Treatment FAQ

what doctor handles the treatment for a pancreas

by Genoveva Homenick PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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If your doctor suspects you may have pancreatitis, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the digestive system (gastroenterologist).Sep 24, 2021

Medication

Treatment - Chronic pancreatitis

  • Lifestyle changes. The most important thing you can do is stop drinking alcohol, even if it isn't the cause of your condition.
  • Enzyme supplements. You may be given pancreatic enzyme supplements to help your digestive system work more effectively. ...
  • Steroid medicine. ...
  • Pain relief. ...
  • Severe episodes. ...
  • Surgery. ...
  • Other tests and checks

Procedures

pain medicine, and antibiotics by mouth or through an IV if you have an infection in your pancreas Your doctor may send you to a gastroenterologist or surgeon for one of the following treatments, depending on the type of pancreatitis that you have.

Therapy

You should eat plenty of:

  • Vegetables.
  • Fruits.
  • Whole grains.
  • Beans, lentils.
  • Low-fat or nonfat dairy (almond or flax milk).

Nutrition

  • JJ. Dr. John and his wife Dr. ...
  • MQ. Dr. Quinn graduated from the Wake Forest School of Medicine in 1983. ...
  • KS. Ms. Sandlin works in Beulaville, NC and specializes in Family Medicine and Nurse Practitioner. ...
  • CP. Dr. ...
  • DR. Dr. ...
  • GH. Dr. ...
  • JP. Dr. ...
  • CS. Dr. ...
  • MW. Ms. ...
  • SF. Ms. ...

More items...

What is the best medicine for pancreas?

What Doctor do I See for my pancreas?

What are the best foods to eat for Your Pancreas?

Who is the best doctor for pancreatitis?

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Departments and specialties

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

Research

See a list of publications about pancreatitis by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

5 Answers

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied.

Search for questions

Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.

Where is the surgery done for pancreatitis?

Surgery is done in a hospital, where you may have to stay a few days. In patients who do not get better with other treatments, surgeons may perform surgery to remove your whole pancreas, followed by islet auto-transplantation. Islets are groups of cells in your pancreas that make hormones, including insulin.

How do you treat pancreatitis?

How do health care professionals treat pancreatitis? 1 a hospital stay to treat dehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids and, if you can swallow them, fluids by mouth 2 pain medicine, and antibiotics by mouth or through an IV if you have an infection in your pancreas 3 a low-fat diet, or nutrition by feeding tube or IV if you can’t eat

What is ERCP in gastroenterology?

Doctors use ERCP to treat both acute and chronic pancreatitis. ERCP combines upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and x-rays to treat narrowing or blockage of a bile or pancreatic duct. Your gastroenterologist may use ERCP to remove gallstones blocking the bile or pancreatic ducts.

How long does it take for pancreatitis to go away?

Mild acute pancreatitis usually goes away in a few days with rest and treatment. If your pancreatitis is more severe, your treatment may also include: Surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, if gallstones cause your pancreatitis.

What to do if you have a blockage in your pancreas?

If you have stones blocking your pancreatic duct, your doctor may use a procedure to break up and remove the stones. Treatment for acute or chronic pancreatitis may include a hospital stay to treat dehydration and prescribe pain medicine, antibiotics, and nutrition.

What can a doctor prescribe for diabetes?

Your doctor may prescribe or provide the following: Medicines and vitamins. Your doctor may give you enzyme pills to help with digestion, or vitamins. NIH external link. A, D, E, and K if you have malabsorption. He or she may also give you vitamin B-12. NIH external link. shots if you need them. Treatment for diabetes.

What is the treatment for dehydration?

a hospital stay to treat dehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids and, if you can swallow them, fluids by mouth. pain medicine, and antibiotics by mouth or through an IV if you have an infection in your pancreas. Your doctor may send you to a gastroenterologist or surgeon for one of the following treatments, depending on the type ...

What kind of doctor treats cancer?

The doctors on your cancer treatment team might include: A surgical oncologist: a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with surgery. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy. A medical oncologist: a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

What are the treatments for pancreatic cancer?

Depending on the type and stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for people with pancreatic cancer can include: Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer. Ablation or Embolization Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer. Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer. Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer. Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.

Why is it important to discuss all of your treatment options with your doctor?

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. Some important things to consider include:

What are the services offered by the American Cancer Society?

These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. The American Cancer Society also has programs and services – including rides to treatment, lodging, and more – to help you get through treatment.

Who are the specialists involved in cancer care?

Many other specialists may be involved in your care as well, including nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and other health professionals. Health Professionals Associated with Cancer Care.

Can you continue cancer treatment?

Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.

Is treatment information given here official policy of the American Cancer Society?

The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

How to treat pancreatitis in hospital?

Treatment. Initial treatments in the hospital may include: Fasting. You'll stop eating for a couple of days in the hospital in order to give your pancreas a chance to recover. Once the inflammation in your pancreas is controlled, you may begin drinking clear liquids and eating bland foods.

