Acute Pancreatitis: An Integrated Approach to Laboratory Diagnosis and Nursing Management-An Updated Review

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder with a variable course, ranging from a self-limited episode to severe disease associated with organ failure, local complications, and death. Early recognition and effective management are essential to improve outcomes and reduce long-term pancreatic damage. Aim: This review aims to summarize the diagnosis, causes, clinical course, inpatient management, complications, and strategies for preventing recurrent AP. Methods: This narrative review addresses the main aspects of AP, including diagnostic criteria, etiological assessment, severity classification, supportive treatment, and cause-specific interventions. It also discusses pancreatic necrosis, acute compartment syndrome, endocrine and exocrine dysfunction, and recurrent disease. Results: Diagnosis is based on at least two of three features: characteristic abdominal pain, serum amylase or lipase levels at least three times the upper limit of normal, and characteristic imaging findings. Gallstones and alcohol are major causes, while hypertriglyceridemia, medications, procedures, and less common conditions also contribute. Management primarily involves monitoring, intravenous fluid resuscitation, analgesia, and early oral or enteral nutrition. Severe disease may require multidisciplinary care and a minimally invasive step-up approach for infected necrosis. Long-term complications include diabetes mellitus and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Recurrence prevention depends on addressing the underlying cause through alcohol abstinence, smoking cessation, cholecystectomy, triglyceride control, medication review, and treatment of specific disorders. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis, severity-based supportive care, timely management of complications, and targeted prevention are central to reducing morbidity and preventing progression to chronic pancreatitis, while supporting long-term follow-up and patient education.