Is the recurrence rate of acute pancreatitis high?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on September 17, 2024

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After recovering from acute pancreatitis, if patients do not pay careful attention to their diet, there is a significant risk of relapse. For example, they should not drink alcohol excessively, overeat, or consume greasy foods. Also, if the acute pancreatitis is caused by conditions such as gallstones, it is important to have the gallbladder removed promptly. Without gallbladder removal, the recurrence rate of the disease noticeably increases.

Patients with acute pancreatitis should initially eat foods that are easy to digest and low in protein and fat, such as carbohydrates that are also easy to swallow. Once the patient's condition significantly improves, they can gradually transition to a diet higher in protein and vitamins, among other nutrients.

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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.

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Gastroenterology

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Dietary care for acute pancreatitis

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include severe upper abdominal pain. During the treatment, it is essential to fast and decompress the stomach and intestines initially during the abdominal pain period. Once the pain subsides, the patient can begin a liquid diet, followed by a gradual transition to a semi-liquid diet under the guidance of a doctor. Since the causes of acute pancreatitis include binge eating or excessive alcohol consumption, patients with acute pancreatitis should abstain from alcohol and maintain a balanced diet to prevent binge eating. A light diet is preferable, avoiding fatty, greasy, fried, and barbecued foods. Additionally, it is important to maintain regular rest patterns and avoid excessive fatigue or staying up late.

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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 Zhu Dan Hua

Gastroenterology

1min 10sec

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What is acute pancreatitis and is it serious?

Acute pancreatitis is relatively common in clinical practice, which generally refers to inflammatory changes in the pancreas caused by various reasons, such as exudation and necrosis of the pancreas. Depending on the condition, it is divided into mild and severe pancreatitis. Generally, mild pancreatitis has a good prognosis with a treatment period of about one to two weeks through conservative medical treatment, and it typically heals on its own. However, severe pancreatitis with accompanying organ failure, such as liver, kidney, or respiratory failure, or the presence of local complications like abscesses, fever, pseudocysts, obstruction, etc., generally has a longer treatment period, poorer prognosis, and higher treatment costs. Therefore, the treatment outcomes vary depending on the severity and urgency of the acute pancreatitis. It is recommended that patients considering acute pancreatitis should continue diagnosis and treatment at a local hospital. Particular attention must be given to severe pancreatitis.

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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.