[Acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology. The case histories of the Department of General Surgery of S. Francisco Xavier Hospital (1990-1993)].

Gallstones and alcohol are the most important causes of acute pancreatitis, accounting for 80% of cases. One hundred and four cases of Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis were retrospectively studied, representing 39.5% of all cases of Acute Pancreatitis that have been treated between 1990-93. Abdominal ultrasound, demonstrating gallstones in 95% of the cases, was a very useful examination in the initial study of these patients. ERCP with sphincterotomy was performed in 25 patients: 6 in a urgent basis and the others as elective procedure. Gallstones have been treated during the initial admission in 80.6% of the cases and the others at a second admission: ERCP with sphincterotomy in 14 patients as the only etiologic treatment, open cholecystectomy in 50 cases and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 29 cases. The overall mortality rate was 3.8%--four cases.