How long does it take to recover from mild acute pancreatitis?

Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
Updated on November 15, 2024
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After an acute pancreatitis attack, most require fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, acid suppression, enzyme inhibition, fluid replenishment, and maintenance of water and electrolyte balance to achieve early recovery from pancreatitis.

After the onset of acute pancreatitis, it is first necessary to understand the cause of pancreatitis. Many patients have biliary pancreatitis, and some are considered to be caused by alcohol or hyperlipidemia. Depending on the type of pancreatitis, the course of the disease may vary. Clinically, the most common biliary pancreatitis caused by gallstones generally improves with conservative treatment. In most cases, the condition can be controlled within about three days and recovery can occur within a week, whereas pancreatitis caused by hyperlipidemia or alcohol may take about ten days to control the progression of the disease.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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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.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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The causes of nausea and vomiting in acute pancreatitis

The causes of acute pancreatitis are often considered to be gallstones, as well as hyperlipidemia, alcohol-related reasons, and others. After the onset of pancreatitis, it usually causes significant gastrointestinal symptoms, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure, it can also cause abdominal compartment syndrome, which can exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting may worsen, and after vomiting, symptoms do not ease significantly, which is a clear distinction from other diseases. After the onset of acute pancreatitis, it is necessary to address the root cause of the condition, and to use acid suppression, enzyme inhibition, and suppression of gastrointestinal symptoms to promote the recovery from pancreatitis.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
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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
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Can you drink water with acute pancreatitis?

During the acute attack of acute pancreatitis, it is essential to immediately prohibit eating and drinking, as it may exacerbate the condition. Once the abdominal pain disappears and the body temperature normalizes, one can gradually resume eating and drinking, starting with small amounts of water and liquid food. However, it is also necessary to avoid consumption of meats and protein-rich foods. Additionally, if eating prompts a relapse of the condition, it indicates that the prohibition of eating and drinking should continue. If patients with pancreatitis resume eating and drinking too soon, it can lead to a worsening of the condition.