Inflammation of the Pancreas: Therapy

General measures

  • Inpatient admission for acute pancreatitis!
  • Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use).
  • Alcohol restriction – in both acute and chronic pancreatitis (pancreatitis) must be abstained from alcohol for life.
  • Aim for normal weight! Determination of BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition using electrical impedance analysis.
    • BMI ≥ 25 → participation in a medically supervised weight loss program.
  • Review of permanent medication due topossible impact on the existing disease.

Conventional non-surgical therapy methods

  • If necrotizing pancreatitis is suspected, intensive medical monitoring is required.
  • Endoscopic therapy may be indicated in selected cases of pancreatic duct stenosis (narrowing) or stones.
  • Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis: therapeutic hemapheresis (grade: III/2c)/plasma separation or lipidapheresis (therapeutic blood lipid purification).

Regular check-ups

  • In chronic pancreatitis, regular medical control examinations (clinical examination, abdominal sonography (ultrasound of the abdominal organs), laboratory diagnostics with HbA1c) are necessary. Only in this way are treatable complications such as acute relapses, exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency (pancreatic weakness), formation of pseudocysts, cholestasis (bile stasis) and the occurrence of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic cancer) can be detected in time.

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
    • A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
  • Observance of the following specific dietary recommendations:
    • Acute pancreatitis:
      • The goal of treatment for acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is to immobilize the organ by inhibiting enzyme formation and secretion, which are the major functions of the pancreas: Food restriction (stopping food intake). Food is now only given via infusion, for example, as a standardized glucose amino acid solution.
      • Parenteral fluid administration (fluid given via infusion) to maintain normal intravascular volume.
      • In mild to moderate acute pancreatitis, early oral diet buildup.
      • In severe acute pancreatitis, enteral nutrition should be started within 24 to 48 hours, in combination with parenteral nutrition.
      • Immunonutrition (nutritional products designed to promote healing by influencing the immune system), omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics are now firmly established in the diet of patients with acute pancreatitis.
    • Chronic pancreatitis:
      • The diet in chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) should be easily digestible, rich in carbohydrates and low in fat (20-25%). Thus, poorly tolerated and difficult to digest foods such as legumes, fried and deep-fried foods should be avoided.
      • At the main meals pancreatin is recommended in a dosage of 20,000-40,000, at snacks of 10,000-20,000 units.
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.