Pancreatitis: Pancreas and Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Agents
Pancreatitis
Brandon C. Hyatt
Salem State University
The first part of this paper will be an overview of the pathophysiology of pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, and the second part will elaborate on my clinical experience with a patient I was taking care that suffered from pancreatitis.
The pancreas is the organ within the human body that is located underneath the stomach and is responsible for insulin production and other certain digestive enzymes. Inflammation in the pancreas is caused by the infiltration of pancreatic enzymes into the tissues of the pancreas, which in turn cause irritation and edema to the surrounding tissues (Lewis et al., 2007). There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic, of which both exhibit similar symptoms. Vege (2010) states, “once the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis has been established, the cause of the pancreatitis should be determined. Gallstones and alcohol abuse account for 60 to 75 percent and should be diligently looked for in all patients presenting with pancreatitis.”
Acute pancreatitis is a short-term condition of which the inflammatory process will generally remain localized in the pancreas. According to Vege (2010), symptoms of acute pancreatitis mainly consist of severe upper abdominal pain and increased blood levels of pancreatic digestive enzymes. The pain may be localized to the upper left and/or right quadrant of the abdomen, or the mid-epigastrium. Pain can range from mild to severe, may be steady or infrequent, and it can localize in the pancreas or radiate to other organs and parts of the body, such as the back. A patient may experience a slight fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen or distended abdomen, and increased blood pressure.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term condition of which the symptoms can come and go throughout the remainder of the patient’s lifetime. Freedman (2009) states, “patients with chronic calcifying disease, particularly those who develop early
Brandon C. Hyatt
Salem State University
The first part of this paper will be an overview of the pathophysiology of pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, and the second part will elaborate on my clinical experience with a patient I was taking care that suffered from pancreatitis.
The pancreas is the organ within the human body that is located underneath the stomach and is responsible for insulin production and other certain digestive enzymes. Inflammation in the pancreas is caused by the infiltration of pancreatic enzymes into the tissues of the pancreas, which in turn cause irritation and edema to the surrounding tissues (Lewis et al., 2007). There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic, of which both exhibit similar symptoms. Vege (2010) states, “once the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis has been established, the cause of the pancreatitis should be determined. Gallstones and alcohol abuse account for 60 to 75 percent and should be diligently looked for in all patients presenting with pancreatitis.”
Acute pancreatitis is a short-term condition of which the inflammatory process will generally remain localized in the pancreas. According to Vege (2010), symptoms of acute pancreatitis mainly consist of severe upper abdominal pain and increased blood levels of pancreatic digestive enzymes. The pain may be localized to the upper left and/or right quadrant of the abdomen, or the mid-epigastrium. Pain can range from mild to severe, may be steady or infrequent, and it can localize in the pancreas or radiate to other organs and parts of the body, such as the back. A patient may experience a slight fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen or distended abdomen, and increased blood pressure.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term condition of which the symptoms can come and go throughout the remainder of the patient’s lifetime. Freedman (2009) states, “patients with chronic calcifying disease, particularly those who develop early
References: Lewis, Sharon L., RN, PhD. et al. (2007). Disorders of the Pancreas, Medical-Surgical Nursing (pages 1118-1125). St. Louis, MO. Freedman, Steven D., MD, PhD. (2009). Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis in adults. Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~EzkfCtNwumVrg Vege, Santhi Swaroop, MD. (2010). Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~6pp6uT1OKQbJN Vege, Santhi Swaroop, MD. (2010). Treatment of acute pancreatitis. Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~vZvZZV7O4bEjQw