Case Analysis For Pancreatitis And Pancreatitis

The pancreas and the gall bladder are two of the most important organs of the digestive system. Together they help with the digestion process. The pancreas and the gall bladder work together with different functions, the gallbladder stores bile that comes from the liver so that it can be used for meals later on and the pancreas produces pancreatic juice that contains digestive enzymes that help break down food. In order to maintain the body stable and healthy, we need the help of the gallbladder and pancreas to function correctly. Which is why, we, as humans should take care of our organs. ( Tim Taylor, Pancreas and Gall Bladder)

“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).

1.Full blood counts: To assess the Hb for evidence of anemia, WBC for evidence of infection.

Also, in some rare cases, surgery is required, life threatening bleeding, perforation of the intestine and inflammation of the abnormal cavity may occur. Other risk factors are inflammation of the joints, eyes, skin and/or liver, malnutrition and partial blocking of the bile ducts which carry bile from the liver to the intestine, however, there is much that can be done about all these complications. One risk and a major one is colon cancer. The risk of developing colon cancer increases when the disorder begins in the childhood, the disorder has been present for more then 8 years and when there is a history of colon cancer in the family. There have cases that colitis can become so severe that the removal of the colon had to be done. It affects everyone differently.

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

Mitochondrial damage is therefore a serious threat to the viability of the acinar and ductal cells, as well as the pancreas as a whole. Bile acids and ethanol metabolites, among the most common pancreatitis-inducing factors, act by causing the release of stored Ca2+ within the ER and inducing extracellular Ca2+ influx. This prolonged increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration leads to mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and decreased intracellular ATP levels. SERCA and PMCA pumps, which remove Ca2+ from the cytoplasm, require ATP to function and will become less active; further contributing to the sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. This continuous overload causes mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and overall damage to the mitochondria.

Pancreatic cancer occurs when build up of cancerous cells develop within the tissues of the pancreas. The build up of those cells can go on undetected for quite some time before pain or any symptoms show themselves. Also some of the pains can be mistaken for symptoms of some other less severe conditions. The pancreas is the organ that produces digestive juices and hormones that regulate blood sugar. Cells called exocrine pancreas cells produce the digestive juices, while cells called endocrine pancreas cells produce the hormones. The majority of pancreatic cancers start in the exocrine cells (WebMD, 2015). Pancreatic cancer is the cause of the 4th most cancer deaths in the United States of American with a median of six or less months and a 5-year survival rate of 4.6% (Sarkar, 2007). That’s something that was news to me but pancreatic cancer is only behind lung and bronchial cancer, colon and rectal cancer, and breast cancer.

The next step in treating a patient with an acute pancreatic attack is focusing on the patient’s current diet and nutrition status. The patient experiencing an acute pancreatitis will need many diet modifications to limit the amount of stimulation to the stomach. However, the patient’s nutrition status must be closely monitored and the appropriate interventions to maintain the patient 's health must be implemented. Acute pancreatitis is a hypermetabolic and hypercatabolic event. Therefore, treatment and maintenance of an individual with acute pancreatitis is contradicting itself. Interventions for this nursing diagnosis include; assessing bowel sounds, maintaining a NPO status, initiating a parental and/ or enteral

Chronic pancreatitis is a continuous inflammatory disorder that is characterized by permanent damage to pancreatic structure and exocrine function. The condition is usually progressive. Symptoms such as vomiting and discomfort after eating may occur intermittently, sometimes accompanied by depression, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In some cases, signs may be as subtle. Chronic pancreatitis may periodically flare up, resulting in acute pancreatitis(Shell, Pg 4).

Every patient suffers from nutritional deficiencies when they get sick. Throughout this report I will discuss the nutritional deficiencies that patients with pancreatitis experience, what the pathophysiology of pancreatitis is, and how these imbalances happen, how to manage these imbalances of nutrition and how it affects the patient across the lifespan. “Pancreatitis is an acute inflammation of the pancreas. The degree of inflammation varies from mild edema to severe hemorrhagic necrosis. Acute pancreatitis is most common in middle-aged men and women”. (Louis (2014) Pg. 1030). Normally the pancreatic duct would be open thus the

There are two patients with two different medical diagnosis COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and pancreatitis. COPD is caused by an obstruction of airflow and breathing problems for the patient. According to the CDC (Center of Disease Control) the prevalence of COPD occurs in both men and women greater than 18 years of age. There has been a decline in COPD for men from1999 (57.0 per 100.000 of the population to 2010 (47.6 per 100,000 of the population). In women there has been an increase of COPD from 1999 (35.3 per 100,000 of the population to 2010 (36.4 per 100,000 of the population) (CDC, 2014).

Obstructive chronic pancreatitis is caused by scars, tumors, cysts or stenosis of the papilla and usually improves after removal of the obstruction (Balci,

Severe acute pancreatitis is characterised by persistent organ failure. Organ failure that develops during the early phase is set in motion by the activation of cytokine cascades resulting in SIRS. When SIRS is present and persistent, there is an increased risk that the pancreatitis will be complicated by persistent organ failure, and the patient should be treated as if they have severe acute pancreatitis (Banks et al., 2012).

Pancreas cells damage and liver damage were the most important factors responsible for endocrine complications [32].

Chronic cholecystitis is caused by repeated attacks of acute cholecystitis. This leads to the thickening of the gallbladder wall and a decrease in motility. Cholecystitis can cause a number of complications. Gallbladder distention leads to the buildup of bile and cause pain. Once the bile has built up, it may become infected. Untreated cholecystitis can cause tissue death or perforation. Infection is a serious complication in cholecystitis. This condition can become life-threatening and spread to other parts of the body.