Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By Kage Team | 16 March 2026

Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms and Expert Treatment in Hyderabad

The pancreas is one of the body's most vital and most underappreciated organs. Tucked deep in the upper abdomen, it performs two essential functions: producing digestive enzymes that break down food, and secreting insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar.

When the pancreas becomes inflamed a condition called pancreatitis it can cause excruciating abdominal pain, life-threatening systemic complications, and in its chronic form, permanent damage to digestion and blood sugar control.

At KIMS Advanced Gastroenterology & Endoscopy KAGE, at KIMS Hospitals Secunderabad, Hyderabad, we have a dedicated Pancreas Clinic led by Dr. Sreekanth Appasani a nationally acclaimed gastroenterologist with 20+ years of experience and numerous published research papers on pancreatitis providing expert care for all forms of pancreatic disease. Serving patients from Secunderabad, Begumpet, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, and across Hyderabad.

What Is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas occurring when the pancreatic enzymes that normally activate only in the small intestine become activated prematurely inside the pancreas itself, causing it to digest its own tissue. Pancreatitis occurs in two distinct forms:

Acute Pancreatitis: Sudden onset of pancreatic inflammation, typically resolving with treatment. Can range from mild (self-limiting) to severe (with life-threatening complications including pancreatic necrosis, organ failure, and sepsis).
Chronic Pancreatitis: Persistent, progressive inflammation leading to irreversible structural damage including calcification, ductal scarring, exocrine insufficiency (malabsorption), and endocrine insufficiency (diabetes). Causes chronic pain and malnutrition.

Causes of Pancreatitis

Common Causes in India

Gallstones: The most common cause of acute pancreatitis worldwide a gallstone blocking the common bile duct triggers premature enzyme activation.
Alcohol: The leading cause of chronic pancreatitis and a major cause of acute pancreatitis particularly relevant in Hyderabad's urban population.
Tropical Pancreatitis: A unique form of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis particularly common in India and other tropical countries associated with malnutrition and genetic factors; characterized by intraductal calculi and juvenile-onset diabetes.
Hypertriglyceridemia: Very high blood triglyceride levels can cause acute pancreatitis often underrecognized.
Medications: Certain drugs including azathioprine, thiazide diuretics, and some antibiotics can trigger pancreatitis.
Structural causes: Pancreas divisum, choledochal cyst, ampullary stenosis.
Autoimmune Pancreatitis: A special form where immune-mediated inflammation affects the pancreas responds dramatically to steroids.
Idiopathic: In 10–15% of cases, no obvious cause is identified; EUS at KAGE can identify occult causes.

Pancreatitis Symptoms

Acute Pancreatitis

Severe, sudden-onset upper abdominal pain radiating to the back (boring or band-like pain)
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Rapid heart rate
Abdominal tenderness and guarding
In severe cases jaundice, shock, multi-organ dysfunction

Chronic Pancreatitis

Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, especially after a heavy meal or alcohol, requires emergency evaluation. Do not delay go to KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad immediately.

Recurrent or persistent upper abdominal pain often triggered by eating or alcohol
Steatorrhoea greasy, oily, foul-smelling stools from malabsorption of fat
Significant weight loss and malnutrition
Diabetes mellitus from destruction of insulin-producing cells
Jaundice from bile duct compression by fibrosis

Diagnosing Pancreatitis at KAGE's Pancreas Clinic

Blood tests: Serum amylase and lipase elevated in acute pancreatitis. Also CBC, liver function, renal function, triglycerides, calcium, blood glucose.
Contrast-Enhanced CT (CECT) Abdomen: The primary imaging test for severe acute pancreatitis assesses the extent of inflammation, pancreatic necrosis, and fluid collections.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): KAGE's premier tool for pancreatic diagnosis provides the most detailed imaging of the pancreas, detects small tumors, assesses ductal anatomy, identifies biliary stones, and guides fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for tissue diagnosis. Performed by Dr. Sreekanth Appasani, one of India's most experienced EUS operators.
MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography): Non-invasive imaging of the bile ducts and pancreatic duct identifies structural causes of pancreatitis.
ERCP: Diagnostic and therapeutic used to treat bile duct stones causing pancreatitis and to manage pancreatic duct complications.

Pancreatitis Treatment at KAGE, Hyderabad

Acute Pancreatitis Management

Aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation the cornerstone of acute pancreatitis treatment
Analgesia effective pain control with appropriate medications
Nutritional support early enteral (tube) feeding in severe cases to prevent gut translocation and infection
Antibiotics only for confirmed infected pancreatic necrosis
ERCP for gallstone pancreatitis with biliary obstruction

Advanced Interventions for Pancreatitis Complications at KAGE

Endoscopic Necrosectomy: KAGE's advanced endoscopic technique for removing infected pancreatic necrosis avoiding open surgery in many patients. Dr. Sreekanth Appasani is one of Hyderabad's most experienced endoscopic necrosectomy operators.
EUS-Guided Cystogastrostomy: For draining symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis endoscopically.
ERCP with Pancreatic Stenting: For chronic pancreatitis with dominant pancreatic duct stricture.
Dornier ESWL: KAGE's extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy non-invasively breaks up pancreatic duct calculi in chronic pancreatitis before endoscopic clearance.

Chronic Pancreatitis Management

Strict alcohol abstinence the most important modifiable factor
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) for malabsorption and steatorrhoea
Diabetes management insulin therapy for pancreatic diabetes
Pain management a multidisciplinary approach including endoscopic and surgical options

Conclusion

Experiencing severe abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis? Get expert care at KAGE Pancreas Clinic, KIMS Hospitals Secunderabad. Call: +91-7288842255

Frequently Asked Questions

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden, short-term inflammation of the pancreas it resolves completely in most cases with treatment, leaving no permanent damage. Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing, progressive inflammation leading to irreversible structural changes including calcification, ductal damage, malabsorption, and diabetes. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis especially from alcohol or genetic causes can progress to chronic pancreatitis over time.

Endoscopic necrosectomy is an advanced procedure performed at KAGE where an endoscope is passed through the stomach wall into a collection of infected dead pancreatic tissue (infected necrosis), which is then cleared endoscopically. It is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgical necrosectomy with significantly lower complication rates and faster recovery. Dr. Sreekanth Appasani is one of Hyderabad's most experienced endoscopic necrosectomy operators.

Yes, gallstone pancreatitis is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. A gallstone migrating from the gallbladder can block the common bile duct near where it meets the pancreatic duct, triggering premature enzyme activation and pancreatic inflammation. Treatment involves ERCP to remove the obstructing stone, followed by cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) to prevent recurrence. Both procedures can be managed with gastroenterology and surgical collaboration at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad.

Tropical pancreatitis is a form of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis particularly prevalent in India and other tropical countries. It typically presents in younger patients, often associated with malnutrition and a genetic mutation (SPINK1 gene). It is characterized by large intraductal calculi and juvenile-onset diabetes. It is indeed seen in Hyderabad and across Telangana, and KAGE's Pancreas Clinic has significant experience in managing tropical pancreatitis with ESWL and endoscopic therapy.

KAGE's dedicated Pancreas Clinic offers focused, specialist-level pancreatic care including advanced EUS, ERCP, endoscopic necrosectomy, Dornier ESWL, and nutritional rehabilitation all under one roof. Dr. Sreekanth Appasani has published multiple research papers on pancreatitis in international gastroenterology journals and brings unparalleled expertise to complex pancreatic cases. Located at C/O Gastroenterology Dept, KIMS Hospitals, 1-8-31/1, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Hyderabad – 500003, open Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM–5:30 PM. Call +91-7288842255.