Severe pancreatitis treatment process

Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

Updated on September 10, 2024

00:00

00:00

Severe pancreatitis generally develops rapidly, progresses urgently, and can even be life-threatening. Therefore, the main treatment initially involves fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, suppression of pancreatic enzyme secretion, promotion of gastrointestinal motility, and maintaining regular bowel movements. Antibiotics can be used to prevent infection and necrosis of pancreatic tissue. If necrotic pancreatic tissue and ascites occur in the abdominal cavity, appropriate puncture and drainage may be used.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Wang Li Bing

Intensive Care Medicine Department

1min 5sec

home-news-image

Treatment of severe pancreatitis

Severe pancreatitis must be managed with comprehensive measures and aggressive rescue treatment. For medical treatment, the first step is to enhance monitoring of vital signs such as heartbeat, respiration, and blood pressure. The second step involves actively replenishing fluids and electrolytes to maintain effective blood volume. Severe cases often experience shock, and it may be appropriate to administer albumin, plasma, etc. The third step for patients with severe pancreatitis, who typically have high metabolic demands, is to enhance nutritional support, possibly using parenteral nutrition. The fourth step involves routine use of antibiotics for severe pancreatitis to prevent infections related to pancreatic necrosis. The fifth step involves using somatostatin analogs like octreotide to suppress the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and pancreatic juice as part of conservative medical treatment. If pancreatic necrosis is complicated with infection, or if a pancreatic abscess forms, surgical treatment can be considered.

home-news-image

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

41sec

home-news-image

Is it okay to drink alcohol occasionally with pancreatitis?

Patients with pancreatitis absolutely must not drink alcohol, as it can lead to malnutrition and cause damage to organs such as the liver and pancreas, thereby reducing the patient's immunity. Even a single drinking session can provoke an episode of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, patients with pancreatitis must decidedly abstain from alcohol. Additionally, they should avoid overeating, as it can disturb gastrointestinal function, hinder normal bowel movements and emptying, and obstruct the normal secretion of bile and pancreatic juice, thus triggering a recurrence of pancreatitis.

home-news-image

Written by Wei Shi Liang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 22sec

home-news-image

Rescue of severe pancreatitis

Severe pancreatitis involves severe illness impacting multiple systems and organs across the body. The rescue of severe pancreatitis should be based in the ICU, with multidisciplinary cooperation. The first step is early fluid resuscitation, with crystalloid solution preferred, and it should be rapidly completed within 48 hours of onset. The second step involves support for circulation and respiration. The third step involves the maintenance of organ functions and the use of blood purification treatments. Early use of blood purification in acute pancreatitis can remove inflammatory mediators, regulate immune dysfunctions, and protect organ functions, potentially extending the survival time of patients with severe pancreatitis. The fourth step includes monitoring intra-abdominal pressure and preventing and treating abdominal compartment syndrome. Further treatments mainly include the use of agents to inhibit pancreatic enzymes and platelet activation, as well as early jejunal nutrition. Additionally, prophylactic use of antibiotics is required, and in cases of biliary acute pancreatitis, ERCP or sphincterotomy should be performed. The final approach is surgical treatment, which is reserved for patients who do not respond to or have poor results from conservative treatment.

home-news-image

Written by Li Qiang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 25sec

home-news-image

How do you get acute severe pancreatitis?

There are many causes of acute severe pancreatitis, and the mechanisms of onset are not completely the same. Biliary pancreatitis is caused by small gallstones falling into the bile duct, becoming lodged at the distal end of the duct. At this time, the opening of the pancreatic duct is blocked, causing a disorder in pancreatic juice secretion, increasing pancreatic duct pressure, and spilling out of the pancreatic duct. This can corrode pancreatic cells and other abdominal organ cells. Alcohol and drug-induced pancreatitis is due to the direct damage of alcohol and drugs to the pancreatic cells, causing the leakage of pancreatic secretions. Overeating-induced pancreatitis is caused by consuming too much food at once, especially a high-fat diet, leading to a massive secretion of pancreatic juice. If there is an obstacle in the expulsion of this juice, it can also lead to pancreatitis. Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis is caused by excessively high blood lipid levels, which form blockages. These lipids obstruct the secretion of the pancreatic duct, causing pancreatitis. In all types of pancreatitis, the leakage of pancreatic secretions corrodes the pancreatic cells and these secretions enter the abdominal cavity, corroding abdominal organs and leading to a series of severe inflammatory responses and potentially leading to abdominal infections.

home-news-image

Written by Si Li Li

Gastroenterology

1min 21sec

home-news-image

How to treat mild pancreatitis

Pancreatitis occurs due to the abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes, leading to the self-digestion of the pancreas. The primary causes include alcohol, where excessive drinking can induce acute pancreatitis. Another cause is hyperlipidemia, as individuals with high blood lipid levels are prone to acute pancreatitis. Additionally, cholelithiasis, including stones in both the bile ducts and the gallbladder, can also trigger acute pancreatitis. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis manifest as severe pain in the upper abdomen, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and fever. Acute pancreatitis is classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories. Mild cases mainly exhibit edema of the pancreas without bleeding, necrosis, or involvement of other organs. Treatment primarily involves fasting and fluid replacement, typically lasting for more than 48 hours or until abdominal pain ceases. Another aspect of treatment is inhibiting pancreatic enzyme secretion. Some patients with acute pancreatitis might also need antibiotics. Typically, mild acute pancreatitis can heal within one to two weeks of treatment.