Essay On Chronic Pancreatitis

"Cancer of the pancreas is a genetic disease that is the fifth most common cause of death in both men and women. Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 28,000 Americans each year, or five out of 100,000 people" (Mayo Clinic, 1998). According to physicians at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, "pancreatic cancer is the challenge of the twenty-first century." So, where exactly is the pancreas located in our bodies, and what does it do? The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach that is shaped somewhat like a fish. The pancreas is about six inches long and less than two inches wide, and it extends across the abdomen. The pancreas consists of two separate glands inside the same organ, the exocrine gland and the

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

1. Describe the anatomic location of the pancreas relative to the other organs in the upper portion of the abdominal cavity. - The pancreas is about 6 inches long and sits across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach and liver, leveled with the top of the small intestine and it also borders the liver, spleen and kidneys. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) through a small tube called the pancreatic duct. The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body.

“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).

Pancreatic cancer is currently number four in cancer related deaths for both male and female. Why is pancreatic cancer awareness not reconsidered like breast cancer (second most common deaths in women.) Pancreatic cancer kills just about or more than breast cancer.

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)

Pancreatic Cancer is cancer of an organ in the human body called the pancreas, which is located behind the lower part of the stomach. The function of this organ is to secrete certain essential enzymes to digest food and also secrete hormones to metabolize sugars such as insulin and glucagon (Mayoclinic). People get pancreatic cancer when the cells of the pancreas develop genetic mutations; and these can form in both the exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas, but exocrine tumors are more common than endocrine tumors. Because this cancer spreads very quickly throughout the body and the symptoms of the disease don’t usually appear until the cancer is at an advanced stage, it is a leading cause of death

Approximately 20% of pancreatic cancer is found to be operable or resectable. The complete resection of the primary lesion is best treatment for patients with localized pancreatic cancer. However the risk of both local and distal recurrence is high in following resection. In early stage pancreatic cancer the complete resection are associated with considerable morbidity in 40–60% of patients and mortality in less than 3% of patients (Sohn et al., 2000; Winter et al., 2006). Moreover, it takes 2–3 months for complete recovery to a normal quality of life. Although the 5-year survival rate of resected pancreatic cancer is approximately 20% and the median overall survival time is 17–27 months (Winter et al., 2006).

Today was my first day at metro hospital. I had an interesting situation with a patient. The patient was admitted with a hemorrhagic pseudo cyst and a history of chronic pancreatic with complaints of abdominal pain. After doing a CT scan, they found splenic hematoma. They did a CT scan and found a large gastric mass, with evidence of pancreatitis. That might have been what was causing the pain. This did bring bad memories of the last patient I had. Pancreatitis is not a joke. I went in to meet the patient to find that he was grumpy. I noticed while talking to him that he just wanted to leave the hospital. I even found out that he has been a chronic smoker for majority of his life. Nevertheless, since his admission, he has not smoked since.

There are three factors that helps when forming a nutrition program. First, it helps to have an increased knowledge of the Cystic Fibrosis disease process. Second, you will benefit from and early diagnosis and intervention. Third, if you can use improved therapeutic products such as replacement pancreatic enzymes in the form of capsule-encased enteric-coated microspheres that correct the maldigestion and help support energy nutrition growth needs. With the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, commonly called “PERT”, it is now recommended that people with Cystic Fibrosis consume a high energy, high protein diet with no fat restrictions. Some people with Cystic Fibrosis follow a low fat diet advice which was given to them before the development of the enteric-coated enzyme preparations. Even when one is using PERT to it’s max they are still malabsorbing 10-20%/. PERT is a completely individual treatment because each case of Cystic Fibrosis if different based on that person’s needs. Cystic Fibrosis can lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with progressive damage to the airway epithelial cells and pancreatic insufficiency from fibrosis and resulting in a lack of pancreatic enzymes. The overall goal is to support the nutrition and the growth for all ages of Cystic Fibrosis

Pain medication. An individual may be prescribed medication to suppress or manage their pain. Dependent on how much pain the individual is in they will be prescribed an Analgesics class drug. If the individual is in mild to moderate pain they may be prescribed Non-opioids such as paracetamol and NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. If, however the individual is in moderate to severe pain they may be prescribed an opioid drug such as codeine or a stronger opioids such morphine.

Management of chronic pain can be very difficult and it is especially important to personalize the plan of care to the client and to the type of chronic pain, rather than by its cause or its severity. One of the most often relied on ways to manage chronic pain in the elderly is through pharmaceutical methods. (Pateinakis, 2013) In the elderly differences in drug efficacy and the incidences of toxicity due to decreased albumin blood serum levels and differences in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Because of the increased risks, elderly clients should begin taking the lowest effective dose, and then gradually increase the dosage to achieve the steady state and desired effects. To begin the treatment of chronic pain, weighing

She does have evidence of chronic pancreatitis on her pancreatogram. At this point, we are going to giver her the go-ahead to begin taking in some oral feeds and hopefully can then taper her G-J feeds. In the mean time, I have scheduled her to see our pancreatic surgeon, [Name], to at least initiate some discussion about the possibility of a total pancreatectomy with islet cell _____(autotransplantation).

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).

Pt stated 20 years ago when she was pregnant with her son she was dx with pancreatitis. No treatment with mediation was prescribed due to pregnancy pt was informed to change eating habit which she did and the pain subsided. She stated she have not had that pain since. Pt is concern because her father died from pancreatic cancer 37 years ago.