Fast Facts: Acute and Recurrent Pancreatitis

Book excerpt: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract to result in hospitalization. Although most patients with AP will experience an uneventful disease course, those that develop moderate-to-severe AP can be challenging to manage. Rapid recognition, accurate diagnosis and prediction of severity, together with appropriate treatment, are therefore key in achieving the best outcomes for patients and for preventing subsequent episodes of AP. Written by two pancreatologists with extensive experience of managing patients with AP as well as in clinical research, 'Fast Facts: Acute and Recurrent Pancreatitis' provides a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to: - The pathophysiology and etiology of AP - Fundamentals of diagnosis - Predicting the likely severity of an episode of AP - Monitoring and managing complications in the early and later stages of disease - Preventing recurrence This book will be of interest to all those who may be involved in the care of patients with AP, including internal medicine specialists, gastroenterologists, intensive care specialists, surgeons and endoscopists. Contents: • Pathophysiology • Epidemiology and etiology • Diagnosis • Prognosis • Definitions for complications and severity classification • Early management • Management of symptomatic collections • Management of other local complications • Preventing recurrence and monitoring for late complications after acute pancreatitis