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Pancreatitis: Pancreas and Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Agents

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Pancreatitis
Brandon C. Hyatt
Salem State University

The first part of this paper will be an overview of the pathophysiology of pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, and the second part will elaborate on my clinical experience with a patient I was taking care that suffered from pancreatitis.
The pancreas is the organ within the human body that is located underneath the stomach and is responsible for insulin production and other certain digestive enzymes. Inflammation in the pancreas is caused by the infiltration of pancreatic enzymes into the tissues of the pancreas, which in turn cause irritation and edema to the surrounding tissues (Lewis et al., 2007). There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic, of …show more content…

A nasogastric tube may also be necessary in order to decompress the stomach. Clear liquids may be initiated first then gradually as the patient gets better begin to introduce soft to solid foods. Some expected nursing diagnoses for a patient with pancreatitis would be knowledge deficit, pain, and imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements.
On Wednesday, September 15, 2010 I had the pleasure to assist in taking care of a patient I will refer to as M.B. y patient, M.B. is a widowed, white, female of 72 years old, 5’ 7” tall, and weighs 165.66 lbs. M.B. was admitted via ER on September 10, 2010 for abdominal pain and a poor nutritional intake. M.B.’s admitting diagnosis was abdominal pain, acute pancreatitis, hypokalemia, and diabetes.
Patient is retired and lives with daughter in an in-law apartment. Prior to hip surgery she could perform most ADL’s on her own. Now she has become quiet dependent on most day-to-day activities.
M.B.’s past medical history consists of: hypertension, breast cancer, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, malignant hyperthermia, atrial fibrillation, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, chronic cervical pain, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, and Chron’s disease. Allergies are heparin, sulfa, flagyl, an IV die. Only known surgeries are hysterectomy and recent left hip replacement on August 8, 2010. Medications | Trade Name/Generic Name |

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