Is a sudden and sometimes severe inflammation of the Pancreas .

Varying levels of pain and severity can be seen

Extremely quick onset of abdominal pain – [Acute]

Often more severe cases require a hospital stay

Is 1 of the 2 classifications of pancreatitis   – the other is  chronic pancreatitis .

Seen more often in Men then Women

Symptoms:

    -    Nausea
    -    Vomiting
    –    Fever
    -    Chills
    -    Pain in stomach that radiates to back
    -    Shock
    -    Fatigue
    -    Sweating
    -    Change in bowel movements – can be foul smelling

Causes
  -  Many are unknown
  -  Alcohol
  -  Trauma
  -  Gallstones also referred to as Cholelithiasis
  -  Auto-immune
  -  Virus infection
  -  Medications including steroids
  -  Pregnancy
  -  Cancer
  -  others

Necrosis of pancreas can occur where breakdown or destruction of pancreatic
tissue can be seen

Lipase and Amylase can be elevated – enzymes from the pancreas
CT scan or MRI may be helpful in some cases

Treatment:

Pain medication
.          Morphine

IV and hydration

Decrease or stop oral food

TPN  (total parenteral nutrition) is often used

Antibiotics may be necessary in some cases
   .       Floroquinolone
   .       Metronidazole
   .       Imipenem
   .       Meropenem

ERCP  -  (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)

Surgery