Mild acute pancreatitis has a very low mortality rate (less than 1 percent),1,2 whereas the death rate for severe acute pancreatitis can be 10 to 30 percent depending on the presence of sterile versus infected necrosis.
The largest study to date of patients who have had surgery for chronic pancreatitis with follow-up of six years or longer has found that about two-thirds survive after 10 years.
Death during the first several days of acute pancreatitis is usually caused by failure of the heart, lungs, or kidneys. Death after the first week is usually caused by pancreatic infection or by a pseudocyst that bleeds or ruptures.
Up to 80% of chronic pancreatitis patients will live at least ten years past their diagnosis.
Prognosis in chronic pancreatitis
The overall 10-year and 20-year survival rates are estimated to be about 70% and 45%, respectively. For some people, a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis can mean a lifetime of pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Chronic pancreatitis can have serious and long-lasting effects. But with lifestyle changes and effective treatments, patients with this condition can reduce their pain and live a more normal life.
A: Chronic pancreatitis is a serious illness and, in some cases, can be fatal. A small number of people with chronic pancreatitis will develop pancreatic cancer, which can be fatal. Small numbers of people with chronic pancreatitis may die from complications following surgery or from a digestive hemorrhage.
Death during the first several days of acute pancreatitis is usually caused by failure of the heart, lungs, or kidneys. Death after the first week is usually caused by pancreatic infection or by a pseudocyst that bleeds or ruptures.
Damage to insulin-producing cells in your pancreas from chronic pancreatitis can lead to diabetes, a disease that affects the way your body uses blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer. Long-standing inflammation in your pancreas caused by chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer.
About 4 out of 5 cases of acute pancreatitis improve quickly and don't cause any serious further problems. However, 1 in 5 cases are severe and can result in life-threatening complications, such as multiple organ failure. In severe cases where complications develop, there's a high risk of the condition being fatal.
Seek care right away for the following symptoms of severe pancreatitis: pain or tenderness in the abdomen that is severe or becomes worse. nausea and vomiting. fever or chills.
Mild acute pancreatitis usually goes away in a few days with rest and treatment. If your pancreatitis is more severe, your treatment may also include: Surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, if gallstones cause your pancreatitis.
In severe cases, pancreatitis can be life-threatening. If you have severe abdominal (tummy) pain that lasts for more than 20 minutes, call your doctor or visit the emergency department of your local hospital. Pancreatitis can be either acute (sudden onset) or chronic (ongoing and longer-term).
There are a few things you must completely avoid, such as alcohol and fried/greasy/high fat foods (such as creamy sauces, fast food, full fat meat and dairy, and anything fried). These foods can cause your pancreas to release more enzymes at once than it normally would, leading to an attack.
It is estimated that drinking more than 80 gm of alcohol/d or about 10-11 standard U.S. drinks for a minimum of 6-12 years is required to produce symptomatic pancreatitis[4]. The risk of developing the disease increases with both amount and duration of alcohol consumption.
Emotional stress can excite the vagus nerve (connects the brain with the stomach) and causes the stomach to be stimulated to produce excessive amounts of acid. As noted, this increase in acid stimulates an increase in pancreatic secretion production. This can exacerbate pancreatitis once it has been established.
The most common causes are alcohol abuse and lumps of solid material (gallstones) in the gallbladder. The goal for treatment is to rest the pancreas and let it heal. You will likely be in the hospital for a few days.
The end stage of CP is characterized by multiple complications including pain, pancreatic insufficiency (endocrine and/or exocrine), metabolic bone disease, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); the mechanisms and management of CP-associated pain are discussed in detail in other articles within this issue.
The factors most closely linked to a poor prognosis are pancreatic necrosis, infection and multiple organ/systemic failures, which are associated with a mortality of 50%[4-7]; although in recent years this mortality rate has tended to decrease[8].
Pancreatitis has two stages — acute and chronic. Chronic pancreatitis is a more persistent condition. Most cases of acute pancreatitis are mild and involve a short hospital stay for the pancreas to recover. Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly after the pancreas is damaged.
Acute pancreatitis is a self-limiting condition. In most instances, the pancreas heals itself and normal pancreatic functions of digestion and sugar control are restored.
Acute pancreatitis is not uncommon. It has an annual global incidence rate of 4.9–73.4 cases per 100,000 people, with Australia sitting at the higher end of the spectrum. For some, it has the potential of being life-threatening and, to date, there is still no specific treatment.
In addition to hospital treatment, the following lifestyle changes are recommended to help aid recovery and possibly prevent pancreatitis: Drink plenty of water. Stop or reduce alcohol consumption. Stop smoking, because the habit increases your risk of pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis can cause dehydration, so drink more fluids throughout the day. It may help to keep a water bottle or glass of water with you.
After an episode of pain from pancreatitis, you should start off with drinking only clear liquids, such as soup broth or gelatin. You will need to follow this diet until your symptoms get better. Slowly add other foods back to your diet when you are better.