The treatment for pancreatitis, which is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas, is done with measures to decrease the inflammation of this organ, facilitating its recovery. The way of treating it is indicated by the general practitioner or gastro, being variable according to the form that the disease presents, and it can be acute, when it develops suddenly, or chronic, when it evolves slowly.
Generally, acute pancreatitis is a self-limited disease, that is, it has a sudden worsening but evolves to a natural cure, being recommended the use of drugs to relieve abdominal pain, administration of serum in the vein, to control hydration, in addition to not eating orally, as ways to decrease the inflammatory process and avoid serious complications. Learn how to identify the symptoms and causes of acute pancreatitis.
The treatment of chronic pancreatitis can be done with replacement of essential enzymes that reduce diarrhea and poor digestion caused by the disease, as well as analgesics to relieve abdominal pain. Chronic pancreatitis has no cure, usually caused by alcoholism or autoimmunity. Learn about the symptoms and causes in chronic pancreatitis.
Treatment with surgery may be necessary in any type of pancreatitis, usually to correct complications caused, such as fistulas, abscesses or narrowing, for example. Thus, detailed treatment for each type of pancreatitis includes:
1. Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis develops intense inflammation in the pancreas, with rapid evolution, so treatment must be started quickly. The main forms of treatment include:
- Caring for the diet, with fasting for at least 48 to 72 hours: to allow the pancreas to rest and allow its recovery. If fasting is necessary for more days, special feeding through the vein can be advised. When released by the doctor, a liquid or pasty diet can be started, until recovery; Hydration, with serum in the vein: the inflammatory process necessary facilitates the loss of fluids from the blood vessels; Analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Dipyrone or Ibuprofen, for example: used to relieve pain in the upper abdomen characteristic of acute pancreatitis Antibiotics: they are only needed in people with a higher risk of infection, as in severe pancreatitis, in cases that progress with necrotizing pancreatitis, in elderly patients and with impaired immunity; Surgery: procedures such as the removal of dead tissue or drainage of secretions are indicated for patients who present infected pancreatic necrosis and other complications such as abscess, hemorrhage, pseudocysts, perforation or obstruction of the viscera, for example, or for the removal of the gallbladder, in cases where there are stones in the gallbladder causing pancreatitis.
The treatment of acute pancreatitis is initiated in the hospital, requiring strict monitoring of the vital signs of the person with the disease, as it can become severe in some cases.
2. Chronic pancreatitis
In chronic pancreatitis, a chronic inflammation of the pancreas occurs, which can result in the formation of scars and destruction of the tissue of this organ, which may partially or totally lose its capabilities. As this inflammation has no cure, the treatment aims to reduce the effects of its complications, being indicated:
- Supplementation of pancreatic enzymes: replacement of enzymes that may be lacking is indicated by the intake of oily food preparations, as the lack of these enzymes can cause changes in the digestion and absorption of food, which causes diarrhea and weight loss; Caring for the diet: a diet low in fat and easy to digest is important, such as skim milk, egg white, lean meat or whole grains, for example. Learn more about what the pancreatitis diet should look like; Analgesics, such as Dipyrone or Paracetamol: may be needed to relieve abdominal pain; Surgery: can be performed to remove obstructions or narrowing of the pancreatic ducts, drainage of pancreatic fluid or removal of injured tissues, which can worsen inflammation.
It may also be necessary to use insulin in patients who have become diabetic due to the disease or corticosteroids to decrease inflammation in people with the disease due to autoimmune causes.
In addition, during treatment it is very important to avoid the consumption of substances toxic to the pancreas, such as alcoholic beverages or cigarettes, for example.
Check out these and other tips in the following video:
