Pancreatitis: Sophisticated Medical Care for Patients
Board-certified pancreatic specialists at University Hospitals provide advanced medical care to diagnose, manage and treat patients with pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of your pancreas which can be very painful. Acute pancreatitis is a clinical emergency that needs immediate medical attention. Our team of specialists can identify your pancreatitis pain location and provide relief as well as immediate treatment. If acute pancreatitis doesn’t get better and slowly gets worse, it is likely chronic pancreatitis.
Understanding Risk Factors and Signs of Pancreatitis
Signs of pancreatitis may include nausea, vomiting and fever. While in about 25 percent of cases, the cause of chronic pancreatitis is unknown, many possible causes of pancreatitis have been identified:
- Alcohol consumption
- Autoimmune disease
- Gallstones
- Genetic abnormalities of the pancreas
- High levels of triglycerides, a type of cholesterol
- Infections
- Metabolic disorders
- Medications
- Surgery
- Toxins
- Trauma/injury
Certain people have a higher risk for acute pancreatitis, including:
- People who have gallbladder disease
- People who consume large amounts of alcohol
Treating Pancreatitis with a Multidisciplinary Approach
We bring together leading experts from University Hospitals across many different specialties to diagnose and treat patients with pancreatitis, including:
- Gastroenterologists
- Nutritionists
- Surgeons
- Radiologists
Our digestive health team uses sophisticated labs and imaging for patients with pancreatitis to allow deeper evaluation of the pancreas. Diagnostic tests include:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Blood tests
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Using the latest clinical advancements and medical interventions, lifestyle recommendations and a multidisciplinary team approach, our patients are treated with the optimal plan to maintain health and improve quality of life.