Acute Pancreatitis: Brief Version

What is acute pancreatitis?

When your pancreas becomes swollen and painful, you have pancreatitis.

The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach. It makes chemicals that help break down food. It also makes insulin. Insulin controls the sugar in your blood.

Pancreatitis can happen all at once or over a long time. Pancreatitis that happens suddenly is called acute pancreatitis.

What is the cause?

We don't completely understand why it happens. Many people who get pancreatitis have gallstones. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to this problem. Some medicines can cause pancreatitis. Other possible causes are a stomach ulcer, injury from being hit in the stomach, or too much fat in your blood.

What are the symptoms?

You may feel a bad pain in your upper abdomen. You might have this pain 12 to 24 hours after a large meal or after you drink a lot of alcohol. The pain:

• starts in your abdomen then spreads to your back and chest
• is steady and sharp
• gets worse when you move
• feels better when you sit or lean forward
• makes you throw up.

In very bad cases, you may go into shock. During shock:

• You may feel restless.
• Your heartbeat may be fast.
• You may feel lightheaded or faint.
• You may be confused.
• Your legs or arms may be cold or sweaty.

If you have any of these signs of shock with abdominal pain, call 911 right away.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and about how much alcohol you drink. He or she will examine you.

You may also have the following tests:

• blood and urine tests
• x-rays of your abdomen and chest
• ultrasound exam of the pancreas and gallbladder
• ERCP, an exam that lets your health care provider see your pancreas with a slim, flexible tube with a light on the end (The tube is put through your mouth down to the place where your pancreas and intestines connect.)
• CT scan of the pancreas.

How is it treated?

You will need to stay in bed and take it easy. You may need to stay in the hospital.

• You may not be able to eat or drink anything until the pain in your abdomen stops.
• You may get fluids through your vein (IV). You may also be fed through your vein.
• A tube may be put through your nose down into your stomach. This will take away stomach fluids and help stop nausea and vomiting.
• You may have to stop taking some medicines you have been taking.
• You will get medicine for your pain. You may have other medicines as well.

If you have gallstones, you may have surgery to remove them. This may help prevent another attack.

When the pain stops, you can start to drink clear liquids. Slowly you will start to eat low-fat foods.

Your health care provider will decide when you can leave the hospital. This will most likely be when:

• You no longer have pain.
• You can eat again.

How long will it take to feel better?

Most people start to feel better in 1 to 3 days. They go home in 5 to 10 days.

If you have a bad case of pancreatitis, you may need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). You may have to stay in the hospital several weeks.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the instructions your health care provider gives you. This includes how you take any medicines he or she has prescribed.
• Ask your provider before you take any medicine he or she has not prescribed.

How can I help prevent another attack?

Pancreatitis can happen again. It can become an ongoing (chronic) problem. Here's what you can do:

• Do not drink alcohol unless your health care provider says it's OK.
• Eat only the foods your provider tells you to eat.
• Follow your provider's advice about exercise.

If gallstones caused your problem and they have not been removed, talk to your health care provider. You may need surgery to remove them. This will help stop you from having pancreatitis again.