digestive disorders
Acute Pancreatitis
Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis
Fluids by vein Pain relief Measures to support nutrition Sometimes endoscopy or surgery Treatment ofmild acute pancreatitisusually involves short-term hospitalization where fluids are given by vein (intravenously), analgesics are given for pain relief, and the person fasts to try to rest the pancreas. A low-fat, soft diet is usually started soon after admission if there is no nausea, vomiting, or severe pain. need to be hospitalized for a longer period of time and are given intravenous fluids. As long as people can tolerate eating and drinking, they can continue to do so while they are ill. If people are unable to eat, they are given food through a tube that is inserted through the nose and into the stomach or intestine ( Tube Feeding or enteral tube nutrition). Symptoms such as pain and nausea are controlled with drugs given intravenously. Doctors may give antibiotics if these people show any signs of infection. are admitted to an Types of units , where vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, and rate of breathing) and urine production can be monitored continuously. Blood samples are repeatedly drawn to monitor various components of the blood, including hematocrit, sugar (glucose) levels, electrolyte levels, white blood cell count, and blood If possible, people with severe acute pancreatitis are given nutrition via tube feeding. If tube feeding is not possible, people are given nutrition through an intravenous catheter that has been inserted into a large vein ( Intravenous Feeding ). For people with a drop in blood pressure or who are in shock, blood volume is carefully maintained with intravenous fluids and drugs and heart function is closely monitored. Some people need supplemental oxygen, and the most seriously ill require a ventilator (a machine that helps air get in and out of the lungs). When acute pancreatitis results from gallstones, treatment depends on the severity. Although more than 80% of people with gallstone pancreatitis pass the stone spontaneously, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stone removal is usually needed for people who do not improve because they have a stone they cannot pass. While people are still in the hospital, doctors typically remove the gallbladder. Pseudocysts that have rapidly grown larger or are causing pain or other symptoms are usually drained. Depending on its location and other factors, a pseudocyst can be drained by placing a drainage tube (catheter) into the pseudocyst. The catheter can be placed using an endoscope or by inserting the catheter directly through the skin into the pseudocyst. The catheter allows the pseudocyst to drain for several weeks. Surgery is rarely needed to drain a pseudocyst. An infection or necrotizing pancreatitis is treated with antibiotics, and may require removal of infected and dead tissue endoscopically or surgically. 