Does acute pancreatitis have anything to do with the stomach?

Written by He Zong Quan

General Surgery

Updated on February 21, 2025

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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 Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

49sec

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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

50sec

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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

45sec

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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.

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Written by Li Qiang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 10sec

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What causes acute severe pancreatitis?

There are many causes of severe pancreatitis, including the following: The first type is alcoholic pancreatitis, which is caused by heavy drinking leading to pancreatic damage. The second type is pancreatitis due to overeating, where consuming large amounts of food, especially high-fat foods, leads to excessive secretion by the pancreas, resulting in pancreatitis. Another type is biliary pancreatitis, caused by small gallstones from the gallbladder falling into the bile duct. Stones lodged at the opening of the pancreatic and bile ducts cause a secretion disorder in the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. There is also hyperlipidemic pancreatitis, seen in pregnant women and patients with familial hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia causes blockage of the pancreatic duct, thereby triggering an episode of pancreatitis. Another is traumatic pancreatitis, which is directly caused by external forces leading to compression or contusion injuries of the pancreas. Lastly, there is drug-induced pancreatitis, which occurs when certain medications have a direct toxic effect on the pancreas, causing damage to the pancreatic cells.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

47sec

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Can you drink water with acute pancreatitis?

Patients with acute pancreatitis cannot drink water or eat anything during the acute phase. They must undergo gastrointestinal decompression to suction out gastric juice, gastric acid, and gastric contents. At the same time, treatment for acute pancreatitis includes inhibiting pancreatic secretion, anti-infection measures, intravenous fluid replenishment, and maintaining electrolyte balance, among others. If a patient with acute pancreatitis experiences bowel movements, gas, relief from abdominal pain, and a decrease in blood amylase to normal levels, they may then consider drinking small amounts of water and consuming light foods like rice soup or thin porridge. If the abdominal pain disappears, the patient can gradually increase their water intake.