Misconceptions of Acute Pancreatitis: Pancreatic Disease

Data on opioids causing sphincter of Oddi spasm and worsening pancreatitis is conflicting.

The majority of providers tend to keep pancreatitis patients NPO until pain is improved or lipase and amylase normalize.

Every mild pancreatitis case receives standardized management at the speaker's institution.

The speaker's institution is 659 beds or almost 700 beds with expansion.

Standardizing pancreatitis management was important because patients are distributed across multiple floors including HMO floors, trauma, cardiac, GI, and general pediatrics.

In trauma cases where the pancreatic duct is not in continuity, patients probably cannot be fed.

The standardized protocol allows children with mild pancreatitis to eat and they will self-regulate their intake.

Patients with severe pancreatitis are probably not going to be able to eat.

In severe pancreatitis, enteral nutrition can be used to expedite healing without tipping things over.

The standardized management approach has been shared with other institutions and found to be helpful.