How dangerous is acute pancreatitis?

Patients with acute pancreatitis with hemorrhagic necrosis mortality rate of more than 90%, common in people with gallstones, drinking alcohol, increasing blood fat.

Doctor Le Huu Phuoc, Deputy Head of the Hepatology Department, Binh Dan Hospital (HCMC), said the pancreas had both endocrine function, secreted hormone insulin and glucagon to stabilize blood sugar and both external organs. secretions and secretions of digestive enzymes. Pancreatitis occurs when these enzymes activate before being poured into the small intestine. At this time, pancreatic enzymes will attack the pancreas itself, causing damage, necrotizing inflammation and can threaten the life of the patient.

"Acute pancreatitis is an emergency that needs prompt intervention to avoid peritonitis, septic shock and spread to other organs," Dr. Phuoc said. Toxins can also enter the bloodstream, causing hypotension, sepsis, and damage to organs outside the abdomen.

Acute pancreatitis has three main causes: gallstones, alcohol and hyperlipidemia. Pancreatitis may also occur due to medications, autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma, metabolic disorders and pancreatic damage after abdominal surgery .

Alcohol is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis.(Photo: andersfogh).

Dr. Ho Tan Phat, Head of Department of Internal Medicine, Cho Ray Hospital said that the disease consists of edema pancreatitis, hemorrhagic pancreatitis and hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. About 80% of cases are mild, about 20% are severe. When hemorrhagic necrosis, failure of organs, mortality rate reaches 80-90%.

The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is abdominal pain, vomiting, often sudden, easily confused with stomach pain. Treatment is mainly conservative, for patients to rest, infusion, not to eat because eating will stimulate the pancreas to excrete, causing danger. In addition to reducing abdominal pressure, reducing pancreatic pressure, doctors will place the gastric tube into the stomach to help drain fluid, stagnant substance.

Severe cases of treatment, resuscitation do not respond, patients need surgical removal of necrosis. The disease often progresses fast, complicated, easily impaired other organs to increase mortality. Currently, the number of patients with acute pancreatitis is more saved by modern resuscitation and dialysis techniques.

Acute pancreatitis usually peaks during the Tet season when people use alcohol heavily. There are many cases of recurrence of pancreatitis due to eating too much oil, protein, drinking alcohol. People with pancreatitis must be moderated in nutrition and living habits. Chronic pancreatitis is still not being treated thoroughly and progression is getting worse.

If symptoms of acute abdominal pain occur after drinking alcohol, patients need to go to a medical facility for early examination and treatment.

To prevent acute pancreatitis as well as to limit complications, alcohol alcohol should be limited, periodic deworming, prevention of worms caused by worms, and treatment of diseases at risk of acute pancreatitis. Enter the hospital as soon as there is suspicion of acute pancreatitis.