Treatment typically includes:
Medication for pain relief. You may also be referred to the pain clinic or offered surgery to block the nerves that send pain signals to the brain.
Enzyme supplements to help your body to break down your food and process nutrients. You will need to take these with every meal.
Dietary changes, which will be planned in conjunction with a dietician. Supplementary feeding may be required in the acute or chronic setting to optimise your nutritional status.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a therapeutic procedure used to maintain drainage of the bile duct when the tissue around it in the head of the pancreas is inflamed or scarred or to remove obstructing biliary stones. It can also be used to treat abnormalities in the pancreatic duct including strictures and stones such that drainage of the pancreatic duct enzyme is optimised.
EUS can be performed at a therapeutic procedure to drain cystic collections which can develop as a consequence of acute pancreatitis
Pancreatic surgery may be necessary to remove damaged tissue or drain fluid. If your pancreatitis was caused by gallstones, you may be given surgery to remove your gallbladder (cholecystectomy).
If your pancreatitis is the result of an addiction to alcohol you may be offered treatment to help you to reduce your dependence. Continuing to drink alcohol while suffering from the condition could lead to serious long-term health problems.
Other conditions such as autoimmune pancreatitis/IgG4 disease will require immunosuppressive medication.