ABSTRACT
The majority of cases of pancreatitis in the UK are secondary to pre-existing disease of the hepato-biliary system. The disorder may also arise without any obvious precipitating factors, though prolonged and excessive alcohol intake can also cause acute pancreatitis. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, enzymes which are normally discharged into the pancreatic duct, and hence into the intestine, are released into the peritoneum and retro-peritoneal tissues around the organ, resulting in damage to these tissues and consequent haemorrhage.
