Pancreatic Disorders Flashcards
1
Q
Pancreas fxns as an endocrine gland producing what hormones? What else does it fxn as?
A
- insulin
- glucagon
- somatostatin
- fxns as an exocrine gland secreting digestive enzymes via a duct - it secretes approx 1.5 L of enzyme rich fluid everyday for digestion of fats, starch and protein
2
Q
Hormonal mechanisms that control pancreatic secretion? These stimulate the release of what?
A
- secretin: released from duodenal mucosa in response to presence of acid in the duodenum, it stimulates the release of bicarb and water
- CCK: released from SI endocrine cells in response to the entry of fats and proteins into the proximal intestin - acts directly and through vagal afferents to stimulate pancreatic acinar cells to release digestive proenzymes
3
Q
What is acute pancreatitis? Etiologies? Most common cause in women and in men?
A
- acute pancreatitis is acute inflammatory process of the pancreas
- etiologies:
mechanical:gallstones
toxic: alcohol
trauma: surgical, blunt
metabolic: high TGs
infection: HBV, HIV, CMV
Misc: preg, renal failure - MC in men: alcohol
- MC in women: gallstones
4
Q
Most common causes of acute pancreatitis? Other less common causes?
A
- gallstones and ETOH abuse cause 60-75%
- idiopathic 30% - 1st attack
- if 2nd attack and not one of main 2 causes then look for less common causes such as:
hypercalcemia
hyperlipidemias
biliary sludge
drugs
cancer
missed stone in duct
5
Q
Classification of acute pancreatitis? (mild, moderately severe, and severe)
A
- mild acute: absence of organ failure and local or systemic complications
- moderately severe acute pancreatitis: transient organ failure (resolves within 48 hrs) and/or local or systemic complications w/o persistent organ failure ( longer than 48 hrs)
- severe: persistent organ failure that may involve one or multiple organs
6
Q
Clinical manifestations of acute onset pancreatitis?
A
- persistent, severe epigastric pain
- or RUQ pain may be steady or colicky
- N&V
- 50% experience band like radiation of pain to back, some may get relief with bending forward or sitting up
- dyspnea: pancreas inflamed - may affect diapghram, pleural effusion
- shock/coma
- 5-10% of pts may have painless disease and have unexplained hypotension (losing a lot of fluid in retroperitoneal space, abdomen - tx with IV fluids)
7
Q
Physical exam findings of pt with acute pancreatitis?
A
- fever, tachycardia (hypotension if severe)
- epigastric/RUQ tenderness
- shallow respirations - pain with deep breaths
- possible dyspnea if pleural effusion
- epigstric mass if pseudocyst or tumor
- in 3% of pts, ecchymotic discoloration may be observed in periumbilical region (cullen’s sign) or along flank (grey-turner’s sign)
- could also have hypoactive bowel sounds: can cause ileus
- jaundice
8
Q
Lab tests results in acute pancreatitis?
A
- serum amylase:
rise quickly (6-12 hrs)
elevated 3-5 days - serum lipase:
sensitivity 82-100%, more specific than amylase
elev. occur earlier and last longer, if 3-4x normal think pancreatitis - CRP: levels above 150 mg/dL at 48 hrs after pt presents can predict more severe course. Used to diff severe from mild disease
9
Q
Imaging in acute pancreatitis?
A
- abdominal plain film: help to exclude other causes of abd. pain, may have localized ileus 2ndry to iflammation
- CXR: 1/3 of pts with pancreatitis have abnormal findings:
elevation of hemidiaphragm, pleural effusions, pulmonary infiltrates - US: diffusely enlarged, hypoechoic pancreas and gallstones if present
- CT: most impt test for dx acute pancreatitis and intraabdominal complications and assessment of severity (with oral and IV contrast)
- MRI: higher sensitivity for dx of early pancreatitis than CT scan, lack of nephrotoxicity, ability of MRI to better detect fluid collections, necrosis, hemorrhage and pseudocyst, MRCP better shows pancreatic and bile ducts
10
Q
Tx of pancreatitis?
A
- admit to hosp with acute pancreatitis
- NPO
- IV hydration with crystalloids to keep UO above 30ml/hr (LRs except in hypercalcemia)
- pain control (morphine, fentanyl, ketorolac)
- zofran or phenergan prn nausea
- +/- abx, +/- surgery (cholecystectomy, necrosectomy - severe dz)
- labs: CBC, lipase, amylase, CMP, bilirubin, CRP in 48 hrs
11
Q
What is severe pancreatitis? Complications and tx?
A
- most pts with acute pancreatitis have mild disease and recover in 3-5 days
- 20% have severe disease with local or systemic complications or organ failure
- complications with pulm, renal, circulatory and hepatobiliary dysfxn can occur
- ICU monitoring and supp O2
- prevent infection w/ broad spectrum abx
- nutrition preferably enteral - tube feeding
12
Q
RF for pancreatitis severity?
A
- older than 55
- obesity BMI: greater than 30 kg/m2
- organ failure at admission
- pleural effusion or pulmonary infiltrate
- elevated CRP
13
Q
What is chronic pancreatitis? Etiologies?
A
- progressive inflammatory changes result in permanent structural damages to pancreas, leading to impairment of exocrine and endocrine fxn
etiologies:
- alcohol abuse (75%)
- genetic: CF, hereditary pancreatitis
- ductual obstruction: trauma, pseudocysts, stones, tumors
- systemic: SLE, hypertriglyceridemia
- idiopathic
14
Q
Main differences b/t acute and chronic pancreatitis??
A
- acute is usually nonprogressive
- recurrent episodes of acute lead to chronic over time
- features: chronic may be asx over long periods of time
serum amylase and lipase concentrations tend to be normal in chronic
15
Q
Clinical manifestations in chronic pancreatitis?
A
- chronic abdominal pain: cardinal feature although 20% may have little to no pain
- pancreatic insufficiency: exocrine dysfxn can’t digest complex foods or absorb digestive breakdown products, wt loss: 90% of pancreatic fxn has to be lost for this to occur
- fat malabsorption: steatorrhea - lipolytic activity decreases faster than proteolysis: malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
- pancreatic diabetes: DM late in course of disease - seen in pts with calcifying disease (calcifications are pathognomonic for pancreatitis)
