Subsequent treatment

Patients who are discharged following severe acute pancreatitis require general supportive measures and some specific treatments:

• aetiology of pancreatitis should be identified and treated if possible e.g. – majority will need treatment of gallstones
• advice patients on avoidance of alcohol for 6-12 months whatever the cause or severity of the pancreatitis
• nutritional supplements, advise on nutritional support by dieticians etc. for people who have had weight loss during their illness
• address impaired pancreatic endocrine function
  • hyperglycaemia may not be evident initially if the nutritional intake is low
  • check blood glucose in the weeks after discharge
• pancreatic enzyme supplements for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Functional recovery may take up to 12 months after the onset of the disease. Further recovery after this time is unlikely. Lifelong supplements may be required in patients with necrosis of a substantial proportion of pancreas

Reference:

• (1) Johnson CD, Besselink MG, Carter R. Acute pancreatitis. BMJ. 2014;349:g4859