Is severe pancreatitis serious?
Disease description:
My grandfather suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain a few days ago and was diagnosed with severe pancreatitis. This condition sounds really frightening—just how serious is severe pancreatitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gao Jun
In general, severe pancreatitis is a serious condition.
Severe pancreatitis is a complex and severe disease with a prolonged course and difficult treatment. It is commonly associated with biliary diseases, excessive alcohol consumption, hyperlipidemia, and other factors. The main symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. As the condition progresses, patients may develop persistent organ dysfunction, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure, which further complicate treatment. Additionally, local complications such as acute peripancreatic fluid collections, pancreatic fistulas, and pancreatic pseudocysts may occur, and these complications can also affect the patient's prognosis.
The treatment process for severe pancreatitis is complex and lengthy, and includes both non-surgical and surgical approaches. Non-surgical treatments mainly involve fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, and fluid replacement, while surgical interventions are primarily used to manage intestinal obstruction, pancreatic abscesses, and infected pancreatic necrosis. However, even with aggressive treatment, some patients may not fully recover.
In daily life, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, controlling blood lipid levels, and actively treating biliary diseases can help prevent the occurrence of this disease.
