Acute Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Diagnosis is generally clinical and can be confirmed by ancillary testing.

Causes

A common mnemonic for the causes of pancreatitis is:

• Mumps and other viruses (Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus)
• Steroids
• Idiopathic
• Carcinoma of the head of pancreas, and other cancer
• Infections other than mumps, including varicella zoster
• Gallstones blocks the bile duct causing acute pancreatitis
• Pancreas injury
• Pancreas surgery

Symptoms

• Epigastric or left upper quadrant pain ++++
• Back pain ++

Signs

• Abdominal tenderness ++++
• Vomiting ++++
• Abdominal distention
• Guarding
• Dehydration (as a result of third spacing and possible hemorrhage)

Treatment

Treatments for Acute Pancreatitis include:

• Parenteral nutrition
• Intensive care Oxygen
• Ventilator
• Antibiotics for infected necrosis and severe pancreatitis improves outcome. The drug of choice is imipenem.
• Pain relief