Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that secretes insulin and glucagon and also aids in digestion.

Symptoms most often include left upper quadrant abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. This disease is often is a result of gallbladder dysfunction or alcoholism.

Treatment for pancreatitis usually includes IV pain medication due to the severe abdominal pain. It also requires IV fluids and withholding food to attempt to keep the pancreas inactive. This allows time for the inflamed pancreas to resolve. If medication does not work, then the next steps include removing gallstones or to place a stent in the pancreas and to drain fluid from around the pancreas. This is done oftentimes in Radiology under fluoro during a procedure called ERCP or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

This disease is treatable and nearly all recover. However, there is a small percentage that can develop chronic pancreatitis as well.