Pancreatitis

Question 1

What are the most significant causes for acute pancreatitis?

Answer 1

Gallstones and EtOH abuse

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms for acute pancreatitis

Answer 2

Severe epigastric abdominal pain w/ radiation to the back; nausea/vomiting secondary to pain, fever

Question 3

How can acute pancreatitis be diagnosed using labs and imagining?

Answer 3

CT or MRI

Question 4

What is used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis?

Answer 4

Ranson’s criteria

Question 5

What is the medical management for acute pancreatitis?

Answer 5

PUT THE PANCREAS AT REST
AGGRESSIVE FLUID RESUSCITATION (Cr, HCT, BUN)
RELIEVE PAIN
ANTIBIOTICS – Not Initially
Nutrition

Question 6

What are the 2 categories of chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 6

Obstructive

Non-Obstructive

Question 7

What is the primary cause of the non-obstructive category?

Answer 7

Chronic EtOH abuse

Question 8

What are the clinical manifestations of chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 8

Episodic or continuous pain, steatorrhea w/ diarrhea and weigh loss- can also have endocrine deficiencies; pseudocysts, fistulas, biliary obstruction, CA, SBBOG

Question 9

What are the controllable risk factors for the development of pancreatic CA?

Answer 9

smoking
high fat diet
exposure to carcinogens

Question 10

What are the presenting signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 10

Nonspecific and insidious- depends on where the CA develops

Question 11

What is the most reliable method for diagnosing and staging pancreatic cancer?

Answer 11

CT and MRI

EUS (can be used for staging after acquiring biopsies)