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Acute pancreatitis
Can acute severe pancreatitis be cured?
With the continuous advancement of organ function support technology in the ICU, or Intensive Care Unit, the mortality rate of severe pancreatitis has been declining year by year. Currently, the mortality rate of acute severe pancreatitis has significantly decreased compared to several decades ago, mainly due to the continuous progress in ICU organ function support technologies and some advancements in minimally invasive vascular interventional treatment methods. Severe pancreatitis generally goes through two stages during its progression. The first stage is called the organ function impairment period, which occurs within one to two weeks after the onset of severe pancreatitis. Due to intense inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in the body, multiple organ functions are compromised. The ICU currently has very comprehensive organ function support measures that can help most patients survive through stages of organ failure such as respiratory failure, acute renal failure, septic shock, liver dysfunction, and coagulation abnormalities. The second stage is the intra-abdominal infection period, where severe pancreatitis leads to intra-abdominal infections. Now, with the use of minimally invasive techniques in vascular interventional medicine, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity can be punctured and drained under ultrasound and CT guidance, draining infectious lesions and significantly lowering the mortality rate for this group of patients. Therefore, the current overall mortality rate for acute severe pancreatitis is not very high. Severe acute pancreatitis can be fully treated through aggressive organ function support and treatment of intra-abdominal infections.
Is acute pancreatitis related to the liver?
Acute pancreatitis is somewhat related to the liver. Normally, the causes of acute pancreatitis are mainly considered to be biliary, alcoholic, hyperlipidemia, and other idiopathic reasons. Whether the liver is related to pancreatitis mainly depends on whether there are intrahepatic bile duct stones. If stones in the intrahepatic bile ducts are expelled into the common bile duct and stimulate the bile duct, it can induce biliary pancreatitis. This has the same symptoms and etiology as biliary pancreatitis caused by gallstones, only differing in the source of the stones. This type of pancreatitis generally requires treatment of the bile duct stones to stop the cause of the disease.
What should I do if I have severe nausea with acute pancreatitis?
In cases of acute pancreatitis with severe nausea, it's crucial to first decompress the stomach and intestines. By removing gases, stomach contents, and gastric fluids, this effectively reduces symptoms such as abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting. It also helps alleviate the burden on the intestines, indirectly relieving symptoms of nausea and vomiting. For more severe cases, it may be necessary to administer antiemetic drugs, including medications like Gastropin, which effectively alleviate issues caused by inflammation-induced nausea and vomiting. When necessary, drugs that suppress pancreatic enzyme secretion should also be administered, as these can help improve symptoms of nausea in acute pancreatitis.
What to do about nausea and vomiting with acute pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis is also relatively common in clinical practice, and it is definitely a concern because there is a possibility that the condition may exacerbate. Therefore, as soon as acute pancreatitis is diagnosed, it is recommended to adopt fasting and hospitalization treatment regardless of whether there are symptoms of nausea or vomiting, providing gastrointestinal decompression and acid-suppressing inhibitors to prevent the progression of the condition. Mild acute pancreatitis can cause nausea and vomiting, but with targeted treatment and close observation, the symptoms can generally be quickly alleviated. Acute pancreatitis is often considered to be caused by biliary sources, alcohol, or hyperlipidemia, and different measures should be taken according to the specific cause.
Does acute pancreatitis infect people?
Acute pancreatitis is now prevalent and is often caused by gallstones, alcohol consumption, and hyperlipidemia, among other reasons. After the onset of acute pancreatitis, patients typically experience abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and even jaundice. Symptoms generally do not significantly alleviate after vomiting. Acute pancreatitis itself is not a contagious disease and does not spread from person to person. Contagious diseases involve a source of infection, a mode of transmission, and a susceptible population. Acute pancreatitis is merely a common illness, primarily caused by medical and surgical issues. Therefore, treatment mainly focuses on the organic causes of pancreatitis.
Is a second recurrence of acute pancreatitis serious?
Acute pancreatitis recurring for the second time is quite serious, as recurrent episodes of pancreatitis can lead to worsened conditions. Particularly after the second recurrence, there may be continuous damage to the pancreatic cells, leading to possible pancreatic fibrosis, and even severe complications such as pancreatogenic diabetes and pancreatic pseudocysts following substantial necrosis of the pancreas. Therefore, for recurrent pancreatitis, it is essential to adopt an aggressive treatment approach, aiming for early diagnosis and timely control measures. This can allow for comprehensive and effective treatment of pancreatitis, salvaging some damaged pancreatic cells, which might be more meaningful for the patient's prognosis. Thus, in cases of a second recurrence of acute pancreatitis with severe complications, active interventions including surgical treatment and other emergency measures should be pursued.
What to do if acute pancreatitis recurs for the second time?
If acute pancreatitis recurs for the second time, it should still be treated as acute pancreatitis. This means conservative treatment is possible, including gastrointestinal decompression, fasting, rehydration, anti-shock measures, administering pain relievers and antispasmodics, along with certain drugs that inhibit pancreatic secretion. Additionally, provide some nutritional support and symptomatic antibiotic treatment. Some traditional Chinese medicine can also be consumed. If non-surgical conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment options may be considered. Fundamentally, the treatment methods are the same as those used for the first episode of pancreatitis, and specific decisions should be made based on the condition of the disease.
Differences between acute pancreatitis and acute gastritis
Acute pancreatitis and acute gastritis have somewhat similar symptoms, but there are fundamental differences between them. The onset of pancreatitis is often considered to be caused by biliary, alcoholic sources, or hyperlipidemia, while acute gastritis is mostly related to the stomach being affected by the cold and gastric erosion causing gastritis. During a symptom attack, a comprehensive diagnosis should be made by combining the patient's previous medical history and the characteristics of the symptom onset, as well as laboratory tests and imaging findings. The treatment of acute pancreatitis and acute gastritis also shows distinct differences: acute pancreatitis requires fasting, abstention from drinking, acid suppression, use of magnesium, and correction of fluid and electrolyte balances, along with regular check-ups to prevent the development of pancreatitis. On the other hand, treatment for acute gastritis involves acid suppression and, when necessary, gastric protection.
What are the causes of acute pancreatitis?
There are many causes of acute pancreatitis. Common primary causes include improper diet: overeating, alcohol consumption, preference for spicy or rich foods, etc. Additionally, hyperlipidemia and cholelithiasis are also reasons, along with surgical trauma such as cholangiography, gastrectomy, etc. Other diseases can also lead to acute pancreatitis, such as hypercalcemia, diabetic coma, hyperparathyroidism, rheumatism, necrotizing vasculitis, etc.; viral infections can also cause pancreatitis, and long-term use of medications can cause acute inflammation, such as tetracycline, corticosteroids, etc. Acute pancreatitis initially presents with severe, acute abdominal pain, commonly in the left, upper middle quadrant, and occasionally radiating to the back. Subsequently, vomiting, fever, and in severe cases, shock may occur. Acute pancreatitis is a type of acute abdomen and can be life-threatening. If symptoms occur, it is crucial to seek immediate hospital treatment.
Does acute pancreatitis affect the rise in blood sugar?
After the onset of acute pancreatitis, pathological changes occur in the pancreas, affecting both its endocrine and exocrine functions. The endocrine function includes the secretion of insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance, impacting glucose metabolism and causing an increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, after admission, it is routine to monitor the blood sugar levels of patients with acute pancreatitis and manage insulin resistance. Additionally, due to the increased blood sugar levels, there is a higher risk of infection in these patients. Depending on the cause of the condition, targeted treatment is necessary along with the early use of antibiotics to control the progression of pancreatitis, reduce the rate of infections, and promote recovery of the body.