This research is being done to determine if the administration of a short course of
intravenous hydrocortisone, an anti-inflammatory medication, to patients with severe acute
pancreatitis will improve their clinical outcomes and decrease the length of hospitalization.
We think that because inflammation in the body drives the progression of pancreatitis, giving
a short course of intravenous hydrocortisone may mitigate disease progression and improve
clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.