Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis can be acute, with the very rapid onset of central abdominal pain and back pain with associated nausea and vomiting, or chronic, when the abdominal pain can persist for many years or repeatedly occur, the abdominal pain caused by chronic pancreatitis often being very difficult to control. Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed by an elevated blood lipase level , an enzyme released by the pancreas when it is inflamed, and changes in the pancreas on a CT scan of the abdomen. The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol and gallstones, the stones becoming lodged in the lower bile duct, where the pancreas and bile duct drain together, preventing the pancreas draining properly. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcohol. Acute pancreatitis will normally require a hospital admission for management of symptoms such as vomiting and for pain control. Rarely patients require surgery for acute pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis the inflammation of the pancreas can resolve completely and the pancreas can return to working normally. In chronic pancreatitis the function of the pancreas is damaged from repeated inflammation, and it is possible to develop diabetes or need long term enzyme supplements, as tablets, to help with the digestion of fatty food in the diet.

‍