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Pancreatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis
- The evaluation begins with a medical history and a physical examination.
- Blood testing is used to evaluate for pancreatic damage, rule
out liver damage, and measure for electrolyte imbalances.
- Abdominal X–rays, CT scan, and ultrasound may be used to check
for pancreatic damage and gallstones and to rule out other abdominal
disorders.
- A procedure called endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is often used to look closely
into the pancreas to identify damage and gallstones and may also
be used to remove gallstones.
Treatment
- Individuals with pancreatitis are generally treated in the hospital.
They require close monitoring, intravenous fluids, pain medication,
and antinausea medication. Also, bowel rest is necessary: Patients
cannot eat or drink, and a tube may be placed from the nose or
mouth into the stomach to relieve the pancreas of its workload.
- Addressing
the underlying cause is a priority. For example, the patient should
avoid alcohol and fatty foods. If pancreatitis occurred due to
gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder may be necessary.
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