Acute Pancreatitis Management

Acute pancreatitis is a serious gastrointestinal emergency taught in Zambian surgical and medical curricula. This topic covers etiology (gallstones, alcohol, hypertriglyceridemia), diagnosis using the Revised Atlanta Criteria (abdominal pain, elevated lipase/amylase, imaging findings), and severity stratification with scoring systems (Ranson, APACHE II). Management principles include aggressive fluid resuscitation, pain control, nutritional support (enteral preferred over parenteral), and detection/treatment of complications like infected necrosis, pseudocyst, or organ failure. Students learn to interpret CT scans and manage patients in medical or surgical ICU settings. Given the prevalence of gallstone disease and alcohol use in Zambia, this training is vital for reducing mortality. Mastery of acute pancreatitis is essential for professional exams and for providing effective multidisciplinary care.