About acute pancreatitis

Most patients with acute pancreatitis recover within a week and don't have any more issues, but severe instances can have life-threatening complications. Acute pancreatitis is distinct from chronic pancreatitis, in which the pancreas is inflamed over an extended period of time.

The most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:

• Suddenly getting severe pain in the centre of your abdomen (tummy)
• Feeling or being sick

 

When to seek medical help

If you suddenly have significant stomach pain, call your doctor right once.

 

Why it happens

The enzymes (chemicals) in the pancreas are supposed to attempt to digest the organ when a problem arises with some of them, which is thought to be the cause of acute pancreatitis.

Most frequently, acute pancreatitis is related to:

• Gallstones – which accounts for around half of all cases
• Alcohol consumption – which accounts for about a quarter of all cases

You can lessen your risk of developing acute pancreatitis by consuming less alcohol and changing your diet to make gallstones less likely.

How it's treated

Acute pancreatitis is handled in a hospital setting, where you'll receive supportive care like fluids and oxygen while being constantly watched for indications of major issues.

Most people with acute pancreatitis improve within a week and are well enough to leave hospital after 5-10 days.

Complications

Serious complications from pancreatitis include:

Kidney failure. Kidney failure brought on by acute pancreatitis may require dialysis if the condition is severe and long-lasting.

Breathing problems. Acute pancreatitis can alter your body's chemical composition and impact lung function, resulting in dangerously low blood oxygen levels.

Infection. Your pancreas may become susceptible to infection and germs as a result of acute pancreatitis. Serious pancreatic infections necessitate urgent care, including surgery to remove the affected tissue.

Pseudo cyst. Your pancreas may develop cyst-like pockets of fluid and debris as a result of acute pancreatitis. Internal bleeding and infection are two consequences that might result from a big pseudo cyst rupturing.

Malnutrition. Your pancreas may produce less of the enzymes required to digest and process the nutrients in the food you eat due to acute or chronic pancreatitis. Despite consuming the same meals or the same amount of food, this might cause malnutrition, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Diabetes. Diabetes, a condition that alters how your body uses blood sugar, can result from chronic pancreatitis damage to the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer. A risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer is persistent pancreatic inflammation brought on by chronic pancreatitis.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis

Signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:

• Upper abdominal discomfort
• Radiating back ache from your abdomen
• Sensitivity to touch in the abdominal region.
• Fever.
• Rapid heartbeat
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.

Causes of acute pancreatitis

Gallstones or excessive alcohol use are the primary causes of acute pancreatitis, however sometimes no cause may be found.

·Gallstones

Gallstones are solid, stone-like bits of material that develop in your gallbladder. If they escape the gallbladder and obstruct the pancreatic opening, they can cause acute pancreatitis.

Some of the pancreas's generated enzymes (chemicals) may be affected by the obstruction. These enzymes ordinarily aid in food digestion in the intestines, but if the entryway is blocked, they may begin to digest the pancreas instead.

Not everyone who has gallstones will experience acute pancreatitis, though. Gallstones often don't create any issues.

·Alcohol consumption

The exact mechanism through which alcohol triggers pancreatic inflammation is unknown. According to one idea, it disrupts the pancreas' regular operations, which prompts the enzymes to start breaking it down.

Whatever the reason, there is little doubt that drinking alcohol contributes to severe pancreatitis. According to a very big study, those who frequently drank more than 35 units of alcohol per week had a 4-fold increased risk of developing acute pancreatitis compared to those who never drank alcohol (35 units is the equivalent of drinking around 16 cans of strong lager or 4 bottles of wine a week).

It's also believed that binge drinking, or consuming a lot of alcohol quickly, raises your risk of getting acute pancreatitis.

Diagnosing acute pancreatitis

Because there is a chance of serious consequences, the majority of instances of acute pancreatitis are diagnosed in hospitals.

You will be questioned by the medical professional in charge of your care about your symptoms' past. They might perform a physical examination as well. Your belly will have several tender spots if you have acute pancreatitis.A blood test will be performed to assist in the diagnosis. This is capable of identifying symptoms of acute pancreatitis, such as elevated levels of the chemicals lipase and amylase.

It can be challenging to determine early on whether your acute pancreatitis is moderate or severe. You will be closely watched for indications of significant issues, such as organ failure.

Mild acute pancreatitis patients typically recover within a week and either have no further complications or complications that go away within 48 hours. People who have severe acute pancreatitis experience substantial ongoing issues.