PANCREATITIS

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In Singapore, pancreatitis is one of the digestive conditions our pain specialists help manage, often linked to gallstones or long-term alcohol use. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach. It produces enzymes that help digest food and process sugar. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it releases inflammatory cells and toxins that can affect your lungs, kidneys and heart.

At Singapore Paincare, our specialists work with a gastroenterologist to understand what’s truly driving your pancreatitis pain, and guide you toward relief through the least invasive options available. Our aim is to help manage your pain, support your digestive comfort, and help you return to daily life with confidence.

Pancreatitus

Is Pancreatitis Common in Singapore

Singapore has one of the lower reported rates of pancreatitis among countries studied in a 2024 global burden-of-disease analysis, though the same study found the rate has been rising here faster than in most other high-income countries.1 As on this page, gallstones remain the most commonly identified cause of acute pancreatitis locally, a finding echoed by Singapore General Hospital’s own patient education resources.2 The encouraging news is that most acute pancreatitis cases, around 80%, are mild and resolve well with proper care, according to a 2022 clinical review by surgeons at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.3

What Causes Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes activate while still inside the pancreas, irritating its cells and causing inflammation. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis can damage the pancreas over time, resulting in chronic pancreatitis and scar tissue that reduces function.

The most common causes are gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure used to treat gallstones, can also lead to pancreatitis. Sometimes no cause is found, and this is known as idiopathic pancreatitis. Smokers are, on average, three times more likely to develop chronic pancreatitis than non-smokers, though quitting can lower this risk by around half.

Other causes include:

  • Diabetes
  • Over-consumption of certain medications
  • Abdominal injury
  • High blood triglyceride levels
  • Cystic fibrosis

What Are the Types of Pancreatitis?

Type of Pancreatitis Key Characteristics
Acute pancreatitis Occurs suddenly and briefly. It usually settles once the underlying cause has been treated or resolved.
Chronic pancreatitis Involves ongoing inflammation, even after the original source of injury may no longer be present.

What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis?

Pain

Moderate to severe pain in the upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back and often feels worse after eating.

Other symptoms

Nausea, vomiting, fever and a faster heart rate.

Chronic pancreatitis specifically may also cause unexplained weight loss and foamy diarrhoea with visible oil droplets.

What Complications Can Pancreatitis Cause?

Pancreatitis can lead to several complications:

Complication How It Affects the Body
Kidney failure Acute pancreatitis may cause kidney failure. Severe or persistent cases may require dialysis.
Breathing problems Inflammation can affect lung function, lowering blood oxygen levels.
Infection The damaged pancreas becomes more vulnerable to bacterial infection, which may require intensive treatment or surgery.
Pseudocyst Fluid and debris can collect in cyst-like pockets. A ruptured pseudocyst may cause internal bleeding or infection.
Malnutrition Reduced pancreatic enzyme production can lead to poor nutrient absorption, diarrhoea, and weight loss.
Diabetes Chronic pancreatitis may damage insulin-producing cells, affecting blood sugar control.
Pancreatic cancer risk Long-standing inflammation from chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.

How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?

Our team of pain specialists works alongside a gastroenterologist to evaluate your condition. Tests that may be used to diagnose pancreatitis include blood tests, abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI or stool tests.

What Treatments Are Available for Pancreatitis?

In many cases, non-surgical treatment can help manage pancreatitis. At Singapore Paincare, we aim to treat pain using the least invasive option possible, after first identifying its cause. Our approach focuses on addressing pain generators through targeted injections and minimally invasive procedures, combined with pharmacological treatment and cognitive or physical rehabilitation, to help support your function and may help reduce the risk of pain returning.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Pharmacotherapy

Alongside NSAIDs, our physicians may prescribe antibiotics if a chest or urinary infection is present.

Psychological therapy and dietary management

Our specialists offer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), using planning and recognition techniques. Dietary management, such as reduced alcohol consumption, may also be recommended alongside pancreatic enzyme supplements to support digestion.

Enzymes to improve digestion

For chronic pancreatitis causing diarrhoea or weight loss, pancreatic enzyme supplements can help the body break down and absorb nutrients. These are taken with each meal.

