Pancreatitis | Surgical Associates

What Does My Pancreas Do?

By Dr. Lee Ser Yee

The pancreas is a small gland located behind the stomach, connected to the bile duct and small intestines.

It is responsible for producing digestive enzymes that break down cholesterol, protein and fat in the small intestine, as well as producing hormones such as insulin to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is the swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. There are 2 main types of pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis
- A sudden swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas
Chronic pancreatitis
- Chronic pancreatitis tends to develop over time after repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis and/or as a simmering inflammation that damages the pancreas

Causes of pancreatitis

Gallstones
Excessive alcohol intake
Trauma
Infection – certain viruses and bacteria
High levels of fats or calcium in the blood
Hereditary and Genetic causes
Hepatitis B
Tumours
Others- toxins and medications

Symptoms

Generally, acute and chronic pancreatitis share similar symptoms, except that acute pancreatitis usually has more acute and severe symptoms while chronic pancreatitis symptoms are more gradual and long-drawn. Symptoms of pancreatitis include:

Central, upper abdominal pain, going to the back
Nausea & Vomiting
Fever and chills
Diarrhoea
Weight loss, especially in chronic pancreatitis
Jaundice

Sequelae

Acute pancreatitis can lead to infection and potentially life-threatening conditions e.g. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and Multi-organ failure
Acute pancreatitis can recur, simmer and can lead to chronic pancreatitis
Repeated episodes of pancreatitis can lead to Diabetes and Malnutrition
Pancreatitis can increase the risk of Pancreatic cancer in the long term

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of pancreatitis and its severity. It centers around the removal of the eliciting cause, supportive measures and prevention of complications. These may include –

Gallbladder removal (Cholecystectomy) – To prevent future recurrences if gallstones are the cause
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography ( ERCP) - to remove stones in the common bile duct blocking the drainage of the pancreas
Pancreatic surgery - to deal with complications of acute pancreatitis or to relief the pain in chronic pancreatitis

To learn more, please consult a Pancreatic surgeon.

Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
#08-07, 3 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228510
Tel: 6454 0054 | Fax: 6764 0054 | Email: ask@surgicalassociates.sg

Gleneagles Medical Centre
#05-01, 6 Napier Road, Singapore 258499
Tel: 6471 0054 | Fax: 6271 0054

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