Pancreatitis (cont.)
What about gallstones and pancreatitis?
Gallstones can cause pancreatitis and they
usually require surgical removal. Ultrasound or a CAT scan can detect gallstones
and can sometimes give an idea of the severity of the pancreatitis. When
gallstone surgery can be scheduled depends on how severe the pancreatitis is. If
the pancreatitis is mild, gallstone surgery may proceed within about a week.
More severe cases may mean gallstone surgery is delayed for a month or more.
After the gallstones are removed and inflammation goes away, the pancreas
usually returns to normal. For more, please read the
Gallstones article.
What is chronic pancreatitis?
If injury to the pancreas continues, chronic
pancreatitis may develop. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes
attack and destroy the pancreas and nearby tissues, causing scarring and pain.
The usual cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of alcohol abuse, but the
chronic form may also be triggered by only one acute attack, especially if the
pancreatic ducts are damaged. The damaged ducts cause the pancreas to become
inflamed, tissue to be destroyed, and scar tissue to develop.
While common, alcoholism is not the only cause of chronic pancreatitis. The
main causes of chronic pancreatitis are
- blocked or narrowed pancreatic duct because of trauma or
pseudocysts have formed
- heredity unknown cause (idiopathic)
Damage from alcohol
abuse may not appear for many years, and then a person may have a sudden attack
of pancreatitis. In up to 70 percent of adult patients, chronic pancreatitis
appears to be caused by alcoholism. This form is more common in men than in
women and often develops between the ages of 30 and 40.
Hereditary pancreatitis usually begins in childhood but may not be diagnosed
for several years. A person with hereditary pancreatitis usually has the typical
symptoms that come and go over time. Episodes last from 2 days to 2 weeks. A
determining factor in the diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis is two or more
family members with pancreatitis in more than one generation. Treatment for
individual attacks is usually the same as it is for acute pancreatitis. Any pain
or nutrition problems are treated just as they are for acute pancreatitis.
Surgery can often ease pain and help manage complications.
Other causes of chronic pancreatitis are
- high levels of
calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)
- high levels of blood fats (hyperlipidemia
or hypertriglyceridemia)
- certain autoimmune conditions
Next: What are the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis? »
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