What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach that helps with digestion and blood sugar control. Normally, digestive enzymes stay inactive until they reach the small intestine. When they activate too early inside the pancreas, they can damage its tissue, causing swelling and other complications. The condition may come on suddenly (acute pancreatitis) or develop gradually over time (chronic pancreatitis).
Pancreatitis is treated by gastroenterologists, doctors who specialize in digestive diseases. At Penn Medicine, you’ll find specialists with deep experience in advanced biliary and pancreatic disease care, including total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplant (TPIAT)—a complex surgery that removes the diseased pancreas and transplants insulin-producing cells back into the liver.
How pancreas inflammation affects your body
Pancreatitis symptoms usually cause sudden pain in the upper abdomen that may spread to your back or shoulder. The pain often starts after eating, especially foods high in fat, and can last for several days. If you have severe or lasting abdominal pain, it’s important to get medical care right away.
An inflamed pancreas can cause symptoms that include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and sweating
- Belly swelling or bloating
- Indigestion or hiccups
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Light-colored or clay-colored stools
What causes pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis can develop for many reasons. Sometimes the cause is clear, but in other cases, it’s not known. Certain health problems, lifestyle factors, and even medications can increase your risk.
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Gallstones that block the ducts between the gallbladder and pancreas
- Heavy alcohol use over time
- High triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood
- Injury to the pancreas or bile ducts during surgery or from an accident
- Autoimmune problems, when the immune system attacks the pancreas
- Certain medications or infections like mumps
- Inherited (genetic) conditions like cystic fibrosis
How your provider checks for pancreatitis
Your care team may start by talking with you about your symptoms, doing a physical exam, and ordering blood tests to check enzyme levels in your pancreas. Sometimes, stool or urine tests are used to see how well your body digests food and absorbs nutrients. You may also have imaging tests to look for swelling, gallstones, or other changes in or around your pancreas.
Treatment options for pancreatitis
Your care team will focus on controlling pain and helping your pancreas heal. This often means staying in the hospital for pain control, IV fluids, and nutrition through a feeding tube until you can eat again. If gallstones, a blockage, or fluid buildup caused your pancreatitis, you may need additional procedures to treat the problem and prevent future attacks.
Where expert teamwork drives better outcomes
Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common reasons people are hospitalized for digestive problems. Managing it often takes a team of experts, from gastroenterologists and surgeons to dietitians and pain specialists, all working together to help you recover.
Our program stands out for:
- Experienced surgeons: Our hepatobiliary surgeons perform complex pancreas, gallbladder, liver, and bile duct procedures, often caring for people whose cases are too complicated for other centers.
- National recognition: The National Pancreas Foundation named Penn Medicine a Center of Excellence for our depth of experience and coordinated approach to pancreas care.
- Innovative surgical options: We’re among only a few centers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey that offers the TPIAT procedure, often a last resort for people whose pain has not responded to other treatments.