Pancreatitis

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Pancreatitis

• Unsha Bakker Albert Espinal Kristie Pimentel
  Cindy De la RosaPERIOD 9 - CRULL

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What is the pancreas?

• The pancreas is a gland organ located in the
  digestive and endocrine system. It produces
  several hormones including insulin, glucagon, and
  secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive
  enzymes that can go to the small intestine. As
  pancreatic juices are created, they go into the
  main pancreatic duct. The duct connects the
  pancreas to the liver and gallbladder. These
  enzymes aid the breakdown of carbohydrates,
  protein, fat in the chyme.

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Pancreatitis

• Pancreatitis is inflammation or infection of the
  pancreas. When the pancreas is inflamed, the
  enzymes inside it attack and damage the tissues
  that produce them.
• Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form
  is serious and can lead to complications.
• In severe cases, bleeding, infection, and
  permanent tissue damage may occur.

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Symptoms

• Symptoms may include
• Abdominal pain
• Chills
• Clammy skin
• Fatty stools
• Fever
• Mild jaundice
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Vomiting

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Acute Pancreatitis

• Acute pancreatitis is when the pancreas swells or
  is in the state of inflammation.
• This occurs suddenly and usually slows down
  within a few days of treatment.
• Each year, about 210,000 people in the United
  States are admitted to the hospital with acute
  pancreatitis.
• The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is
  the existence of gallstonessmall, pebble-like
  substances made of hardened bilethat cause
  inflammation in the pancreas as they pass through
  the common bile duct.
• Acute pancreatitis can occur within hours or as
  long as 2 days after consuming alcohol.
• Other causes of acute pancreatitis include
  abdominal trauma, medications, infections,
  tumors, and genetic abnormalities of the pancreas.

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Symptoms and Treatments

• Few days stay in the hospital for
  intravenous(IV) fluids, antibiotics, and
  medication to relieve pain.
• The person cannot eat or drink so the pancreas
  can rest.
• If vomiting occurs, the person may need a tube to
  be placed through the nose and into the stomach
  in order to get rid of fluid and air.
• Before leaving the hospital, the person is
  usually advised not to smoke, drink alcoholic
  beverages, or eat fatty meals.
• In some cases, the cause of the pancreatitis is
  highly detected but in others, more tests are
  needed after the person is released from the
  hospital and the pancreas is healed.

• Gradual or sudden pain in the upper abdomen that
  sometimes extends through the back.
• The pain may be mild at first and feel worse
  after eating.
• Other symptoms may include
• a swollen and tender abdomen
• nausea and vomiting
• fever
• a rapid pulse
• Severe acute pancreatitis may cause dehydration
  and low blood pressure.
• The heart, lungs, or kidneys can fail. If
  bleeding occurs in the pancreas, shock and even
  death may follow.

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Chronic Pancreatitis

• Inflammation of the pancreas that does not heal
  or improve and over time usually leads to
  permanent damage.
• Occurs when digestive enzymes attack the pancreas
  and nearby tissues, which causes pain.
• Often develops in people who are between the ages
  of 30 and 40.
• The most common cause of is many years of heavy
  alcohol use.
• Can be triggered by one acute attack that damages
  the pancreatic duct.
• The damaged duct causes the pancreas to become
  inflamed.
• Scar tissue develops and the pancreas slowly
  destroys itself.

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Symptoms and Treatments

• May require hospitalization for pain management,
  IV hydration, and nutritional support.
• Feedings may be necessary for several weeks if
  the person continues to lose weight.
• If the pancreas does not secrete enzymes on its
  own, the doctor may prescribe synthetic
  pancreatic enzymes.
• The enzymes should be taken with every meal to
  help the person digest food and regain some
  weight.
• A nutritious diet is then required, low in fat/
  small frequent meals
• Drinking plenty of fluids with the limitation of
  caffeinated beverages
• Advised not to smoke or consume alcoholic
  beverages
• Surgery may be necessary to remove part of the
  pancreas.

• Experience upper abdominal pain, although some
  people may have no pain at all
• The pain may spread to the back, feel worse when
  eating or drinking, and become constant and
  disabling.
• In some cases, abdominal pain goes away as the
  condition worsens, most likely because the
  pancreas is no longer making digestive enzymes.
• Other symptoms include
• nausea
• vomiting
• weight loss
• diarrhea
• oily stools
• People may lose weight, even when their appetite
  and eating habits are normal.
• The weight loss occurs because the body does not
  secrete enough pancreatic enzymes to digest food,
  so nutrients are not absorbed normally.
• Poor digestion leads to malnutrition due to
  excretion of fat in the stool.

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Avoiding Pancreatitis

• Do not consume dairy (milk, cheese, eggs, and ice
  cream), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, preservatives,
  and chemical food additives.
• Eat foods high in B-vitamins and iron, such as
  whole grains, dark leafy greens (such as spinach
  and kale), and sea vegetables.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as
  blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and
  vegetables (such as squash and bell pepper).
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads,
  pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats,
  cold-water fish, tofu or beans for protein.
• Use healthy oils for cooking, such as olive oil
  or vegetable oil.
• Eliminate consumption of trans-fatty acids, found
  in commercially baked goods such as cookies,
  crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings,
  donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water everyday.
• Exercise moderately for 30 minutes daily, 5 days
  a week.