Acute Pancreatitis Essay

Acute Pancreatitis: Acute inflammation of the pancreas.The most common pathogenic mechanism is autodigestion of the pancreas. The etiological factor injures pancreatic cells or activates the pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas rather than in the intestine which may be due to reflux of bile acids into the pancreatic duct through an open or distended sphincter of Oddi. The result may also be caused by blockage created by a gallstone. Obstruction of pancreatic ducts results in pancreatic ischemia.The pathophysiology involvement of acute pancreatitis is

“Each year, acute pancreatitis sends more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital. Many of those who suffer from pancreatic problems are also heavy drinkers” (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 15). The pancreas is an important organ which aids in digestions and energy conversion. The pancreas directs enzymes to the small intestine to digest nutrients and it also secretes insulin and glucagon. The body’s main source of energy is glucose and insulin allows additional glucose to be stored away in the body properly. Too much alcohol damages cells in the pancreas, causing complications with insulin, leaving the organ open to inflammation. Alcohol causes the pancreas to discharge the enzymes intended for the small intestine back into the pancreas which can lead to inflammation and the swelling of tissues and blood vessels. Pancreatitis is the inflammation which causes the organ to malfunction and if one continues to drink, it can magnify into chronic pancreatitis when the inflammation is constant (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 15-16). Pancreatitis causing severe abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and is not curable. Sixty-percent of circumstances result from alcohol; although, some have been linked to gallstones (Freeman).

Incretin based drugs have proven to be effective glucose-lowering agents (Butler et al, 2013). But there have been concerns with respect to the long-term consequences of using such therapies. The issues raised were regarding their causal relationship with acute pancreatitis (AP). There are clearly conflicting evidence that have been presented in preclinical studies and in epidemiologic studies which suggest an association which may or may not be a causal relationship between these drugs and AP. (Butler et al, 2013)

The fundamental principle of the phenomenon known as sepsis is an amplified immune response to a pathogen. It is important to note that the insult originates from the excessive host response to, rather than the pathogenicity of, the infective agent1. The upregulation of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1α/β, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, and MIF) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-4) mediators have been found in various sepsis states2. The exact function, value, and limits of this peculiar, and extravagant, immune response is not fully understood3. Historically, sepsis and processes within the sepsis spectrum have been difficult to truly identify and diagnose1. In 2012, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign identified three major categories of the phenomenon: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic

Because of the excessive pancreatic juice and bile Zachary’s pancreas will not be able to function correctly, this will result in a blockage of the secretions that will continue to build causing further damage and inflammation. Zachary will end up with extrahephatic jaundice due to the blockage of bile drainage and he will become malnourished and lose weight.

Major outcomes for Mr. C would include managing activities of daily living effectively, decreasing his pain level and notifying members of the heath care team prior to his pain level becoming unmanageable. He will be able to report that the pain management regimen is acceptable using the numeric scale. Mr. C will use non-pharmacological methods to help achieve comfort, recognize early signs and symptoms of pancreatitis exacerbation and cutback alcohol consumption or preferably alcohol cessation (Urden, Linda D; Stacy, Kathleen M; Lough, Mary E;, 2016).

The disease can also result in various obstructions of the pancreas, hindering digestion (World Health Organization, 2012, p.5).

The pain is constant and becomes more severe as the days go on. There are many possible indications as to what causes pancreatitis. Some of these causes include alcoholism, cystic fibrosis, gallstones, trauma, and family history of pancreatitis. When a patient has repeated flare-ups of pancreatitis, it is classified as chronic pancreatitis. As this disease progresses, it usually leads to permanent damage of the pancreas. Pancreatitis is treated in many different ways. Once the underlying cause of the disease is known, treatment may include removal of bile duct obstructions, cholecystectomy, treatment for alcoholism, or pancreas surgery to remove some of the damaged

This is usually caused by a positive energy balance, and more relevantly a sedentary lifestyle. Increased amounts of visceral fat can be detrimental to the anti-inflammatory phenotype of adipose tissue, which is normally characterised by small adipocytes and the presence of anti-inflammatory immune cells, or adipokines, such as M2-macrophages and CD4-regulatory T-cells (Bishop et al., 2011). These cells release the anti-inflammatory cytokine adiponectin. The presence of visceral fat causes these adipocytes to expand, and then infiltrated by pro-inflammatory adipokines, such as M1-macrophages. This causes the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as CRP and TNF (Bishop et al., 2011). These cause a state of low-grade systemic inflammation, which can cause vascular damage and disrupt regular metabolism (Canino et al., 2011)

Pancreatic insufficiency results from the blockage of pancreatic ducts, resulting in difficulty in absorption of fats during digestion.1 For this

Elevated lipase and amylase levels cause breakdown of local adipose tissue. The time of increased amylase and lipase occurs 16-25% of the time in DKA. Some reports show that nonspecific elevations of amylase in DKA. Increased serum lipase is also assumed to indicate acutal pancreatic involvement. (Rizvi) “Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis rests on the presence of abdominal pain and associated increses of amylase and lipas.” (Rizvi)

Obesity has become the silent killer in American society. It is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases including the four leading causes of death. Obesity can be linked to stroke, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, all serious health problems that can be fatal. Obesity is linked to 300,000 deaths annually in the industrial world (Flamholz, 2001). Often in society and in the medical community there exists a lack of understanding that obesity is in fact a disease and needs attention, otherwise the rates of many diseases will continue to climb.

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process ranging from mild abdominal discomfort to severe disease involving multiple organ systems. Diagnosis is based on the presence of at least two of the following three features: abdominal pain; increased pancreatic amylase, and/or lipase levels to ≥3 times the upper limit of normal; and imaging tests showing characteristic findings of acute pancreatitis. The incidence of acute pancreatitis is known to differ geographically due to differences in alcohol consumption or in the incidence of gallstones disease in different parts of the world. Cholelithiasis is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis

What does it do? “Pancreatic cancer is typically diagnosed at a late stage because it doesn't cause symptoms until it's too late. They usually start after the tumor is a significant size. By then, chances are, it has enlarged [that is, spread to other parts of the body].When doctors do pancreatic cancer surgery, they take out 95 percent of the pancreas, including the tumor, and then they leave a small remnant of the pancreas in there that serves [the insulin-producing] functions. The patients of pancreatic cancer, they die of liver failure from their liver being taken over by tumor.” Scientific American.

Chronic pancreatitis: Chronic pancreatitis, a long-term inflammation of the pancreas, is highly linked with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, but most people with pancreatitis never develop pancreatic