Pancreatitis Research Paper

"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.

According to Swales, a discourse community is made up of individuals who share a set of common public goals, has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members, uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback, has and uses one or more genres that help the community achieve its goals, has acquired some specific lexis, and has a reasonable ratio of novices and experts (220-222.). Even though that may seem like a large number of requirements in order to be defined as a discourse community, it truly is not. Everyone in this world belongs to at least one discourse community, while others belong to multiple communities. I decided to look at the Type 1 diabetes discourse community, because it is a community I am personally a part of.

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).

Pancreatic cancer is the cancer that appears quickly and many die just as quick. Pancreatic cancer is the least known cancer to the medical world; puzzling doctors because most are not sure what diagnosis to look for. However, the risk factors include smoking, diabetes, and obesity. Studies show that pancreatic cancer has a higher percentage in the African American community due to environmental risk factors (John Hopkins Pathology, 2012).

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.

Treatment goals for WM are to resolve his alcohol withdrawal symptoms, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, fluid/electrolyte deficit, fever, elevated BUN and reduce the risk of developing systemic complications associated with necrotizing pancreatitis.1 WM should see improvements in his abdominal pain, general mental state and overall quality of life during his treatment, which will allow him to eventually return to work and resume daily activities.1,2 Discontinue Tylenol ES since it has a potential to cause pancreatitis and WM is at an increased risk of liver damage and impairment due to alcohol consumption.1 Pancreaze should be restarted to help maintain his chronic pancreatitis condition.1,3 Bactrim DS should not be restarted because it is known to cause pancreatitis.1 WM can continue taking Pepcid as needed for upset stomach.

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.

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).

The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ that secretes juices that help break down food, and hormones that help control blood sugar levels. There are numerous diseases that are associated with the pancreas including acute and chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic disease is most commonly found through computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

There are over three million Americans that have already been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and another 15,000 children and 15,000 adults being diagnosed each year. Although frequently overshadowed by the better known type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is not caused by “being fat” or “eating unhealthy” as many would ignorantly infer. Type 1 diabetes, however, is caused by the attacking of the immune system on the pancreas, denying it the ability to carry out its most important function, producing insulin to help control one’s blood glucose levels. For over a decade now, biomedical engineers, scientists, and doctors have been working diligently and effectively on creating a closed-loop