Exocrine Pancreas Flashcards
What are the causes of pancreatitis?
- Something that causes the release of enzymes from the pancreas
- Tissue injury
- Enzymes released into tissues
What are signs and symptoms of pancreatitis?
- Pain (often preceded by heavy drinking or a heavy meal)
- N & V
- Fever and sweating
- Tachycardia
- Malaise and weakness
- Mild jaundice
- Tetany
What are potential complications of pancreatitis?
- Shock*
- ARDS* = adult respiratory distress syndrome
- Acute renal failure
- Hypercalcemia
- Pancreatic pseudocysts
- Abscess
- Chemical or septic peritonitis
- Usually NO endocrine problems
What are treatments for pancreatitis?
- If due to food, decrease food intake
- if due to alcoholism, stop drinking
- Analgesics for pain
- Surgery if due to gallstones
PTs wil see pts with acute pancreatitis due to _____ or ____.
Back pain; ARDS
Inflammation and scarring can result in decreased ________.
Spinal extension, esp at thoracolumbar jxn
What positions would relieve and aggregate pain with someone who has acute pancreatitis?
Trunk flexion will relieve, trunk extension will aggregate
What are the two types of chronic pancreatitis?
- Juvenile form = ~25 y/o (associated with CF)
2. Adult form = ~60 y/o (associated with alcoholism or gallstones)
What is the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis?
- Functional or structural impairment
2. Progressive destruction of pancreas (fibrosis, chronic inflammation)
What are the causes of chronic pancreatitis?
- obstruction of pancreatic duct (CF, Gallstones, Cancer)
2. Alcoholism
What are S and S for chronic panchreatits?
- Alcohol-associated = 24-48 hrs after heavy alcohol consumption
- gall-stone associated = after heavy meal
- Attacks last from a few hours to as long as 2 weeks
- Similar to Acute Pancreatitis PLUS weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, and decreased vitamin absorption
What happens if 90% of the pancreas us destructed?
Endocrine sx occur (diabetes) due to loss of islet cells
Syndrome occurs as a result of not making enzymes to break down food, so we aren’t absorbing the nutrients
Malabsorption syndrome
What is chronic pancreatitis associated with?
Pancreatic cancer
What kind of cancer is pancreatic cancer?
Adenocarcinoma of ductal origin