Pancreatitis treatment

If you have acute pancreatitis, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. There you can get intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, and medicine to relieve pain. Most mild cases of pancreatitis clear up with treatment and rest.

If you have a more severe case of pancreatitis, you may need other treatment. This treatment would depend on the cause of the pancreatitis but could include:

• Gallbladder removal. If you have gallstones, you may need to have your gallbladder removed.
• Other procedures. If you have an abscess or pseudocyst that is infected, your doctor may need to drain it. He or she can remove damaged tissue from your pancreas if that is needed. They can also do other procedures to treat problems with the pancreatic and bile ducts.

If you have chronic pancreatitis, your treatment plan will help relieve pain, improve how well your pancreas works, and manage complications. It may include:

• A low-fat diet
• Medicine to relieve pain
• Insulin to help with high blood sugar levels
• Enzyme tablets (pills that help you digest food)
• Vitamins if your body doesn’t absorb nutrients well

It is also possible that someone with chronic pancreatitis would need surgery. This could help relieve pressure or a blockage in a pancreatic duct. Surgery could also be used to remove a damaged or infected part of your pancreas.

People who have pancreatitis should not drink alcohol or smoke. Some people develop diabetes or cancer of the pancreas because of the damage caused by chronic pancreatitis. These conditions need separate treatment.