Pancreas, C55 P382-398 Flashcards
Identify the regions of the
pancreas:
P382 (picture)
- Head
- Neck (in front of the SMV)
- Uncinate process
- Body
- Tail
What structure is the tail of
the pancreas said to “tickle”?
P382
Spleen
Name the two pancreatic
ducts.
P382
- Wirsung duct
2. Santorini duct
Which duct is the main
duct?
P382
Duct of Wirsung is the major duct
Think: Santorini = Small duct
How is blood supplied to the
head of the pancreas?
P382
1. Celiac trunk → gastroduodenal → Anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery Posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery 2. Superior mesenteric artery → Anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery Posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery 3. Splenic artery → Dorsal pancreatic artery
Why must the duodenum be
removed if the head of the
pancreas is removed?
P382
They share the same blood supply
gastroduodenal artery
What is the endocrine function of the pancreas? P383
Islets of Langerhans:
-cells: glucagon
-cells: insulin
What is the exocrine
function of the pancreas?
P383
Digestive enzymes: amylase, lipase,
trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase
What maneuver is used to mobilize the duodenum and pancreas and evaluate the entire pancreas? P383
Kocher maneuver: Incise the lateral
attachments of the duodenum and then
lift the pancreas to examine the posterior
surface
PANCREATITIS
ACUTE PANCREATITIS
What is it?
P383
Inflammation of the pancreas
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are the most common etiologies in the United States? P383
- Alcohol abuse (50%)
- Gallstones (30%)
- Idiopathic (10%)
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the acronym to remember all of the causes of pancreatitis? P383
“I GET SMASHED”:
Idiopathic
Gallstones Ethanol Trauma
Scorpion bite Mumps (viruses) Autoimmune Steroids Hyperlipidemia ERCP Drugs
PANCREATITIS
ACUTE PANCREATITIS
What are the symptoms?
P383
Epigastric pain (frequently radiates to back); nausea and vomiting
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are the signs of pancreatitis? P383
Epigastric tenderness Diffuse abdominal tenderness Decreased bowel sounds (adynamic ileus) Fever Dehydration/shock
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the differential diagnosis? P384
Gastritis/PUD Perforated viscus Acute cholecystitis SBO Mesenteric ischemia/infarction Ruptured AAA Biliary colic Inferior MI/pneumonia
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What lab tests should be ordered? P384
CBC LFT Amylase/lipase Type and cross ABG Calcium Chemistry Coags Serum lipids
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are the associated diagnostic findings? P384
Lab—High amylase, high lipase, high WBC AXR—Sentinel loop, colon cutoff, possibly gallstones (only 10% visible on x-ray) U/S—Phlegmon, cholelithiasis CT—Phlegmon, pancreatic necrosis
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the most common sign of pancreatitis on AXR? P384
Sentinel loop(s)
PANCREATITIS
ACUTE PANCREATITIS
What is the treatment?
P384
NPO IVF NGT if vomiting \+/– TPN vs. postpyloric tube feeds H(2) blocker/PPI Analgesia (Demerol®, not morphine— less sphincter of Oddi spasm) Correction of coags/electrolytes \+/– Alcohol withdrawal prophylaxis “Tincture of time”
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are the possible complications? P385
Pseudocyst Abscess/infection Pancreatic necrosis Splenic/mesenteric/portal vessel rupture or thrombosis Pancreatic ascites/pancreatic pleural effusion Diabetes ARDS/sepsis/MOF Coagulopathy/DIC Encephalopathy Severe hypocalcemia
PANCREATITIS
ACUTE PANCREATITIS
What is the prognosis?
P385
Based on Ranson’s criteria
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS Are postpyloric tube feeds safe in acute pancreatitis? P385
YES
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are Ranson’s criteria for the following stages: At presentation? P385
- Age >55
- WBC >16,000
- Glc >200
- AST >250
- LDH >350
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What are Ranson’s criteria for the following stages: During the initial 48 hours? P385
- Base deficit > 4
- BUN increase > 5 mg/dL
- Fluid sequestration > 6 L
- Serum Ca⁺ < 8
- Hct decrease > 10%
- PO(2) (ABG) < 60 mm Hg
(Amylase value is NOT one of
Ranson’s criteria!)
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the mortality per positive criteria: 0 to 2? 3 to 4? 5 to 6? 7 to 8? P385
0 to 2? < 5%
3 to 4? ≈ 15%
5 to 6? ≈ 40%
7 to 8? ≈ 100%
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS How can the admission Ranson criteria be remembered? P386
“GA LAW (Georgia law)”:
Glucose >200
Age >55
LDH >350 AST >250 WBC >16,000 (“Don’t mess with the pancreas and don’t mess with the Georgia law”)
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS How can Ranson’s criteria at less than 48 hours be remembered? P386
“C HOBBS (Calvin and Hobbes)”: Calcium 10% O(2) 4 Bun >5 increase Sequestration >6 L
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS How can the AST versus LDH values in Ranson’s criteria be remembered? P386
Alphabetically and numerically: A before
L and 250 before 350
Therefore, AST >250 and LDH >350
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the etiology of hypocalcemia with pancreatitis? P386
Fat saponification: fat necrosis binds to
calcium
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What complication is associated with splenic vein thrombosis? P386
Gastric varices (treatment with splenectomy)
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS Can TPN with lipids be given to a patient with pancreatitis? P386
Yes, if the patient does not suffer from
hyperlipidemia (triglycerides <300)
PANCREATITIS ACUTE PANCREATITIS What is the least common cause of acute pancreatitis (and possibly the most commonly asked cause on rounds!) P386
Scorpion bite (found on the island of Trinidad)
PANCREATITIS
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
What is it?
