Acute Pancreatitis Treatment in Delhi, India
Overview
Acute pancreatitis is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas over a short period. The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach that helps release enzymes to digest food. Acute pancreatitis is a serious medical condition where these enzymes digest the pancreas instead of the food.
Types of Acute Pancreatitis
Mainly there are two types of acute pancreatitis:
- Mild acute pancreatitis: In mild form, inflammation of the pancreas improves within a week. It is advisable to be cautious as, without proper medical attention, it can become a life-threatening illness.
- Severe acute pancreatitis: It is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, which can spread throughout the body. It can also cause multiple organ failure. Medical assistance becomes mandatory, as it can cause death.
Acute Pancreatitis Causes
Common causes
- When there is a pile-up of cholesterol in the gallbladder's bile, it often results in the formation of tiny, hard stones called gallstones. Sometimes, gallstones get stuck in the bile ducts, causing blockages in the intestinal tubes and leading to pancreatitis.
- High alcohol consumption can release certain substances that damage the pancreatic tissue, leading to acute or chronic pancreatitis.
Other causes
Sometimes, acute pancreatitis is also caused by a few lesser-known conditions:
- Autoimmune conditions, primary biliary cirrhosis, and Sjögren's syndrome
- Genetic alterations
- Infections
- Injury or trauma to the pancreas
- High cholesterol in the blood (Hypertriglyceridemia)
- Elevated levels of calcium in the blood (Hypercalcemia)
- Certain drugs
Acute Pancreatitis Symptoms
The common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Poor digestion
- Fever
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Rapid heartbeat
- Loss of weight
- Swelling or tenderness in the stomach
If the cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones, discomfort increases after having a large meal, especially if your diet is rich in fatty foods. If the cause for this is alcohol misuse, then symptoms start a few hours after consumption.
Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosis and Tests
For preliminary diagnosis, doctors closely monitor the family history, symptoms, and stomach of the person. Certain areas of the abdomen are sensitive to touch with acute pancreatitis.
To further determine and assess whether the condition is mild or severe, a few tests may be conducted, which include:
- Blood tests: When the person is suffering from acute pancreatitis, the body produces elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes—amylase and lipase. Elevated levels of these enzymes will be visible in a blood test.
- Ultrasound scan: Sound waves are used in ultrasound scans to create images. It helps detect gallstones or any kind of obstruction. However, it cannot detect other pancreatic abnormalities.
- X-ray: X-ray shows the fluid build-up or any tissue damage to the pancreas.
- Contrast-enhanced CT scan: This test, with the help of contrast, highlights any abnormalities present by taking multiple images of the same area and producing a 3D image. It helps detect fluid build-up, inflammation, or any other changes in the pancreas.
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography): ERCP is a highly sophisticated diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. It shows the complete pancreatic anatomy, including any cysts, ruptures, or narrowed areas.
Acute Pancreatitis Treatment
Doctors provide treatment depending on the severity of the condition. People with mild cases recover without any further complications within a week. The symptoms and risk of the illness are high for severe acute pancreatitis.
Treatment for mild acute pancreatitis
- Painkillers
- Oral or intravenous administration of antibiotics
- Nasogastric tubes
- Bowel rest
- Preventing dehydration
Treatment for severe acute pancreatitis
- ICU admission
- Injecting intravenous antibiotics
- Nutritional support
- Surgery
The person suffering from acute pancreatitis will stay in the hospital until there is no longer a risk of hypovolemic shock, sepsis, or organ failure.
Treatment for gallstones causing illness
If severe acute pancreatitis is caused due to gallstones, a doctor may recommend ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) or surgery. Depending upon the patient's condition, they may suggest the removal of gallstones or, in some chronic cases, complete removal of the gallbladder.
After removing gallstones through surgery, a person may need to follow a suitable diet to reduce and manage blood cholesterol.
Treatment for alcohol-causing illness
If alcohol misuse is the cause of acute pancreatitis, you should avoid alcohol consumption after recovering from the condition. Some people need support to quit drinking. These include:
- Medication to reduce alcohol cravings (acamprosate)
- Counselling
- Alcohol support groups
Risk Associated with Acute Pancreatitis
Men and women have equal chances of getting acute pancreatitis. Ageing, obesity, and heavy alcohol consumption increase the risk. Although very rare, children can also suffer from acute pancreatitis.
Complications of Acute Pancreatitis
Typically, most individuals recover from acute pancreatitis without any problems. However, people with severe acute pancreatitis might have serious complications.
Acute pancreatitis can cause some fatal complications. These may include:
- Shock
- Fluid accumulation in the lungs
- Sepsis
- Pancreatic damage
- Pseudocysts
- Obstruction or leakage of the pancreatic duct
Without proper medical assistance, kidneys, lungs, and heart can get partly or completely damaged, leading to death.
Acute Pancreatitis Prevention
- Following healthy lifestyle habits and eating a well-balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is a must to reduce the risk of developing acute pancreatitis.
- As several studies suggest a link between pancreatitis and high cholesterol, you should avoid consuming fatty foods and take precautions to maintain cholesterol levels.
- Obesity and drinking too much alcohol also increase the risk of acute pancreatitis.