Definition
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas classified as:
- Acute pancreatitis: Acute inflammation often resolves with treatment.
- Chronic pancreatitis: Long-term inflammation causes permanent pancreatic damage and functional impairment.
Pathogenesis
- Acute pancreatitis: Most common causes are biliary lithiasis and excessive alcohol consumption. Other causes include infections, medications, and trauma.
- Chronic pancreatitis: Develops after repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, often due to chronic alcoholism, genetic factors, or autoimmune diseases.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging:
- Acute pancreatitis: Characteristic symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, with elevated blood amylase and lipase levels. CT scans help assess severity.
- Chronic pancreatitis: Often associated with abdominal pain, malabsorption, and weight loss. Imaging findings such as pancreatic calcifications or atrophy confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
- Acute pancreatitis: Hospitalization with hydration, pain management, and fasting to rest the pancreas. Severe cases may require surgery or drainage of abscesses.
- Chronic pancreatitis: Pain management, enzyme supplements for digestion, and avoidance of alcohol and fatty foods. Severe cases may require surgery to relieve pressure or remove damaged sections.
Early diagnosis and individualized treatment are necessary to prevent complications such as pancreatic insufficiency or pseudocysts and neoplasms.