Acute Pancreatitis
What is acute pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is the inflammation and auto-digestion of the pancreas. Auto-digestion describes a process whereby pancreatic enzymes destroy its own tissue. This causes swelling, bleeding (hemorrhage), and damage to the pancreas and its blood vessels. Acute pancreatitis usually involves a single "attack," after which the pancreas returns to normal. Left untreated or insufficiently treated, acute pancreatitis can be a life-threatening illness with serious complications. If you think you are suffering from acute pancreatitis, seek immediate medical attention.
Primary causes of acute pancreatitis:
- Gallstones that block the common bile duct. This inability to exit out of the bile duct into the small intestine is thought to cause obstruction of the pancreatic duct, which commonly joins the bile duct just before reaching the small intestine
- Heavy, chronic alcohol abuse, which can lead to blockage of the small pancreatic ductules
Other causes of acute pancreatitis include:
- Abdominal trauma or surgery
- Kidney failure
- Lupus
- Infections, such as mumps, hepatitis A or B, or salmonella
- Cystic fibrosis
- Presence of a tumor
- A venomous sting from a scorpion
- Structural anatomic abnormalities that may be congenital or acquired
At Stanford’s Benign Pancreas Program, we’re committed to treating all patients who suffer from acute pancreatitis. Our physicians see more than 600 cases of pancreatitis each year—a patient volume that provides us with the experience to manage a diverse array of cases.