Treatment of pancreatitis depends on the severity of the condition, its symptoms and its underlying cause. The focus of treatment is usually to support bodily functions, prevent complications and relieve pain. Treatment typically requires hospitalization.

Mild cases of pancreatitis usually resolve with minimal care, which may involve monitoring the condition, pain medications and intravenous (I.V.) fluids to prevent dehydration. Patients usually are not permitted to eat for a few days to allow the pancreas to rest.

Moderate to severe cases of pancreatitis are also treated with pain medications and I.V. fluids. Some patients may be fed through a tube placed into the middle part of the small intestine. After the pain subsides and bowel function returns to normal, patients may resume eating gradually. Some patients may be treated with medications that replace digestive enzymes to address malabsorption problems. These medications help restore normal digestion and promote weight gain.

Close monitoring is needed, particularly with moderate to severe cases, because pancreatitis can lead to serious complications that may require treatment. These complications include:

• Infection. Patients who develop an infection due to pancreatitis are treated with antibiotics.
  
  
• Hypoxia or lung failure. Patients with hypoxia (a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues) are treated by administering oxygen through a mask. Despite treatment, some patients develop lung failure and are placed on a respirator to help them breathe.
  
  
• Kidney failure. Kidney failure may require dialysis (artificial waste product removal from the blood) to maintain basic kidney function.
  
  
• Pseudocysts. These are collections of tissue, fluid, debris, pancreatic enzymes and blood. If pseudocysts are large enough to interfere with healing of the pancreas, they may be drained or surgically removed.
  
  
• Enlarged bile duct. Enlarged bile ducts may require drainage or, in severe cases, surgical removal.
  
  
• Necrosis. Some cases involve extensive damage and/or infection to the pancreas. In these cases, the dead tissue is surgically removed. This procedure is called a necrosectomy.
  
  
• Diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use insulin properly). Patients who develop diabetes may require medication to control their blood sugar levels.

Cases of pancreatitis caused by gallstones often require surgery. Because cases caused by gallstones tend to recur, surgery often involves removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).

Pancreatitis may not be preventable but there are methods to reduce some risk factors and prevent future attacks. They include:

• Avoiding excessive alcohol use. It is recommended that patients stop drinking alcohol, regardless of whether it contributed to the disease.
  
  
• Maintaining a healthy diet. A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, fiber, protein and limited fat can lower the risk for developing gallstones caused by high levels of blood fats.
  
  
• Eating smaller meals. Patients are often advised to eat smaller meals that are high in carbohydrates and low in fat. This may help minimize recurrence of the condition.
  
  
• Surgically removing the gallbladder. Pancreatitis caused by gallstones may be prevented by having the gallbladder surgically removed.
  
  
• Stop smoking. It is recommended that patients avoid smoking. The body’s attempt to metabolize cigarette smoke may place stress on the pancreas.