A Simple Guide to Pancreatitis, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

This book describes Pancreatitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related DiseasesPancreatitis is an acute or chronic pancreas inflammationChronic disease follows attacks of acute pancreas infectionThe presence of gallstone is the most common cause of pancreatitisSmall gallstone blocked the bile duct causing pancreatic necrosisPatients present with epigastric abdominal pain aggravated by eatingThere may be also abdominal distension, nausea and vomitingThere may be mild fever, shock and hypotensionThere may also abdominal tenderness and distensionDiagnosis is by high blood levels of lipase and amylaseAn ultrasound scan may be done to look for pseudocyst in pancreasComplications are damage to the pancreas or kidney functionThere are also shortness of breath and poor food absorptionTreatment is immediate hospital treatment and admissionPain management, nutritional support and IV hydrationAnalgesic or antispasmodic medicine usually by injectionMost pancreatitis patients have complete resolution-An original poem by Kenneth KeeRecently a patient of mine returned from Hong Kong and had severe abdominal discomfort.
I suspected that it may food poisoning and prescribed a course of antibiotics and something to stop the abdominal cramp. The abdominal persisted in spite of treatment so I referred him for an abdominal X-ray, ultrasound and blood tests at the nearest hospital. Blood tests showed high levels of lipase and amylase. Abdominal X-ray did not show any abnormality or gallstones. Ct scan of the abdomen however showed diffuse swelling of the pancreas, suggesting together with high levels of lipase and amylase the presence of pancreatitis.
He was immediately admitted and put on a liquid diet with infusions of saline solution and antibiotics (for suspected infection) and analgesic. His blood glucose is found to be high due to effect of reduced insulin production of the pancreas. He has improved with the treatment and had been advised not to take excessive alcohol and fatty food which can affect his pancreas. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas.
When the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes inside it digest and injure the tissues that produce them. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either type can be serious and cause complications. In severe pancreatitis, bleeding, infection and permanent tissue injury may happen. Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that happens suddenly and resolves in a few days with treatment. In most patients (80%), the inflammation is mild and recovers within a weekIn some patients (20%) the inflammation becomes dangerous.
Parts of the pancreas and surrounding tissues may die from necrosis of the cells. Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that does not cure or become better. It becomes worse over time and results in permanent injury. Pancreatitis is normally caused by:Alcoholism and diseases of the biliary tractBacterial infections (streptococcus)Viral infection (mumps)TraumaSymptoms:Acute abdominal pain starting from the epigastrium, radiating to the backPain normally severe after a large meal or drinking boutPain is worse lying supineMild fever and bodyachesDiagnosis:Abdminal tenderness in the epigastriumSerum lipase and amylase very highCAT scan for gallstonesTreatment:Pain medicinesI/V FluidsNo food or fluid by mouthAntibiotics for infectionsSurgery of gallstoneTABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 PancreatitisChapter 2 CausesChapter 3 SymptomsChapter 4 DiagnosisChapter 5 TreatmentChapter 6 PrognosisChapter 7 GallstoneCha...