P387
Chronic inflammation of the pancreas region causing destruction of the parenchyma, fibrosis, and calcification, resulting in loss of endocrine and exocrine tissue
PANCREATITIS
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
What are the subtypes?
P387
- Chronic calcific pancreatitis
2. Chronic obstructive pancreatitis (5%)
PANCREATITIS
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
What are the causes?
P387
Alcohol abuse (most common; 70% of cases) Idiopathic (15%) Hypercalcemia (hyperparathyroidism) Hyperlipidemia Familial (found in families without any other risk factors) Trauma Iatrogenic Gallstones
PANCREATITIS
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
What are the symptoms?
P387
Epigastric and/or back pain, weight loss,
steatorrhea
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the associated signs? P387
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (up to one third)
Steatorrhea (up to one fourth), weight loss
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the signs of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency? P387
Steatorrhea (fat malabsorption from lipase
insufficiency—stools float in water)
Malnutrition
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the signs of pancreatic endocrine insufficiency? P387
Diabetes (glucose intolerance)
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the common pain patterns? P387
Unrelenting pain
Recurrent pain
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What is the differential diagnosis? P387
PUD, biliary tract disease, AAA,
pancreatic cancer, angina
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What percentage of patients with chronic pancreatitis have or will develop pancreatic cancer? P387
≈2%
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the appropriate lab tests? P388
Amylase/lipase
72-hour fecal fat analysis
Glc tolerance test (IDDM)
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS Why may amylase/lipase be normal in a patient with chronic pancreatitis? P388
Because of extensive pancreatic tissue
loss (“burned-out pancreas”)
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What radiographic tests should be performed? P388
CT—Has greatest sensitivity for gland enlargement/atrophy, calcifications, masses, pseudocysts KUB—Calcification in the pancreas ERCP—Ductal irregularities with dilation and stenosis (Chain of Lakes), pseudocysts
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What is the medical treatment? P388
Discontinuation of alcohol use—can reduce attacks, though parenchymal damage continues secondary to ductal obstruction and fibrosis Insulin for type 1 diabetes mellitus Pancreatic enzyme replacement Narcotics for pain
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What is the surgical treatment? P388
Puestow—longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy
(pancreatic duct must be dilated)
Duval—distal pancreaticojejunostomy
Near-total pancreatectomy
PANCREATITIS
CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
What is the Frey procedure?
P388
Longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy with
core resection of the pancreatic head
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What is the indication for surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis? P388
Severe, prolonged/refractory pain
PANCREATITIS CHRONIC PANCREATITIS What are the possible complications of chronic pancreatitis? P388
Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Steatorrhea Malnutrition Biliary obstruction Splenic vein thrombosis Gastric varices Pancreatic pseudocyst/abscess Narcotic addiction Pancreatic ascites/pleural effusion Splenic artery aneurysm
PANCREATITIS
GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS
What is it?
P389
Acute pancreatitis from a gallstone in or
passing through the ampulla of Vater (the
exact mechanism is unknown)
PANCREATITIS
GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS
How is the diagnosis made?
P389
Acute pancreatitis and cholelithiasis
and/or choledocholithiasis and no other
cause of pancreatitis (e.g., no history of
alcohol abuse)
PANCREATITIS GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS What radiologic tests should be performed? P389
U/S to look for gallstones
CT to look at the pancreas, if symptoms
are severe
PANCREATITIS
GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS
What is the treatment?
P389
Conservative measures and early
interval cholecystectomy (laparoscopic
cholecystectomy or open cholecystectomy)
and intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) 3 to
5 days (after pancreatic inflammation resolves)
PANCREATITIS GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS Why should early interval cholecystectomy be performed on patients with gallstone pancreatitis? P389
Pancreatitis will recur in ≈33% of patients within 8 weeks (so always perform early interval cholecystectomy and IOC in 3 to 5 days when pancreatitis resolves)
PANCREATITIS
GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS
What is the role of ERCP?
P389
- Cholangitis
2. Refractory choledocholithiasis
PANCREATITIS
HEMORRHAGIC PANCREATITIS
What is it?
P389
Bleeding into the parenchyma and
retroperitoneal structures with extensive
pancreatic necrosis
PANCREATITIS
HEMORRHAGIC PANCREATITIS
What are the signs?
P389
Abdominal pain, shock/ARDS, Cullen’s
sign, Grey Turner’s sign, Fox’s sign
PANCREATITIS HEMORRHAGIC PANCREATITIS Define the following terms: Cullen’s sign P389
Bluish discoloration of the periumbilical area from retroperitoneal hemorrhage tracking around to the anterior abdominal wall through fascial planes
PANCREATITIS HEMORRHAGIC PANCREATITIS Define the following terms: Grey Turner’s sign P390
Ecchymosis or discoloration of the flank in patients with retroperitoneal hemorrhage from dissecting blood from the retroperitoneum (Think: Grey TURNer = TURN side to side = flank [side] hematoma)