How to help with pancreatic pain?

Severe pain may be relieved with options such as endoscopic ultrasound or surgery to block nerves that send pain signals from the pancreas to the brain. Enzymes to improve digestion. Pancreatic enzyme supplements can help your body break down and process the nutrients in the foods you eat.

What is the procedure called to open the bile duct?

A procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) uses a long tube with a camera on the end to examine your pancreas and bile ducts.

What is the best way to check for gallstones?

Computerized tomography (CT) scan to look for gallstones and assess the extent of pancreas inflammation. Endoscopic ultrasound to look for inflammation and blockages in the pancreatic duct or bile duct. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for abnormalities in the gallbladder, pancreas and ducts.

What tests are used to diagnose pancreatitis?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose pancreatitis include: Blood tests to look for elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes. Stool tests in chronic pancreatitis to measure levels of fat that could suggest your digestive system isn't absorbing nutrients adequately. Computerized tomography (CT) scan to look for gallstones and assess the extent ...

How to recover from pancreatitis?

Lifestyle and home remedies. Once you leave the hospital, you can take steps to continue your recovery from pancreatitis, such as: Stop drinking alcohol. If you're unable to stop drinking alcohol on your own, ask your doctor for help. Your doctor can refer you to local programs to help you stop drinking. Stop smoking.

Can pancreatitis cause pain?

Pancreatitis can cause severe pain. Your health care team will give you medications to help control the pain. Intravenous (IV) fluids. As your body devotes energy and fluids to repairing your pancreas, you may become dehydrated.

What is a pancreatic cancer specialist?

What Is a Specialist? A pancreatic cancer specialist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats many pancreatic cancer patients. For surgeons, this means they perform more than 15 pancreatic cancer surgeries a year.

How many surgeries per year for pancreatic cancer?

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network strongly recommends you have a high volume pancreatic surgeon (more than 15 surgeries per year) perform the surgery.

What is the job of a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterologists perform tests and control symptoms. Pathologists make the official diagnosis. Medical oncologists coordinate patients’ cancer care. Surgical oncologists perform surgery to remove the tumor. Radiation oncologists help control cancer that is in a small area.

Can you get a second opinion on pancreatic cancer?

You have a right to get a second opinion. Pancreatic cancer is rare, and general oncologists are not familiar with treating this disease. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network strongly recommends you seek a second opinion, as needed, at any point in your diagnosis. It is important to get a second opinion from a doctor who has experience treating ...

Is pancreatic cancer common?

Pancreatic cancer is not very common. General, community oncologists and surgeons may not see patients with this type of cancer often. Pancreatic cancer specialists see and treat many pancreatic cancer patients, so they have greater knowledge of the disease and its treatment. This is especially important for those having surgery.

Can you travel to a pancreatic cancer clinic?

Pancreatic cancer patients who live in rural areas may need to travel for this care. Comprehensive cancer centers often have the most thorough care with highly qualified doctors and specialized cancer services. But a smaller, local hospital or treatment center may also have the expert care you need.

Can a local hospital treat pancreatic cancer?

While local hospitals can offer quality care, their doctors may not have as much experience caring for people with pancreatic cancer. Large academic cancer centers employ more doctors who are familiar with the most up-to-date pancreatic cancer treatments and research. These centers are also more likely to offer more clinical trials, ...

Chronic Pancreatitis Treatment: Medication

For patients with chronic pain that cannot be controlled otherwise, we may recommend medication.

Chronic Pancreatitis Treatment: Surgery

When medical and endoscopic therapies have failed, we may recommend surgery. There are many surgical options. Different procedures work better for different patients. We will work closely with you to find the surgical approach that offers you the best outcome.

Chronic Pancreatitis Treatment: Celiac Nerve Block

In the advanced stages of chronic pancreatitis, oral drugs may not be enough to control the pain. Your doctor may recommend a nerve block, which is an injection of an anesthetic around your nerve. The injection stops the nerves from sending pain messages.

Chronic Pancreatitis Treatment: Endoscopic Therapy

Your doctor may be able to treat chronic pancreatitis using endoscopic procedures.

Chronic Pancreatitis: Treating Complications

Chronic pancreatitis can cause complications in other parts of the body. Part of treating the disease is to treat and manage those complications. Depending on the complication and the severity, we can treat it endoscopically, surgically or using percutaneous therapy.

Endoscopic Therapy

Endoscopic therapy helps treat three specific areas of acute pancreatitis:

Acute Pancreatitis Treatment: Surgery

Resecting (removing) the diseased pancreatic tissue, depending on the severity of your condition.

Acute Pancreatitis: Complications

In patients with severe pancreatitis, complications may develop that affect other organs in the body. These systemic problems can involve the pulmonary system, kidneys, stomach and colon. Severe pancreatitis can also cause local complications, including:

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