Acute pancreatitis, diabetes after many days of continuous drinking

A 45-year-old man who frequently drinks has recently suffered from severe abdominal pain, high fever, etc.; the doctor diagnosed him with diabetes, acute pancreatitis, and fatty liver.

After being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Pham Van Hung's (45 years old, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) health was stable, no more pain and bloating, no more fever, and was discharged from the hospital.

Mr. Hung said that after many days of continuous drinking, his stomach was swollen like gas, with tingling pain, sometimes writhing pain, and fever. His wife took him to the hospital for examination. The doctor found that he had symptoms of severe acute pancreatitis, so he was taken to the Emergency Department.

Dr. Vuong My Dung (ICU) noticed that the patient had severe abdominal pain and increasing difficulty breathing. Blood test results showed that the white blood cell count had doubled and pancreatic enzymes had increased 9 times, and triglyceride blood fat had increased 15 times compared to normal levels. The inflammatory index test was 169 mg/L (in people without inflammation, from 0-1 mg/L to less than 10 mg/L), and the HbA1C test (assessing blood sugar in 3 months) had increased. The patient's liver was still enlarged, with diffuse fatty infiltration, thrombosis in the splenic vein, acute pancreatitis; lesions in the lower left lung area.

Doctor My Dung said that patients with unhealthy eating habits, especially drinking a lot of alcohol 2-3 times or 7 times a week, increase the risk of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, pancreatitis. Severe cases of acute pancreatitis, if not detected and treated promptly, can lead to complications such as respiratory failure, blood infection, multiple organ failure..., even death.

ICU nurses take care of patients. Photo: Dinh Tien — ICU nurses take care of patients. Photo: *Dinh Tien*

Doctor Dung gave the patient intravenous fluids, insulin, pain relievers, and continuous blood filtration to adsorb cytokines to prevent complications caused by severe acute pancreatitis such as respiratory failure, sepsis, multiple organ failure...

After 3 days of dialysis and treatment, the patient's health improved significantly, his abdomen was less distended, he gradually started eating again, he did not vomit, and all his indicators decreased. The patient continued to receive treatment to stabilize his blood sugar and splenic vein thrombosis. After a week, these conditions improved and the patient was discharged from the hospital.

Mr. Hung shared that he had a habit of drinking a lot, and his wife's advice ignored it. When he got sick, he heard the doctor's explanation and understood and sympathized with his wife. When his drinking friends came to visit, he advised them to quit drinking.

Doctors advise people to have a healthy lifestyle, eat fresh food, exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day, and limit alcohol consumption. Regular health check-ups help detect health problems for early treatment, high efficiency, and cost reduction.

Dinh Tien

* Patient's name has been changed.

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