed by inserting a long and flexible tube into the mouth and down the stomach and small intestine.

Pancreatic Stones Tests

Imaging tests are used to diagnose pancreatic stones. X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI scan are performed to check for inflammation in the abdomen. These typical tests are followed by a few other analyses to understand the severity of the disease.

Epidemiology

• More cases of pancreatic stones are found in males than in females.
• People who are aged 40 and above are more prone to this condition.
• Native Americans and Hispanics of Mexican origin are more likely to get pancreatic stones.
• Overweight and obese people are at a higher risk of getting pancreatic stones.

Pancreatic Stone Prognosis

Expected Prognosis

Once the gallstone enters the pancreas and blocks the pancreatic duct, it causes acute pancreatitis which can be treated in 1-2 weeks with proper medication and precautions, except for in severe cases. The prognosis is assessed by a clinical scoring system and by analyzing specific laboratory tests.

Natural Progression

If pancreatic stones are not treated, they can lead to pancreatitis and cause serious complications. There could be the backflow of digestive fluids from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder into the body, causing an infection called cholangitis. It can also damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which could result in diabetes.

Pathophysiology

Pancreatic stones lead to chemical changes in the body. The oversecretion of cholesterol by liver cells occurs, which forms cholesterol gallstones. The balance between protease inhibitors and proteolytic enzymes is disturbed, which triggers enzyme activation and cell destruction.

Risk Factors of Pancreatic Stones

The risk factors for this condition are:

• Researchers suggest that people who regularly consume excessive alcohol are at an increased risk of pancreatic stones.
• People who smoke cigarettes are more likely to get pancreatic stones than those who do not smoke.
• Overweight and obese people are at an increased chance of developing pancreatic stones.
• Genetics: People who have a family history of pancreatic stones are recognized to be at higher risk of getting the disease.

Complications of Pancreas Stone

Severe cases of pancreatic stone may cause certain complications in patients. Acute situations involving pancreatic stones can cause pancreatic bacterial infections. In pancreatic stones, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas get damaged causing diabetes in patients.

There is an occurrence of cyst-like pockets called pseudocysts in the pancreas when fluid and debris accumulate because of pancreatic stones. The tearing of such cysts can lead to other complications like infection and internal bleeding. Other than that, acute pancreatic stones can also lead to kidney failure and chemical changes in the body that lead to breathing problems.

Related Blogs

• Everything You Need to Know About Pancreatitis 
• Pancreatic Cancer: What is It, Factors, Symptoms & Types 
• 10 Symptoms of Kidney Stone Everyone Should Know
• Kidney Stone Prevention Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid