Other Causes of Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is often caused by gallstones. These are small, solid masses in the gallbladder or bile ducts that block the bile duct and cause severe pain.
Alcoholism contributes to both short- and long-term pancreatitis. Some genetic and autoimmune diseases can also cause pancreatitis.
Complications of Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, whether acute or chronic, can lead to:
- Kidney failure.
- Pseudocysts (a fluid-filled sac that, if it bursts, can cause internal bleeding or infection).
- Breathing problems related to a chemical change than affects how your lungs work.
- Blockage or narrowing in a bile or pancreatic duct.
- Damaged pancreas.
- Pancreatic-duct leakage.
- Infection.
- Malnutrition, diarrhea and weight loss
- Diabetes.
- Infection.
- Pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatitis and Lifestyle Changes
Talk to your Digestive Health Center doctor about how reducing alcohol use and stopping smoking can help reduce or eliminate pancreatitis symptoms. Those with chronic pancreatitis should consider a low-fat diet that includes several small meals a day to avoid overtaxing your digestive system.
Screenings & Tests/Treatments
Blood tests: Check levels of digestive enzymes, blood sugar, blood fats (lipids) and any indications of infection, inflammation or pancreatic cancer.
Stool-sample tests.
Ultrasound: An imaging test that can detect gallstones.
Computed tomography (CT) scan: Pictures from a CT scan can reveal pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine provides pictures without X-rays of your pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts.
Gallbladder removal: If gallstones are causing your pancreatitis, your doctor might suggest a procedure called cholecystectomy to remove your gallbladder.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Two types of tests, an endoscopy and X-ray, help identify and treat abnormalities like strictures (narrowing), gallstones and cysts in your bile and pancreatic ducts, liver and gallbladder.
Puestow procedure: During open surgery, the pancreatic duct is opened and connected to the small intestine so that the pancreas drain directly into the intestines.
Total pancreatectomy: Surgical removal of the pancreas. Though rare, you might need total pancreatectomy if you have severe pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or have suffered damage to your pancreas.