Your SO is a muscular valve that regulates secretions from your gallbladder and your pancreas into your small intestine.
When this valve is down as it should, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is diagnosed.
SOD is a rare health condition.
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In SOD, the sphincter muscle spasms, causing it to remain shut.
This can result in a backup ofbileand pancreatic enzymes into their respective ducts.
This backup can also result in swelling of the liver and/or pancreas.
This can be further broken down into functional biliary SOD and functional pancreatic SOD.
Risk Factors for SOD
Most cases of SOD occur aftergallbladder removalorgastric bypass weight-loss surgery.
The pain may spread to the shoulder or across the chest.
Pain episodes can be brief or may last several hours.
Pain levels may vary from episode to episode and range from relatively mild to incapacitating.
Related symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, and weight loss.
Fever, vomiting, and jaundice can also occur.
(Remember, serious symptoms such as these require immediate medical attention.)
Diagnosis
There are various tests for SOD.
Here are some diagnostic options:
Blood work:This is typically the first test that is done.
Your healthcare provider will be looking for elevated liver or pancreas enzymes.
This could be done through X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
MRCP:Magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography uses dye and magnets to get an image of your bile and pancreatic ducts.
ERCP:Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatographyuses an endoscope, dye, and X-rays to examine the bile and pancreatic ducts.
ERCP is quite invasive and therefore is only recommended for throw in I or II patients.
Treatment of SOD
Treatment of SOD depends on the severity of symptoms.
In a severe case, the SO is cut during an ERCP, a procedure known as sphincterotomy.
Usually a sphincterotomy is done without SO manometry if the person has key in I SOD.
However, there are significant risks to this procedure.
Another possible risk is that the procedure may cause scarring and thus a return of symptoms.
2014;10(7):441443.
“Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction"University of Rochester Health Encyclopedia
