Acute Pancreatitis

Usually, acute pancreatitis is caused by gallstones Gallstones Gallstones are solid material that can form in the gallbladder. Your gallbladder is the organ where your body stores bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that helps break down fats in food before... read more or by drinking a lot of alcohol for a long time

Pancreatitis ranges from mild to very serious

Acute pancreatitis causes severe belly pain

Doctors will care for you in the hospital, even if your acute pancreatitis is mild

Gallstones Gallstones Gallstones are solid material that can form in the gallbladder. Your gallbladder is the organ where your body stores bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that helps break down fats in food before... read more (clumps of solid material that form in your gallbladder)

Constant, heavy alcohol use Alcohol Use Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant (it slows down brain and nervous system functioning). Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma,... read more

Certain medicines or hormone (estrogen) treatments

High levels of fats in your blood

Certain virus infections

Injury to your pancreas

Cancer in your pancreas Pancreatic Cancer Your pancreas is an organ in the upper part of your belly that makes digestive juices. Your pancreas also releases insulin and other hormones that help control your blood sugar. Cancer is the... read more

A type of pancreatitis you can inherit

Severe pain in your upper belly that sometimes you also feel in the middle of your back

Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up

Sweating

Racing heart

Damage to your other organs, such as your lungs or kidneys

Shock Shock Shock is a medical emergency caused by your organs not getting enough blood and oxygen. It has nothing to do with the "shock" we feel when something scares or upsets us. When your body can't... read more (a dangerously low drop in blood pressure)

Infection of the pancreas

Forming a fluid-filled sac in your pancreas (pseudocyst)

Blood tests

CT scan Computed Tomography A CT scan uses a large machine shaped like a large donut to take x-rays from many angles. A computer then takes the x-rays and creates many detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Each... read more

Ultrasound Ultrasonography Ultrasonography is a safe imaging test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the insides of your body. Ultrasonography doesn't use radiation (x-rays). Ultrasonography is also called... read more

MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography—a special kind of MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) MRI is a test that uses a machine with a powerful magnet to make pictures of the inside of your body. A computer records changes in the magnetic field around your body. The computer then uses... read more that lets your doctor see pictures of your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, or pancreatic duct)

Endoscopic ultrasound (a special kind of ultrasound using a long tube that's passed through your mouth and down into your intestine)

A short stay in the hospital

Pain medicine

Fasting (not eating at all) for 2 to 3 days to rest your pancreas

Fluids in your vein

A stay in a hospital

Fasting for a few days or up to several weeks (you get nutrition through a tube into your vein or through your nose and into your stomach or intestine)

Medicine in your vein for pain and feeling sick

Fluids in your vein

Sometimes, a tube through your nose into your stomach to take out fluids and air

Medicines to lower your stomach acid

Oxygen or a ventilator if you're very ill

Antibiotics for any infections

Surgery to remove some of the diseased pancreas or other procedures if needed, such as to open the pancreatic duct or remove a gallstone