Prevention of pancreatitis
The most important way to treat acute pancreatitis is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. People who drink alcohol excessively or abuse drugs have a higher risk of developing acute pancreatitis. People who are obese are also at higher risk. Thus, part of preventing pancreatitis is reducing the risk by drinking alcohol moderately or abstaining from it, keeping a healthy weight, and living a healthier lifestyle.
In patients with known gallstones, one way to prevent pancreatitis is to perform a cholecystectomy and remove the gallbladder before it starts causing trouble. Otherwise, the gallstones may become stuck in the common duct, where the pancreatic juice and the bile are spilled to the duodenum, and pancreatitis ensues.
