Acute Pancreatitis 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].
Enzymes from the pancreas that normally help in digestion become dangerous and begin attacking the pancreas itself.
Often more severe cases require a hospital stay
It is 1 of the 2 classifications of Pancreatitis – the other is Chronic Pancreatitis.
This condition is seen more often in Men then Women.
In serious cases, necrosis or tissue breakdown of pancreas can occur when destruction of pancreatic tissue occurs.
Symptoms:
-Â Â Nausea
-Â Â Â Vomiting
– Â Â Fever
-Â Â Chills
-Â Â Pain in stomach that radiates to back
-Â Â Shock
-Â Â Fatigue
-Â Â Sweating
-Â Â Change in bowel movements – can be foul smelling
Causes
-Â Many are unknown
-Â Alcohol
-Â Trauma
- Gallstones also referred to as Cholelithiasis
-Â Auto-immune
-Â Virus infection
-Â Medications including steroids
-Â Pregnancy
-Â Cancer
-Â others
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
TPNÂ (total parenteral nutrition) is often used
Antibiotics may be necessary in some cases
.      Floroquinolone
.      Metronidazole
.      Imipenem
.      Meropenem
ERCPÂ -Â (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
Surgery