Treatment of acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition characterized by localized pancreatic damage and the activation of the inflammatory cascade, leading to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This complex disease often presents with a variable and unpredictable course. The primary causes of AP include the migration of gallstones and alcohol consumption. The Revised Atlanta Classification 2012 (RAC) is the most widely utilized classification system for AP, distinguishing between interstitial edematous pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis, three severity levels and an early and a late phase. Severe AP carries a high risk of mortality. Currently, there is no definitive prognostic score for accurately predicting severe cases of AP. Initial management focuses on supportive care, applicable to both mild and severe forms of the disease, while later management addresses complications associated with severe AP. Although there is no consensus on the optimal type or regimen of fluids for resuscitation, goal-directed fluid therapy, particularly with Ringer's lactate, has been linked to improved outcomes. Prophylactic antibiotics have not proven effective in preventing infectious complications associated with AP. Patients experiencing mild acute gallstone pancreatitis should be advised to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy during their initial admission, whereas those with severe gallstone pancreatitis and signs of cholangitis or choledocholithiasis may benefit from early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The management of severe AP complications has evolved from an early surgical approach to a minimally invasive step-up strategy, which is now considered the standard intervention.