Acute Pancreatitis Information Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas rapid onset. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland in length, located behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones insulin and glucagon. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum. The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help digest fats, proteins and carbohydrates in food. The pancreas also releases insulin and glucagon hormones in the blood. These hormones help the body use the glucose it takes food into energy. Acute pancreatitis usually occurs as a result of alcohol abuse or biliary tract obstruction.
About 80,000 cases occur in the U.S. per year; twenty percent of them are serious. Acute pancreatitis occurs more often in men than women. Signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis is upper abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite, chills and shock, hemodynamic instability. Vomiting, fever and general malaise are common. Medical treatment generally focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing further escalation of the pancreas. Antibiotics, usually the class of drugs, imipenem should be used in all cases of pancreatitis. If the attack lasts longer than a few days, nutritional supplements are administered through an IV. A high carbohydrate diet low in fat, and more frequent small meals help prevent aggravating the pancreas.
If a person has problems with this scheme, the pancreatic enzymes in pill form can be given to help you digest food. In some cases, surgery is needed to relieve pain. Surgery is usually necessary for patients with necrotizing pancreatitis to debride devitalized tissue and to provide external drainage. Surgery may cause draining an enlarged pancreatic duct or removing part of the pancreas. Prevention of acute pancreatitis is associated with prevention. Do not abuse alcohol, safety precautions to avoid abdominal trauma and genetic counseling may be advised for prospective parents with personal or family history of cystic fibrosis. Immunizing children against mumps and other childhood diseases. Do not abuse alcohol. Taking enzyme supplements is also recommended.
Acute pancreatitis Treatment and Prevention Tips
1. Do not abuse alcohol.
2. Take the necessary safety precautions to avoid abdominal trauma.
3. Drugs and intravenous fluids to control pain.
4. Immunizing children against mumps and other childhood diseases
5. Surgery is sometimes necessary to remove infected or damaged tissue.
6. Radiological or endoscopic treatment is necessary to remove gallstones.
Posted on July 9, 2010.
