We are a leading center in the world the treatment of acute, chronic, and autoimmune pancreatitis. Our specialists have extensive experience in endoscopic and surgical management of disease, and have treated thousands of patients with these complicated diseases.
As one of the few National Pancreas Foundation Centers of Excellence in the United States, we also lead clinical trials and have pioneered drug therapies for acute and chronic pancreatitis. Our team has helped develop the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines for acute and chronic pancreatitis.
Types of pancreatitis
The main types of pancreatitis are caused by inflammation of the pancreas.
- Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and usually lasts just a few days, though it can occasionally last much longer. The symptoms of acute pancreatitis are usually pain and nausea. It has multiple causes, including excessive alcohol use and gallstone disease.
- Chronic pancreatitis is a longstanding inflammation of the pancreas that does not go away. It is usually caused by excessive alcohol and tobacco use or an underlying genetic (familial cause).
- Autoimmune pancreatitis occurs when the body's own immune system attacks the pancreas, and this is usually a lifelong condition.
Treatments for pancreatitis
Treatments for pancreatitis vary depending on the type and severity of pancreatitis with which you have been diagnosed, but may range from supportive hospital care and dietary changes to specialized medications and surgery.
Understanding pancreatitis
What does your pancreas do?
The pancreas is a gland in the center of the abdomen that has two main functions. It makes hormones that regulate the blood sugar in the body, including insulin, and pancreas enzymes that help to digest food, especially fatty food.
How is pancreatitis diagnosed?
Pancreatitis is diagnosed by a combination of elevated blood pancreas enzyme levels (amylase or lipase), radiologic imaging such as a CT scan, and clinical symptoms.
What causes pancreatitis?
Acute pancreatitis is almost always caused by either excessive alcohol use or gallbladder disease. Other causes include allergies to medications, genetic (familial) causes, and high fats in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia).
What are symptoms of pancreatitis?
The most common symptoms of acute and chronic pancreatitis are severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. In chronic pancreatitis, fatty diarrhea sometimes occurs because of the inability to digest food.
Where is pancreatitis pain located?
Pancreas pain is usually located in the center of the abdomen, just below the breastbone, with pain sometimes traveling to the back.
Schedule a consultation
Learn about our treatments for pancreatitis. Call to request a consultation with us.