Management of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction: Teaching an Old SOD New Tricks?

Excerpt

Although controversy has surrounded the existence and function of the sphincter of Oddi (SO) since its initial description by Rugero Oddi in 1887, animal studies, and to a lesser extent human studies, have subsequently confirmed its existence and clarified the important anatomic and physiologic functions of the sphincter [1]. The SO, located at the distal extremity of the bile and pancreatic ducts, is comprised of tonically active smooth muscle that controls the flow of bile and pancreatic juice into the second portion of the duodenum. During feeding, cholecystokinin (CCK) as well as other hormones and neurally mediated reflexes stimulate gallbladder contraction and pancreatic secretion as well as relax the SO. This coordinated activity enables bile and pancreatic secretions to enter the duodenal lumen in order to facilitate digestion and absorption [2]. …