Acute Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas that may be mild or life threatening. Gallstones and alcohol abuse are the main causes of acute pancreatitis. Other causes include hereditary conditions, certain drugs, viral infections like mumps and influenza, certain medical conditions like hyperthyroidism and hypertriglyceridemia and severe trauma.
Almost everyone with acute pancreatitis has abdominal pain in the upper abdomen. The pain radiates to the back in about 50% of people. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal distension.
Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed by blood tests (Amylase, Lipase) and CT scan of the abdomen.
Mild cases resolve with medical treatment; which consists essentially of supportive care with nasogastric decompression, prolonged withholding of oral feedings, analgesics and antibiotics.
Severe acute pancreatitis will need hospitalization and admission to an intensive care unit. The indications for surgical intervention in these patients are :
As a continuum in a step-up approach after percutaneous/ endoscopic procedure
Pancreatic pseudocyst
Acute compartment syndrome
Non-occlusive intestinal ischemia and necrosis
Enterocutaneous fistulae
Vascular complications
Infected walled off necrosis
Prevention of recurrent acute pancreatitis by cholecystectomy
