[Medical management of acute pancreatitis and complications]

Abstract

Medical management of acute pancreatitis relies on supportive care such as fluid resuscitation and pain control. Prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the opportunity of infection in severe pancreatitis. The effect of somatostatin or protease inhibitors still needs to be evaluated through further study. Early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can ameliorate the course of severe biliary pancreatitis. Although sterile pancreatic necrosis, acute fluid collection, and pseudocyst usually resolve spontaneously, endoscopic or percutaneous drainages are needed when these complications are infected.