Complications of Pancreatitis

Whether chronic or acute, severe complications of pancreatitis can damage not only the pancreas but also other organs.  The lungs can become inflamed during a pancreatic attack and in severe cases require ventilation.  Other problems such as shock, internal bleeding or kidney failure can happen.

Pancreatic necrosis can happen with inflammation when it becomes so severe that parts of the pancreas are permanently damaged or destroyed.   Diagnosis of necrosis is based on  a CT scan of the pancreas during an intravenous infusion of a contrast (dye) agent.

Pseudocyst

A pseudocyst is another one of the complications of pancreatitis that can happen with acute pancreatitis.  A pseudocyst  is basically a hole that is formed in the pancreas because of enzymes eating away at the pancreas because of blockage that keeps them from going into the small intestine.

Pseudocysts become sacs of fluid that form on the inner surface of the pancreas. These cysts are a common complication of acute pancreatitis and are estimated to affect as many as 1 in every 20 people who develop this condition.

Pseudocysts will usually develop around four weeks after the symptoms of acute pancreatitis start.

Often times, they do not cause any symptoms and are only detected during a CT scan.  But in some people these complications of pancreatitis will cause symptoms such as bloating, dull abdominal pain, and bloating.

Many times these pseudocysts are small enough that they don’t cause any symptoms.  If you are lucky enough for this there may be no need for further treatment and the cysts will usually go away in time.

Treatment is usually recommended though if symptoms become bothersome or the pseudocysts are large. This is because the larger they are the higher the risk of them bursting.  If this happens it could cause bigger problems like internal bleeding or cause a large infection.

Pseudocysts can be treated in two basic ways.  One is by draining the fluid in the cyst by inserting a needle through your skin. A second way is through an endoscopy.  This procedure uses a thin tube called an endoscope which goes through your throat and stomach where small tools are then used to empty the pseudocysts.

Complications of Pancreatitis

Acute complications of pancreatitis can also lead to chronic pancreatitis.  Although many people who suffer from acute pancreatitis recover, often times with no further problems, chronic pancreatitis can linger and become a lifelong issue.