Emergency Management of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas, and it may be confined to the pancreas, or more life-threatening, affecting all organs and systems. AP is a common gastrointestinal condition Worldwide and is associated with cost to the health care system. It progresses mildly in 80% of patients and resolves with treatment, but in cases of severe AP, with mortality of around 30% recorded. In this section, we will discuss the first management of the AP in the emergency department. Because this is the period when management decisions can change the course of the disease and the length of stay in the hospital. In the management AP, approaches regarding the utility and timing of antibiotics, the timing and type of nutritional support, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and cholecystectomy approaches are constantly being updated. Treatment is mainly related to the severity of the disease. With early diagnosis and treatment, most of the patients can be discharged, and the development of complications and mortality can be reduced. Therefore, emergency management is important in acute pancreatitis.