Acute Pancreatitis
Overview
Definition
The pancreas sits behind the stomach. It makes fluids that help to break down food in the small intestine. This fluid can become active in the pancreas and cause irritation and inflammation. This is called pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden start of the inflammation. For most this type will pass in a few days.
The Pancreas |
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Causes
There are a number of conditions that may lead to acute pancreatitis including:
- Gallstones —block flow of fluid out of pancreas
- Drinking alcohol
- Certain medicine including corticosteroids, opiods, valporate
- High triglyceride levels
- Complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Sometimes the cause is not known.
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and past health. An exam will be done. The doctor will check your belly for swelling and pain. You may be asked about your alcohol use and current medicine.
The doctor may suspect pancreatitis based on your pain. Other tests will help to make the diagnosis. Tests may include:
The doctor may also need to take images of the pancreas. The images can show changes to the pancreas. Some causes like gallstones, or duct blockages may also be seen. Images may be taken with:
- Blood tests—certain fluids are higher in blood when pancreatitis is present
- Image tests can show changes to pancreas. It may be able to show some causes as well, like gallstones. Options include:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal MRI scan
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
Treatments
Treatment
Acute pancreatitis will often pass in a few days with proper care. Most will have no lasting damage.
Support and Rest
The pancreas needs to rest. Since it is active every time you eat, you may need to adjust your diet. You may be asked to avoid fatty foods or stop eating for a couple days. It may also be hard for you to eat or drink because of nausea and vomiting.
A hospital stay may be recommended to provide the following:
- Fluid given through IV
- Nutrition with a low fat diet or through a tube that is passed through nose into stomach
- Pain medicine
Most will only need to be in the hospital for a few days.
Surgery
Surgery may be needed if you do not respond to rest. It may also be needed to treat the cause.
Surgical options depend on the cause of pancreatitis, but may include:
- Percutaneous catheter drainage—fluid is drained from the pancreas.
- ERCP—to remove gallstones.
- Cholecystectomy —to remove the gallbladder. May be needed if gallstones were the cause.
- Necrosectomy—remove dying or dead tissue from the pancreas.
Pancreatitis can happen again. To decrease your chances of it happening again:
Pancreatitis can happen again. To decrease your chances of it happening again:
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Do not smoke. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about tools to help you quit .
Prevention
Pancreatitis may happen again. To help reduce your chances of acute pancreatitis:
- Limit intake of alcohol. This is 2 drinks a day or less for men and 1 drink a day or less for women.
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If you have high cholesterol, follow your doctor’s treatment plan. This will include:
- Limit intake of saturated fact
- Regular physical activity
- If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Smoking can irritate the pancreas.
- Reach and keep a healthy weight. Obesity and overweight can increase stress on pancreas.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
RESOURCES
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov
National Pancreas Foundation https://pancreasfoundation.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology https://www.cag-acg.org
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
References
Acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T127664/Acute-pancreatitis . Updated June 22, 2018. Accessed August 31, 2018.
Causes of acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T904336/Causes-of-acute-pancreatitis . Updated May 26, 2016. Accessed August 31, 2018.
Pancreatitis. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/pancreatitis/. Updated: August 6, 2018. Accessed August 31, 2018.
Pancreatitis. National Institue of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/definition-facts. Updated: November 2017. Accessed August 31, 2018.
Prevention of acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T904337 . Updated November 28, 2016. Accessed August 31, 2018.
4/7/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T127664/Acute-pancreatitis : Baker ME, Nelson RC, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria for acute pancreatitis. Available at: https://acsearch.acr.org/docs/69468/Narrative. Updated 2013.
8/28/2014 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T127664/Acute-pancreatitis : Johnson CD, Besselink MG, Carter R. Acute pancreatitis. BMJ. 2014;349:g4859.