Abstract

VELASCO-BENITEZ, Carlos Alberto. Pancreatitis in children. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.1, pp.58-64. ISSN 0120-9957.

Pancreatitis is clinically defined as a sudden onset of abdominal pain associated with increased digestive enzymes in the blood and urine. Acute pancreatitis (AP) in children is usually caused by viral infections, trauma, or medication. It is caused by pancreatic self-digestion of pancreatic secretions. In general, laboratory tests for the diagnosis of AP are not specific. To document pancreatitis, determine its severity and identify potential complications, radiological images are required. Analgesic intravenous fluids, pancreatic rest, and monitoring of possible complications are required. It is important to check the nutritional status of children suffering their first attack of AP. Today parenteral nutrition (PN) is feasible and safe in most health institutions. Feedback in children with PA is not always easy due to the presence of abnormal gastric emptying, ileus, diarrhea, aspiration of intestinal contents and compartment syndrome. In AP, surgical management is limited to debridement of infected pancreatic necrosis and to cholecystectomies to prevent recurrent gallstone pancreatitis. In children, the Ranson criteria are not useful. However, the Midwest Multicenter Pancreatic Study Group has developed a scoring system that includes 7 factors of severity. Early complications include cardiovascular collapse and respiratory failure, including multisystem organ failure and death

Keywords : Acute pancreatitis; definition; diagnosis; testing; management; children.

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