This is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas triggered by the inappropriate activation of pancreatic enzymes, with tissue damage and a local inflammatory response.

• Gallstones: : This is the most common cause (30-75%).
• Alcoholism. Alcohol is the second most common cause (15%).

• Abdominal pain:: presented abruptly from the onset
• Nausea and vomiting:: (in 90% of the cases) lasting for several hours.

Acute pancreatitis is self-limiting, which means that it usually resolves itself over time. Up to 90% of individuals recover from acute pancreatitis without complications.

In addition to a physical exam and the complete medical history, the diagnostic procedures for pancreatitis include:

• Abdominal x-ray.
• Blood tests.
• Ultrasound (Also called sonogram)
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Computerized tomography (Also called a CT or CAT scan)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
• BREATH TESTS: The ¹³C-mixed triglyceride breath test is a non-invasive test for determining pancreatic lipase activity in which the relevant step is the hydrolysis of the ester group by pancreatic lipase to form 13C-octanoic acid triglyceride, which will be directly absorbed and oxidized in the liver to finally produce ¹³CO₂. The¹³CO₂/¹²CO₂ ratio in the breath sample is representative of the lipase activity.

• ¹³C-MIXED TRIGLYCERIDE

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• Wikipedia