Modern Health Observation

Posts Tagged ‘Chronic Pancreatitis’

Treatment of complications:

- Malabsorption: is fighting pancreatic extracts administered. The dosage form of these drugs is different depending on whether to relieve pain or malabsorption. In the first case given that release enzymes prepared at the entrance of the duodenum, to curb pancreatic secretion. In the second release formulations are used later to prevent the enzymes are destroyed before their digestive function.

- Diabetes: sometimes be controlled with oral antidiabetic drugs, but usually it necessary to use insulin.

- Jaundice main bile duct obstruction, ERCP can be done to insert a “stent” (metal mesh tube that is inserted folded and placed once opened) in the canal that runs through the pancreas. Can also be inserted stents in narrowed areas of the main pancreatic duct, but has not yet demonstrated the efficacy of this procedure. Read the rest of this entry »

How is chronic pancreatitis?

There is no cure for chronic pancreatitis. Once the pancreas is damaged it can not recover its normal function and there is always the risk of further attacks of pancreatitis. Therefore treatment is geared toward the prevention of attacks, pain control and treatment of complications.

Prevention of worsening of symptoms

Patients with chronic pancreatitis should completely eliminate alcohol consumption. If pancreatitis is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, this measure is essential. If due to other causes, it seems logical to avoid a substance capable of damaging the pancreas. If you have identified a responsible cause, should be treated. Disorders of calcium metabolism or fats are appropriate treatments. The doctor may order the removal of the gallbladder if it is considered that pancreatitis is caused by gallstones. Read the rest of this entry »

ERCP

ERCP stands for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The method is based on the introduction of radiological contrast in the bile duct and pancreatic radiology images for these tubes. It is performed under sedation and involves inserting an endoscope into the duodenum and, through him, a small cannula (a flexible thin tube) into the pancreatic duct, then the X-ray contrast is injected into the pancreatic duct and radiological images are obtained. The same procedure is usually repeated to fill the bile ducts.

ERCP is currently considered the definitive diagnostic test in chronic pancreatitis. Today is the only method to diagnose with certainty slight alterations (minimal change pancreatitis). This technique serves to identify from slight alterations in the main pancreatic duct branches to very gross distortions in it. Sometimes to extract pancreatic duct stones by manipulation with the cannula. Read the rest of this entry »

Chronic pancreatitis may produce no symptoms and incidentally discovered during a medical study motivated by symptoms related to it. For example, you may see calcifications in the pancreas in an X-ray performed for other reasons.

If the doctor suspects chronic pancreatitis, most likely the first scan is requesting an ultrasound of the abdomen. May be necessary in other imaging studies such as CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, ERCP (contrast radiography of the pancreatic ducts) and, rarely, an analysis of the composition of pancreatic juice.

Ultrasonography (ultrasound) scan

Ultrasound scanning is an identical to that performed on pregnant women. However, pancreatic image can be difficult to get through the difficult access to the pancreas ultrasound receiver, located deep in the abdominal cavity. Sometimes it is obesity that causes problems and sometimes it is the presence of air in the intestines. Read the rest of this entry »

Diarrhea

Less than half of patients have diarrhea. Usually the fat from food is broken down by enzymes in the pancreas and small intestine, allowing almost complete absorption in the small intestine. When decreasing the enzymes available to digest the fat is not absorbed and reaches the large intestine, which partially digest bacteria. This release substances that irritate the colon and trigger diarrhea.

The undigested fat increases the volume of feces, which are yellowish, frothy, have an off odor, floating in the water and will not be easy to pull the chain. The water in the toilet may have a surface layer oily and smelly, as well as sales that can be expelled by the patient.

Weight Loss

Virtually all patients with chronic pancreatitis suffer weight loss. This is because the absorption of calories is insufficient, although it may also contribute to diabetes. To this we must add that many patients are afraid to eat because it triggers the pain. Depression also is common in chronic pancreatitis can reduce appetite and increase weight loss. Read the rest of this entry »

Symptoms are highly variable.

Pain

Pain is a common symptom in most patients. Its intensity can range from mild to maximum. It usually occurs in fits that last for hours or even days and may require potent analgesics for pain relief. Often spreads to the back and cringe sometimes relieved by the patient himself (fetal position). Often the food intake was triggered and this makes patients afraid to eat. It also tends to be more intense at night. The quality of pain is variable: burning, corrosive, sharp or dull, but is usually fairly constant, without fluctuations in intensity. Sometimes just disappear but other is a persistent problem. Read the rest of this entry »