Moderately severe (transient organ failure, local complications, or exacerbation of comorbid disease)
Severe (persistent organ failure > 48 hours)
Function of the pancreas
The pancreas is needed to produce insulin and hormones for indigestion (messengers in the body).
The pancreas helps regulate your blood sugar levels and appetite, stimulate stomach acids, and tell your stomach when to empty.
This condition can lead to:
Ascites
An increased or high level of fluid collection within the peritoneum (the sac that contains the intestines within the abdominal cavity- the outside lining of the organs – this space has peritoneal fluid which helps to reduce friction between the belly and the organs during digestion).
The blood volume is reduced and the kidney then responds and try to retain salt and water in the body, this causes further swelling.
Ascites can also be caused by cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and tuberculosis affecting the lining of the abdomen.
Symptoms include:
Increased abdominal swelling and belly size
Ankle swelling
Shortness of breath
Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
Appetite loss
Varices
Described as enlarged veins. Blood that is meant for the portal system, is diverted to and gathers in other veins as it makes its way to the heart these include along the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum and/or anus.
This can put pressure on blood vessels and they can rupture and bleed.
Anyone with the above condition and bleeds from any orifice must seek urgent medical attention
Diagnosis Tests
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis requires the patient to meet two of the following three criteria:
Abdominal pain consistent with acute pancreatitis (acute onset of persistent, severe epigastric pain often radiating to the back)
Serum lipase or amylase levels at least three times above the upper limit of normal
Characteristic features of acute pancreatitis on contrast-enhanced CT, MRI, or transabdominal ultrasonography.
Sudden pain or a constant ache in centre of abdomen which the ache travels from abdomen to back?
Forward or curling into a ball relieve pain?
Jaundice (Yellow skin colour on skin and whites of eyes (jaundice) that can be itchy, pain over liver area and may have urine darker than normal and may have stools appear pale)?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Jaundice (Yellow skin colour on skin and whites of eyes (jaundice) that can be itchy, pain over liver area and may have urine darker than normal and may have stools appear pale)
This condition may show similar symptoms to and/or may lead to:
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
A constant and gradual decrease of the exocrine function of the acinar cells (highly specialized structure developed for synthesis -reactions, storage, and secretion of digestive enzymes) which results in an inability to digest food properly.
This is due to the constant scarring of the pancreas tissue, and this eventually destroys the normal tissue and is being replaced by scar tissue with poor digestive function.
Pancreatic secretion is controlled by hormonal and neuronal mechanisms.
The principal regulatory hormones are secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK).
Both are tightly regulated by negative feedback mechanisms.
Secretin is secreted in response to acid in the duodenum, causing duct cells to release water and bicarbonate.
CCK is secreted from gut endocrine cells in response to the presence of protein and fat in the proximal intestine, acting directly and through vagal afferents to stimulate pancreatic acinar cells to release digestive proenzymes.
Pancreatic lipase accounts for up to 90% of fat digestion, maldigestion of fat is more profound in EPI than maldigestion of proteins and carbohydrates.
Medscape
Symptoms include:
Steatorrhea: Pale, bulky, and malodorous stools (due to poor fat digestion).
These stools often float on top of the toilet water with oily droplets and are difficult to flush.
Lifestyle modifications (avoidance of fatty foods, limitation of alcohol intake, cessation of smoking, and consumption of a well-balanced diet) have been shown to positively affect the quality of life for these patients, more so than any other therapeutic measures.
Insulin does not improve EPI.
Fat consumption does not need to be entirely eliminated because it is necessary to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Nuts, seeds, and fish (eg, salmon, tuna) that have healthy fat are recommended.
Oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, fruits and vegetables, and skinless chicken or turkey breast are low-fat foods that can also provide other types of nutrients (carbohydrates and proteins).
Certain vitamins should be added to the diet of these patients in order to overcome their deficiency and eliminate the symptoms.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Pancreatitis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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