Acute pancreatitis

Diagnosing acute pancreatitis

Most cases of acute pancreatitis are diagnosedin hospital because of the risk of serious complications.

The doctor in charge of your care will ask you about the history of your symptoms. They may also carry out a physical examination. If you have acute pancreatitis, certain areas of your abdomen will be very tender to touch.

A Blood tests will be carried out to help confirm a diagnosis. Thiscan detect signs of acute pancreatitis,such asa high level of two chemicals called lipase and amylase.

At first, it can be difficult to tell whether your acute pancreatitis is mild or severe. You'll be monitored closely for signs of serious problems, such as organ failure.

People with mild acute pancreatitis tend to improve within a week and experience either no further problems or problems that resolve within 48 hours. People with severe acute pancreatitis develop persistent serious problems.

Further testing

Several tests may be used to help determine the severity of your condition andassess your risk of developing more serious complications.

You may have any of the following tests:

a computerised tomography (CT) scan where a series of X-rays are taken to build up a more detailed, three-dimensional image of your pancreas
a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan where strong magnetic fields and radio waves are used to produce a detailed image of the inside of your body
an ultrasound scan where high-frequency sound waves are used to create an image of part of the inside of the body
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

An ERCP uses a narrow, flexible tube known as an endoscope, which has a camera on one end. The endoscope will be passed through your mouth and towards your stomach. A special dye that shows up on X-rays is then injected through the endoscope into your bile and pancreatic ducts. After the dye has been injected, X-rays will be taken.

This test can be useful in cases of gallbladder-associated acute pancreatitis, because it can pinpoint exactly where the gallstone is located. In some cases, it may be possible to pass surgical instruments down the endoscope, so the gallstone can be removed.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016

Articles for acute pancreatitis

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time. Acute pancreatitis is a condition which occurs when the pancreas gland becomes inflamed.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis

The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly.Pain is the main symptom which begins in the stomak and spreads like a band across the abdomen, sometimes extending to the shoulder. This type of pain may begin after consuming a particularly large meal, heavy in fats, or 6-12 hours after consuming alcohol. Other symptoms which may accompany the disease are nausea or vomiting, icterus (jaundice, a yellow coloration of the eyeball, or in more severe cases, of the skin), perspiration and stomach bloating. If you are experiencing the above, you must go to a hospital immediately.

Causes of acute pancreatitis

Most cases of acute pancreatitis are closely linked to gallstones and alcohol consumption, although the exact cause is not always clear.Acute pancreatitis is mainly caused by the following:1. The presence of gallbladder stones2. Alcohol consumption In many cases, the exact causes are unknown. Other factors that may cause the condition include:1. A fat-processing metabolism disorder caused by a hyper-caloric diet2. Interventions in the biliary tree3. The usage of certain medication, or chemotherapy4. Certain viruses may trigger the condition5. It can occur simultaneously, concurrently with other diseases.

Diagnosing acute pancreatitis

Due to the risk of serious complications, most cases of acute pancreatitis are diagnosed in hospital.Pancreatitis is a condition which is treated in hospital conditions. During a medical examination the patient appears severely ill, exhibiting a tense, taut, hardened abdomen. To diagnose pancreatitis, the following blood tests are performed:1. Amylase test2. Lipase testOther examinations include:1. Abdominal CT Scan 2. MRI3. ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a procedure that enables your physician to examine the pancreatic and bile ducts. A bendable, lighted tube (endoscope) about the thickness of your index finger is placed through your mouth and into your stomach and first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

Treating acute pancreatitis

There's no specific treatment for acute pancreatitis, but for most people the condition gets better on its own within a week.Acute pancreatitis is treated under hospital conditions. The patient usually remains hospitalized for 10 to 12 days, under a strict regimen in the intensive care unit, which involves:1. Intravenous fluid2. Parenteral nutrition (venous), and at times a probe may be inserted through the nose into the duodenum (intestine), from which food may be introduced3. Oxygen4. Depending on the specific case, antibiotics or sedatives (morphine) may be neededWhen the pancreatitis is caused by gallbladder stones, the stones are surgically removed, or removed via lithotripsy or contact dissolution therapy. If the condition has been caused by alcohol consumption, the patient must take care to abstain from alcohol completely following their recovery.

Complications of acute pancreatitis

Although most people with acute pancreatitis recover without experiencing further problems, severe cases can have serious complicationSome of the complications that may occur following acute pancreatitis are:1. Pseudocysts, which are small blisters filled with fluid formed on the surface of the pancreas. When they burst they cause abdominal pain. 2. Pancreatic necrosis, which constitutes a very severe complication. This phenomenon poses great mortality risks.3. Systemic inflamation, involving a very high fever (39 degrees Celcius), an increased heart rate, tachycardia, difficulty breathing and mental confusion, all of which aggravate the condition of the patient

Preventing acute pancreatitis

As acute pancreatitis is often caused by gallstones or excessive alcohol consumption, a healthy lifestyle can reduce your chances of developing the condition.A healthy lifestyle is recommended, which includes lowering the caloric intake and eliminating animal fats from your diet, especially for ages 50 and above. Other prevention methods include removal of gallbladder stones if present, and eliminating the consumption of alcohol as two of the main causes of this condition.

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