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Acute pancreatitis
Causes of vomiting in acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis vomiting has various causes. Firstly, the pancreas is a digestive organ, and upon the onset of pancreatitis, a large amount of pancreatic enzymes is secreted, which significantly affects digestive functions. This easily causes gastrointestinal reactions, and if undigested stomach contents remain in the stomach cavity for too long, it will increase stomach cavity pressure, leading to frequent vomiting. The vomiting caused by acute pancreatitis generally does not alleviate symptoms after vomiting. The treatment primarily targets acute pancreatitis, including enzyme inhibition, acid suppression, and fasting to help reduce vomiting. The occurrence of vomiting is also related to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Following the onset of acute pancreatitis, if treatment is not timely, it can lead to increased intra-abdominal pressure. This increase in pressure can affect gastrointestinal motility, causing reflexive symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
The difference between severe pancreatitis and mild pancreatitis
Generally speaking, mild pancreatitis is just a local inflammation of the pancreas, usually manifested as upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating — symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract. Severe pancreatitis, however, is much more serious than mild pancreatitis. In severe pancreatitis, not only is the pain in the local pancreas area more intense and the abdominal bloating more pronounced, but there is also a lot of effusion accumulating in the abdomen. Severe pancreatitis can also affect many other organs, such as the lungs, which are most commonly affected. It can lead to patients developing acute respiratory distress syndrome, characterized by severe hypoxemia, with many patients requiring mechanical ventilation treatment. Another organ that is commonly affected is the kidney, with many patients with severe pancreatitis experiencing acute renal failure, reduced urine output, or even anuria. Severe pancreatitis can also affect the heart, brain, and other organs, leading to functional abnormalities in these organs. Therefore, besides affecting the local pancreas, severe pancreatitis can involve other important organs, resulting in multiple organ dysfunctions.
How long does it take to recover from mild acute pancreatitis?
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.
Is it normal to have a fever with acute pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis often occurs following gallstones, hyperlipidemia, and alcohol consumption. Patients with acute pancreatitis sometimes exhibit clear symptoms, including fever. This is due to the significant inflammatory irritation and the extravasation of pancreatic juices, causing infection and effusion around the pancreatic tissue. If not treated promptly, the fever may persist. Therefore, after diagnosing acute pancreatitis, treatments such as dietary restrictions, gastrointestinal decompression, enzyme inhibition, acid suppression, correction of fluid and electrolyte balance, and anti-infection measures should be taken. These treatments can delay or alleviate the progression of acute pancreatitis and help the patient's body recover sooner, thereby reducing the fever.
Can you drink milk with acute pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis, especially in the early stages of an attack, does not allow for the consumption of milk. During the onset of acute pancreatitis, especially at the beginning, it is crucial to completely refrain from eating and drinking anything, as consuming food can lead to excessive secretion of stomach acid. The stimulation from the food can cause the pancreas to secrete enzymes, potentially worsening symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating associated with acute pancreatitis. For patients with acute pancreatitis, if the condition is stable and intestinal function is restored or in the recovery phase, it is permissible to drink some milk. However, it is important to avoid consuming foods that are overly greasy, spicy or stimulating, especially alcoholic beverages, as these can exacerbate the symptoms of pancreatitis or even lead to a recurrence of the condition. The diet should primarily consist of light, low-salt, low-fat fresh vegetables and fruits.
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.
What is acute severe pancreatitis?
Acute severe pancreatitis is caused by many reasons, including binge eating, especially consuming a large amount of high-fat diet, excessive drinking, obstruction of the pancreatic duct by gallstones in the bile duct, pregnancy, hyperlipidemia, etc. These lead to disorders in pancreatic secretion, resulting in pancreatic juices digesting the pancreas itself and leaking into the abdominal cavity, leading to symptoms such as abdominal effusion. It is classified as severe pancreatitis based on reaching a certain score in some assessments. Severe pancreatitis often accompanies dysfunction of organ systems, common examples include acute respiratory distress syndrome characterized by stubborn hypoxia and respiratory failure, acute renal failure shown by anuria or oliguria, and acute gastrointestinal failure, which manifests as high abdominal pressure and severe intestinal motility disorders, including abdominal distension.
How long after being discharged with acute pancreatitis can one resume a normal diet?
After being discharged from the hospital, patients with acute pancreatitis, upon re-examination of routine blood tests and upper abdominal CT scans showing complete healing of pancreatitis, may, as appropriate, consume a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet and gradually transition back to a normal diet. This process generally requires at least two months to be considered safe. Patients discharged after acute pancreatitis must abstain strictly from alcohol, avoid binge eating, and avoid overly greasy food. Greasy food can easily lead to increased bile discharge and potentially cause blockage of the pancreas, possibly triggering a recurrence of pancreatitis.
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.
What can be eaten during the recovery period of acute pancreatitis?
Patients with acute pancreatitis in the recovery phase should start to eat some sugary liquid diets, beginning with easily digestible sugary foods. Generally, it is recommended to transition from liquid to semi-liquid diets, and then to a normal regular diet. However, patients with acute pancreatitis in the recovery phase should still avoid overeating and consuming too greasy foods. They should also abstain from alcohol and avoid eating overly fatty foods such as meat fried noodles, fried rice with eggs, and braised pork. These foods should be largely avoided, while increasing the intake of protein-rich foods for the patient.