Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas is termed as pancreatitis. Pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It produces enzymes that help in digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar. Pancreatitis can occur suddenly and last for days which is known as acute pancreatitis. It can also develop over years which is known as chronic pancreatitis.
Causes
Symptoms
Symptoms of pancreatitis vary depending on the type.
Acute pancreatitis:
- Sudden pain in upper abdomen
- Pain can be mild or severe
- Pain that spreads to back
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen or tender abdomen
- Fast heartbeat
Chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in upper abdomen
- Constant and severe pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Foul smelling stools
Diagnosis
Diagnostic procedures for pancreatitis includes:
- Medical history
- Blood tests
- Fecal fat tests
- Imaging tests
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Computerized tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Magnetic resonance cholangio pancreatography (MRCP)
- Pancreatic function test
Prevention
Pancreatitis cannot be prevented. The condition be prevented from worsening by the following measures:
- Avoid alcohol
- Stop smoking
- Maintain healthy weight
- Balanced diet
Treatment
Treatment for pancreatitis depends on the cause of the disease and the condition of the patient.
- Diet changes may be recommended initially. The patient might have to fast for a few days with intake of only clear liquids. Once the inflammation gets controlled, a low-fat diet can be started. With time, as the condition gets better, the person may return to a normal diet.
- A nasogastric feeding tube may be used to get nutrition for persons who have pain when eating.
- Intravenous fluids (IV fluids) can be used to treat dehydration caused while the body uses energy to repair the inflamed pancreas.
- Medications including antibiotics for infections and other pain medications can be used in the treatment of pancreatitis.
- Surgical procedures include:
- Pancreas surgery to remove damaged pancreatic tissues or drain excess fluid from the pancreas.
- Cholecystectomy or gall bladder surgery to remove gallbladder if gallstones is the cause of pancreatitis.
- ERCP-endoscopic cholangiopancreatography to remove bile duct and pancreatic duct obstructions.
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