With treatment, most people with acute pancreatitis completely recover.
Treatment for acute pancreatitis focuses on supporting the functions of the body until the inflammation has passed.
This usually involves admission to hospital so you can be given fluids into a vein (intravenous fluids), as well as pain relief, nutritional support and oxygen through tubes into your nose.
Most people with acute pancreatitis improve within a week and are well enough to leave hospital after 5-10 days.
However, recovery takes longer in severe cases, as complications that require additional treatment may develop. Such complications may include:
- Diabetes, if there’s damage to the cells that produce insulin
- Infection of your pancreas
- Kidney failure
- Malnutrition if your body can’t get enough nutrients from the food you eat because of a lack of digestive enzymes
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatic necrosis, when tissues die because your pancreas isn’t getting enough blood
- Problems with your breathing when chemical changes in your body affect your lungs
- Pseudocysts, when fluid collects in pockets on your pancreas. They can burst and become infected.
Unlike acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis is a long-lasting condition. Once it’s severely damaged, your pancreas doesn’t function properly. You need ongoing support to digest food and manage blood sugar.