Pancreatitis medical therapy
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Pancreatitis Main Page |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Medical Therapy
The treatment of pancreatitis will, of course, depend on the severity of the pancreatitis itself. Still, general principles apply and include
- Provision of pain relief. In the past this was done preferentially with meperidine (Demerol), but it is now not thought to be superior to any narcotic analgesic. Indeed, given meperidine's generally poor analgesic charactersitics and its high potential for toxicity, it should not be used for the treatment of the pain of pancreatitis
- Provision of adequate replacement fluids and salts (intravenously),
- Limitation of oral intake (with dietary fat restriction the most important point), and
- Monitoring and assessment for, and treatment of, the various complications listed above.
- When necrotizing pancreatitis ensues and the patient shows signs of infection it is imperative to start antibiotics such as Imipenem due to its high penetration of the drug in the pancreas.