Overview

Causes

Causes may be:

  • Gallstones that block fluid from leaving the pancreas
  • Alcohol use disorder
  • Certain medicines, such as corticosteroids, opioids, and valproate
  • High triglyceride levels
  • Abdominal trauma
  • Complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Sometimes the cause is not known.

Risk Factors

The risk of this problem is higher in people who have any of the causes listed above.

Other things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

  • Having other family members who have had this problem
  • Obesity
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Tobacco use disorder
  • Being around certain toxins at work or in the environment

SymptomsandDiagnosis

Symptoms

The main problem is mild to severe pain in the center of the belly. It may also spread into the upper back. This pain may last several days.

A person with acute pancreatitis may also have:

  • Swollen belly
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You may be asked about your use of alcohol. A physical exam will be done.

Tests may also be done. They include:

  • Blood tests to look for signs of pancreatitis.
  • Images of the pancreas will be taken. This can be done with:
  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Abdominal CT scan
  • Abdominal MRI scan
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
  • Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

    • Treatments

    Treatment

    Any underlying causes will need to be treated.

    Most people recover in a few days. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms during this time. This may be done with:

    • Supportive care, such as drinking extra fluids or getting fluids through an IV
    • Dietary changes, such as a low fat diet or nutrition given through a tube that is passed through the nose and into the stomach
    • Medicines to ease pain

    People who are not helped by these methods may need surgery. The type of surgery done depends on the reason for the pancreatitis. A person may have:

    • Percutaneous catheter drainage to drain fluid from the pancreas
    • ERCP to remove gallstones
    • Cholecystectomy to remove the gallbladder if gallstones are the cause
    • Necrosectomy to remove dying or dead tissue from the pancreas

    Prevention

    To lower the risk of this health problem:

    • Manage chronic health problems, such as high triglycerides and obesity
    • Limit alcohol

    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.