Changes to your diet

Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian, who can help you plan low-fat meals that are high in nutrients.

Interventional Pain Procedures

For severe pain, our pain specialists offer interventional procedures that target the nerve signals travelling from the pancreas to the brain, including:

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided nerve blocks

Uses ultrasound imaging to guide an injection of anaesthetic near the nerves carrying pain signals from the pancreas, helping to block those signals before they reach the brain.

Epidural injection

A steroid and local anaesthetic delivered into the epidural space around the spine to help reduce inflammation and control pain signals.

Neurolysis of the autonomic nerves surrounding the pancreas

Uses a chemical or heat-based technique to disrupt the nerve pathways around the pancreas, which may provide longer-lasting relief than a standard nerve block.

For more refractory chronic pancreatitis pain, a spinal cord stimulator or intrathecal opioid infusion therapy may be considered to help manage pain and reduce reliance on escalating opioid use.

Surgical Treatment

If non-surgical methods are exhausted, surgery may be considered for suitable candidates. As with any surgery, there are associated risks, complications and downtime, so it may not be right for everyone. The pros and cons of non-surgical and surgical options should be carefully discussed with your doctor.

Endoscopic surgery

Endoscopic surgery may be considered for patients whose pancreatitis is caused by gallstones. This procedure can also remove other blockages or damaged sections of the pancreas.

How Can I Prevent Pancreatitis?

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent pancreatitis, including lowering your risk of gallstones, which cause about 40% of acute pancreatitis cases. You can do this by:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Exercising regularly
  • Avoiding alcohol
  • Quitting smoking

A Message From Our Pain Specialist

Managing pancreatitis during the acute stage matters, because chronic pancreatitis is significantly harder to treat once it develops. In chronic pancreatitis, abdominal pain becomes the main feature and can affect daily activities and sleep. It can develop into a chronic pain syndrome, where the original source of pain may no longer be identifiable, meaning it needs to be managed differently from acute pain, which typically responds to rest and recovery time.

Chronic pancreatitis often presents as persistent abdominal pain. Ultrasound or endoscopy may not always reveal a reversible cause. In these cases, doctors may recommend medication to control pain, and pain management independent of the underlying cause becomes the main focus of treatment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach that produces enzymes to help digest food and process sugar. When inflamed, it releases inflammatory cells and toxins that may affect the lungs, kidneys and heart. It can be acute (sudden and brief) or chronic (ongoing).

The most common causes are gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption. Other causes include ERCP procedures, diabetes, certain medications, abdominal injury, high blood triglycerides and cystic fibrosis. Smokers are about three times more likely to develop chronic pancreatitis, though quitting can lower this risk by roughly half.

Pancreatitis typically causes moderate to severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back and worsen after eating. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever and a faster heart rate. Chronic pancreatitis may also cause unexplained weight loss and foamy, oily diarrhoea.

es. Pancreatitis can lead to complications such as kidney failure, breathing problems, infection, pseudocysts, malnutrition and diabetes. Long-standing chronic pancreatitis is also a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, which is why early diagnosis and management matter.

Many diagnostic and treatment options may be claimable, depending on individual policy coverage.

Our pain specialists work alongside a gastroenterologist to diagnose the cause, then focus on the least invasive treatment options. This may include pharmacotherapy, dietary management and cognitive behavioural therapy, with interventional procedures such as nerve blocks, epidural injections or spinal cord stimulation considered for severe or chronic pain.

References:

  1. Xu R, et al. Global, regional, and national pancreatitis burden and health inequality of pancreatitis from 1990 to 2019 with a prediction from 2020 to 2034. BMC Public Health, 2024. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-20796-z ↩
  2. Teo JY. Acute Pancreatitis: Symptoms and Causes. HealthXchange (SingHealth), Singapore General Hospital. https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-manage/acute-chronic-pancreatitis/acute-pancreatitis-symptoms-causes ↩
  3. Chan KS, Shelat VG. Diagnosis, severity stratification and management of adult acute pancreatitis: current evidence and controversies. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2022;14(11):1179-1197. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9727576/ ↩

Last Updated July 2026