[Diagnosis and management of pancreatitis]

Abstract

Pancreatitis are inflammatory diseases of the pancreas and include acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). The diagnosis of AP is based on the fulfillment of 2 out of 3 criteria : abdominal pain, hyperlipasemia, signs of AP on imaging. The most frequent etiologies of AP are gallstone(s) and alcohol abuse. The early management of AP includes in all cases, fluid resuscitation, pain control and transient fasting. In biliary AP, endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy should be performed only if associated cholangitis. In infected organized necrosis with clinical deterioration despite conservative treatment, an invasive treatment (step-upapproach by drainage ± necrosectomy) could be proposed. Contrary to AP, the morphological alterations of the pancreatic ducts and parenchyma are irreversible in CP. The clinical presentation of CP is dominated by abdominal pain associated with loss of weight and denutrition. The mechanisms of pain generation in CP are multiple and complex. Endoscopic therapy could be proposed with the aim to relieve a distal ductal obstruction and could provide clinical improvement in about 2/3 of patients. Surgery, either by pancreaticojejunostomy or resection remains indicated for 20 - 25 % of patients. The management of complications from CP (biliary stricture, pseudocyst) is also important as well as the treatment of diabetes and steatorrhea in order to avoid denutrition.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Complications; Natural history.