Which of the following is the most common cause of pancreatitis?

Gallstones are recognized as the most common cause of pancreatitis, responsible for approximately 40-70% of cases. When a gallstone passes through the common bile duct, it can obstruct the pancreatic duct, leading to an accumulation of pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas itself. This accumulation results in inflammation and damage to pancreatic tissue, causing acute pancreatitis.

While alcohol consumption is also a significant cause of pancreatitis, particularly in chronic cases, it does not surpass gallstones in terms of prevalence as a direct cause of acute pancreatitis. Hyperlipidemia can lead to pancreatitis but is less common compared to bile duct obstruction due to gallstones. Similarly, certain medications can induce pancreatitis, but they account for a small fraction of cases compared to the more prevalent factors like gallstones and alcohol. Therefore, gallstones remain the primary culprit in the majority of acute pancreatitis instances.