Chapter 11 Flashcards
Describe acute pancreatitis
Inflammation and hemorrhage of the pancreas due to autodigestion of pancreatic parenchyma by premature activation of trypsin resulting in LIQUEFACTIVE hemorrhagic necrosis of the pancreas and fat necrosis of the peripancreatic fat
What are the most common causes of acute pancreatitis?
alcohol and gallstones
other causes include trauma, hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia, drug, scopion stings, mumps, and rupture of a posterior duodenal ulcer
What are the clinical features of acute pancreatitis?
Epigastric abdominal pain that radiates to the back
N/V
Periumbilical and flank hemorrhage (necrosis spreads into the periumbilical soft tissue and retoperitoneum)
Elevated serum lipase and amylase (lipase is more specific for pancreatic damage)
Hypocalcemia (calcium is consumed during saponification in fat necrosis)
What are the complications of acute pancreatitis?
Shock due to peripancreatic hemorrhage and fluid sequestration
Pancreatic pseudocyst formed by fibrous tissue surrounding liquefactive necrosis and pancreatic enzymes (presents as an abdominal mass with persistnely elevated serum amylase)
Pancreatic abscess often due to E. Coli that presents with abdominal pain, high fever, and persistently elevated amylase
DIC and ARDS
Describe chronic pancreatitis
Fibrosis of pancreatic parenchyma, most often secondary to recurrent acute pancreatitis and most commonly due to alcohol in adults and cystic fibrosis in children
What are the classical features of chronic pancreatitis?
Epigastric abdominal pain that radiates to the back
Pancreatic insufficiency- results in malabsorption with steatorrhea and fat0soluble vitamin deficiencies. Amylase and lipase are not useful serologic markers of chronic pancreatitis
Dystrophic calcification of pancreatic parenchyma on imaging; constrast studies reveal a ‘chain of lakes’ pattern due to dilation of pancreatic ducts
Secondary diabetes mellitus as a late complication due to destruction of islets
Increased risk of pancreatic carcinoma
Pancreatic carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma arising from the pancreatic ducts most commonly seen in the elderly (70+ yo)
What are the major risk factors for Pancreatic carcinoma?
Smoking and chronic pancreatitis
NOTE: Very poor prognosis overall
How might Pancreatic carcinoma present?
Epigastric abdominal pain and weight loss
Obstructive jaundice with pale stools and palpable gallbladder; associated with tumors that arise in the head of the pancreas (most common location)
Secondary diabetes mellitus; associated with tumors that arise in the body or tail
Pancreatitis
Migratory thrombophlebitis (Trousseau syndrome)- presents as swelling, erythema, and tenderness in the extremities (seen in 10% of pts.)
What is the main serum marker for Pancreatic carcinoma?
CA19-9
What is a Whipple procedure?
Removal of the head and neck of the pancreas, proximal duodenum, and gallbladder
What is biliary atresia?
Failure to form or early destruction of the extrahrpatic biliary tree leading to biliary obstruction within the first 2 yrs of life and presenting with jaundice, progressing to cirrhosis
What is a cholelithiasis?
A gallstone, typically due to precipitation of cholesterol (cholesterol stones) or billirubin in bile that arises:
1) supersaturation of cholesterol or billirubin
2) decreased phospholipids (e.g. lecithin) or bile acids (normally increase solubility)
3) stasis
What are the most common types of stones?
Cholesterol stones (90%), especially in the west
Describe Cholesterol stones
These are usually radiolucent (10% are radiopaque due to associated calcium)
Risk factors include age (40s), estrogen (female, obesity, multiple pregnancies, and oral contraceptives), clofibrate, Native Americans, Crohn disease, and cirrhosis
Describe Bilirubin stones
Usually radiopaque
Risk factors include extravascular hemolysis (increased bilirubin in bile) and biliary tract infections (e.g. E. Coli, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Clonorchis sinensis)
What is Ascaris lumbricoides?
a common roudnworm that infects 25% of the world’s population, esp. in areas of poor sanitation (fecal-oral transmission)- infects the biliary tract, increasing the risk of gallstones
What is Clonorchis sinensis endemic?
China, Korea, and Vietnam (Chinese liver fluke)- ifnects the biliary tract, increasing the risk for gallstones, cholangitis, and cholangiocarcinoma
What is biliary colic?
Waxing and waning RUQ pain due to the gallbladder contracting against a stone lodged in the CYSTIC DUCT. Symptoms typically pass as the stone dislodges
Describe acute cholecystitis
Acute inflammation of the gallbladder wall due to a chronically lodged stone
presents with RUQ pain, often radiating to the right scapula, fever with increased WBC count, vomiting, and elevated serum alk phos from duct damage
What is ascending cholangitis?
Bacterial infection of the bile ducts usually due to ascending infection with enteric gram-neg bacteria
Presents as sepsis (high fever and chills), jaundice, and abdominal pain