Does acute pancreatitis cause abdominal muscle tension?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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If a patient with acute pancreatitis shows symptoms of peritonitis, abdominal muscle rigidity may occur. Acute pancreatitis is divided into acute edematous pancreatitis and acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. The main symptoms of acute edematous pancreatitis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. If it is hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis, it can lead to shock, respiratory distress syndrome, high fever, jaundice, abdominal distension, and the abdominal compartment syndrome in the patient. Severe cases can cause intestinal paralysis and signs of peritoneal irritation, leading to abdominal muscle rigidity and also possibly presenting with shifting dullness, among other symptoms.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Does acute pancreatitis cause abdominal muscle tension?

If a patient with acute pancreatitis shows symptoms of peritonitis, abdominal muscle rigidity may occur. Acute pancreatitis is divided into acute edematous pancreatitis and acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. The main symptoms of acute edematous pancreatitis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. If it is hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis, it can lead to shock, respiratory distress syndrome, high fever, jaundice, abdominal distension, and the abdominal compartment syndrome in the patient. Severe cases can cause intestinal paralysis and signs of peritoneal irritation, leading to abdominal muscle rigidity and also possibly presenting with shifting dullness, among other symptoms.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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How long will the fever last in acute pancreatitis?

Patients with acute pancreatitis may experience different symptoms based on the cause of the pancreatitis and the staging of the patient's condition. A fever in acute pancreatitis indicates a severe infection. If a CT scan shows extensive pancreatic effusion, coupled with hyperglycemia and hypocalcemia, it suggests that the condition is severe and there is a tendency towards severe pancreatitis. This type of fever generally requires treatment, sometimes even surgical intervention, and usually takes about half a month to a month to subside. If the fever is caused solely by biliary pancreatitis due to bile duct obstruction by gallstones, and surgical intervention to remove the obstruction is performed, the fever will typically diminish significantly in the short term.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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Does acute pancreatitis have anything to do with the stomach?

Acute pancreatitis is not closely related to stomach conditions, although it is sometimes associated with overeating, but it is not caused by stomach diseases in patients. Instead, it relates to lifestyle habits. The occurrence of pancreatitis is often considered to be due to biliary, alcoholic, hyperlipidemia, and idiopathic causes. In China, the most common causes are biliary and alcohol-related. Biliary causes are mainly related to gallstones, while alcohol-related causes are mostly associated with drinking. Common stomach diseases include gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer. These conditions can sometimes cause an increase in amylase during acute abdominal conditions, but they do not cause acute pancreatitis.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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What department should I go to for acute pancreatitis?

Acute pancreatitis can be treated at the Department of Gastroenterology in local hospitals. It commonly begins with abdominal pain clinically, so it is recommended that patients first visit the Department of Gastroenterology. The pain from acute pancreatitis is primarily in the upper abdomen, persistent, and may radiate to the back. Of course, some patients may experience nausea, vomiting, cessation of gas and bowel movements, fever, etc. For such patients, it is recommended to complete examinations such as blood amylase, urine amylase, and lipase. When necessary, an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan should be conducted to assess the condition of the pancreatitis. Diagnosing pancreatitis is generally straightforward. As for treatment, it mainly involves internal medicine pharmacotherapy, fasting, fluid replacement, gastrointestinal decompression, and suppressing pancreatic secretion, among others. Of course, if complications arise, surgical intervention by the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery may be required. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Can I eat lamb with acute pancreatitis?

Patients with acute pancreatitis must not eat or drink during the acute phase. Absolutely no binge eating or drinking should occur, as it can lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction, obstruct the normal movement and emptying of the intestines, and hinder the normal drainage of bile and pancreatic juice, thereby easily triggering an attack of acute pancreatitis. Alcohol must also be avoided, as excessive drinking can lead to chronic alcohol poisoning and malnutrition-related liver and pancreatic damage, reducing the patient's ability to fight infections and also easily triggering and exacerbating acute pancreatitis.