Severe Acute Pancreatitis Causing Sepsis
Severe acute pancreatitis is associated with a high mortality rate. Patients who might develop this serious condition need early identification, close monitoring and emergency treatment.
Acute or Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis, where the pancreas becomes inflamed, may require hospitalisation but most people generally make a good and prompt recovery.
Severe acute pancreatitis is where additional conditions develop such as sepsis and organ dysfunction. Severe acute pancreatitis is also, unfortunately, associated with a high mortality rate.
Acute pancreatitis is thought to be caused either by the presence of gallstones in the common bile duct blocking the flow of pancreatic fluid to the intestine, or by excessive alcohol consumption.
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Symptoms of acute pancreatitis
Early diagnosis of pancreatitis is desirable to try to prevent its deterioration to its severe form.
Symptoms which might suggest a patient has acute pancreatitis include the following:
- Severe pain in the upper abdomen
- A high temperature
- Sickness and diarrhoea
A patient who is developing severe acute pancreatitis will also start to show signs of organ dysfunction such as fatigue, confusion, alteration in blood pressure and loss of appetite amongst other symptoms.
Diagnosis
The above symptoms should prompt an examination of the abdomen. Certain categories of people are also more likely to develop acute pancreatitis and this should be taken in to account when medical practitioners make an assessment of the patient's condition.
These groups include the following:
- People who are overweight
- People who drink significant amounts of alcohol
- People who smoke
- The elderly
A blood test will be necessary and the patient may also need a CT scan, ultrasound or MRI scan in order to assess the severity of their illness.
Patients who are most likely to develop severe acute pancreatitis need to be identified as quickly as possible so that they can be closely monitored for signs of organ dysfunction.
This should prompt immediate treatment.
Complications in severe acute pancreatitis
- In some cases of severe acute pancreatitis some of the tissue around the pancreas may die. This can cause infection and the patient may also exhibit signs of organ dysfunction. Surgery is likely to be necessary to remove any infected tissue.
- As the illness develops, the patient's body may respond to infection with the development of sepsis and multiple-organ failure. This is an extremely serious complication and can prove fatal unless diagnosed and treated as a matter of emergency.
Sepsis
If sepsis is suspected in a patient with severe acute pancreatitis, the urgent administration of antibiotics will be necessary. The patient may require fluid and oxygen support and may need to be cared for in an intensive care or high dependency unit.
Sepsis is an over-response by the body to an infection and can lead to multiple organ failure. Over 10,000 people are believed to die unnecessarily in the UK each year due to a failure to diagnose and treat their condition with sufficient urgency.
Where a patient survives sepsis, the long-term impact can be severe and debilitating both physically and psychologically.
Medical negligence
Acute pancreatitis can be difficult to diagnose but the possible severity of the outcome should a diagnosis be delayed should prompt a thorough investigation of the patient's symptoms.
A failure to diagnose acute pancreatitis in a timely manner can lead to catastrophic outcomes and may be considered to have been negligent on the part of the medical practitioner.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering with the significant, long-term impact of a delay in recognising the symptoms of acute pancreatitis, you may wish to consider making a claim for compensation.
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