Abdominal Pain and Pancreatitis Flashcards
What is acute pancreatitis
Acute inflammatory process that leads to necrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma
What are the signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis
Severe abdominal pain Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Fever Shock
What are the investigations done for acute pancreatitis
Simple/complex blood tests Simple imaging Cross sectional imaging (chest or abdominal X ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRCP) Invasive test (ERCP)
What are the scoring symptoms for pancreatitis
Ranson’s criteria
APACHE II
SIRS
What are the risk factors for severity of pancreatitis
Necrosis vs non necrosis Organ failure Age Co morbidities Alcohol
What are some causes of pancreatitis
Gallstones
Ethanol
Trauma
Steroids Mumps Autoimmune Scorpion bite Hyperlipidaemia/ Hypercalcaemia/Hypothermia ERCP Drugs (azathioprine, valproate)
What are the systemic complications of pancreatitis
Hypovolaemia Hypoxia Hypocalcaemia Hyperglycaemia Disseminated intravascular coagulation Multiple organ failure
What are the localised complications of pancreatitis
Pancreatic necrosis
Fluid collections – mature into pseduocysts
Splenic vein thrombosis/pseudoaneurysm
Chronic Pancreatitis
What is the treatment for pancreatitis
Fluids Painkillers Nutrition Organ Support Management of complications
Define chronic pancreatitis
progressive fibroinflammatory process of the pancreas that results in permanent structural damage, which leads to impairment of exocrine and endocrine function
What are the consequences of chronic pancreatitis
Malabsorption
Loss of 90% exocrine function
Fat soluble vitamin malabsorption
(A, D, E, K)
What are the investigations done for chronic pancreatitis
Plain Xray
CT scan
Faecal elastase
What is the management recommendation for chronic pancreatitis
Stop alcohol and smoking
Small meals with low fat
PPI and pancreatic supplements
Analgesia
