DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

Acute Pancreatitis

March 27, 2017

Acute Pancreatitis

What is acute pancreatitis?

Your pancreas is a hardworking organ. It makes enzymes that help you digest food. It also makes insulin to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of your pancreas. This can be very painful. You may experience nausea, vomiting, and fever. Acute pancreatitis is an emergency that needs immediate medical attention.

What causes acute pancreatitis?

Among the many possible causes of acute pancreatitis are:

  • Alcohol consumption
  • Gallstones
  • Genetic abnormalities of the pancreas
  • High levels of triglycerides, a type of cholesterol
  • Infections
  • Medicines
  • Toxins
  • Trauma/injury

Acute pancreatitis is relatively rare, yet the condition can be quite serious.

Who is at risk for acute pancreatitis?

Anyone can develop acute pancreatitis, but certain people have a higher risk:

  • People who have gallbladder disease
  • People who drink a lot of alcohol

What are the symptoms of acute pancreatitis?

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis are:

  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Pain that follows a meal
  • Pain that seems to move into other parts of your body, for example, from your upper abdomen to your back, chest, flanks, or lower abdomen
  • Pain that may be relieved somewhat if you lean forward over your knees
  • Severe upper abdominal pain, which may come on slowly or suddenly
  • Throwing up, but without feeling better afterward

How is acute pancreatitis diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your healthcare provider will consider:

  • Your overall health and medical history
  • Your description of symptoms, including the location and intensity of pain and when and how pain began
  • A physical exam
  • Lab blood tests
  • The results of imaging tests such as abdominal CT scan and ultrasound, and MRI

How is acute pancreatitis treated?

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on:

  • How old you are
  • Your overall health and past health
  • How sick you are
  • How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
  • How long the condition is expected to last
  • Your opinion or preference 

You may need a hospital stay for acute pancreatitis. Treatment may include:

  • A procedure to remove a gallstone that’s blocking the bile duct from the pancreas
  • Counseling, treatment, and therapy to quit drinking alcohol, if necessary
  • Limited food and drink through your mouth to give your pancreas a chance to recover
  • Medicines for pain
  • Oxygen, fluids through a catheter into your vein, and possibly a feeding tube to provide nutrition
  • Surgery to take out your gallbladder, if necessary
  • Surgery, if necessary, to remove damaged tissues

What are the complications of acute pancreatitis?

Complications are problems caused by your condition. Complications of acute pancreatitis include:

  • Another acute pancreatitis episode
  • Developing a pancreatic pseudocyst
  • Infections
  • Kidney failure
  • Lung failure
  • Shock

Can acute pancreatitis be prevented?

Depending on the cause of your acute pancreatitis, your healthcare provider might recommend the following to help you avoid another event:

  • Avoiding alcohol completely
  • Lifestyle changes and/or medicine to reduce your triglyceride level
  • Removing your gallbladder if a gallstone caused your condition

Living with acute pancreatitis

Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for taking care of yourself after you’ve had acute pancreatitis. This might mean:

  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Eating differently
  • Reducing triglycerides through diet, exercise, weight loss, and medicines
  • Getting your blood sugar levels tested regularly
  • Undergoing additional surgery or treatment to reduce your risk

When should I call my health care provider?

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the symptoms of acute pancreatitis, especially severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.

Key points

  • Acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency. 
  • Gallstones, alcohol consumption, certain medications, injury, infection and genetic problems can cause acute pancreatitis.
  • Symptoms include upper abdominal pain, pain after eating, nausea and fever.
  • You may need to be hospitalized for treatment for acute pancreatitis.
  • Treatment includes oxygen, medications, possible surgery, removal of gallstones.

 

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

  • Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
  • Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
  • Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your healthcare provider tells you.
  • At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your healthcare provider gives you.
  • Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
  • Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
  • Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
  • Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
  • If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
  • Know how you can contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.

Updated:  

March 27, 2017

Reviewed By:  

Hanrahan, John, MD,Taylor, Wanda, RN, Ph.D.