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Acute Pancreatitis
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionAcute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach. It makes fluids that help to break down food in the small intestine.
CausesCauses may be:
Sometimes the cause is not known. Risk FactorsThe 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:
SymptomsThe 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. Other problems may be:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You may be asked about your use of alcohol. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the belly. The doctor may suspect pancreatitis based on your pain. Other tests will help to make the diagnosis. Tests may include: Blood tests will be done to look for signs of pancreatitis. Images of the pancreas will be taken. This can be done with: TreatmentAny 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. Choices are:
People who are not helped by these methods may need surgery. The type of surgery done depends on the reason for the pancreatitis. Some choices are:
PreventionTo lower the risk of this health problem:
RESOURCES:National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov National Pancreas Foundation https://pancreasfoundation.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Association of Gastroenterology https://www.cag-acg.org Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca References:
Acute pancreatitis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-pancreatitis-in-adults. Accessed February 8, 2021.
Causes of acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/causes-of-acute-pancreatitis. Accessed February 8, 2021.
Forsmark CE, Vege SS, Wilcox CM. Acute Pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. 2016 Nov 17;375(20):1972-1981. Pancreatitis. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/pancreatitis. Accessed February 8, 2021. Pancreatitis. National Institue of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/definition-facts. Accessed February 8, 2021.
Prevention of acute pancreatitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/prevention-of-acute-pancreatitis. Accessed February 8, 2021.
Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
James P. Cornell, MD Last Updated: 2/8/2021 | |