Pancreatitis Flashcards
pancreatitis?
inflammation of the pancreas
Acute pancreatitis?
occurs suddenly and can last for days
Chronic pancreatitis?
progressive destruction
Etiology of acute pancreatitis
- most common in middle-aged individuals
- affects men more than women
- severity depends on extent of damage to pancreas
- can be life threatening
Acute pancreatitis most common in
- alcoholism
- cholecystitis (inflammation of gallbladder)
- cholelithiasis (gallstones)
Other causes of acute pancreatitis?
- certain drugs (contraceptives)
- infections (hepatitis)
- metabolic disorders (kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, cystic fibrosis)
- trauma to abdomen
Pathphysiology of pancreatitis
enzymes of the pancreas are activated while inside the pancreas causing inflammation
theories for pancreatitis?
- reflux of duodenal contents
- gallstones or edema block pancreatic ducts
- overstimulation of pancreatic secretions
S&S of acute pancreatitis?
- abdo pain that radiates to back and is aggravated by eating
- nausea & vomiting
- fever
- jaundice
- abdo tenderness (will guard area when palpated)
S&S of chronic pancreatitis?
- abdo pain
- mild jaundice
- weight loss (without trying)
- dark urine
- steatorrhea (fat in stool)
- urine and stool may be frothy
Complications of acute pancreatitis?
- pancreatic pseudocyst
- pancreatic abscess
- pulmonary complications (pleural effusion, pneumonia, atelectasis)
- tetany
- ascites
- renal failure
- hypovolemic shock
Complications of chronic pancreatitis?
- diabetes mellitus
- pancreatic pseudocyst
Acute pancreatitis head to toe diagnosis?
VS: increased temp, hypotension, tachycardia, pain assessment (oppqrrstu(
- resp assessment
- focused abdo assessment (tenderness, decreased BS in upper R quadrant, abdo distention)
- skin assessment (yellow sclera, discoloured fingernails, discolouration of abdominal wall)
- ecchymosis (grey turner’s spot, culler’s sign)
- amount of ETOH intake
Acute pancreatitis diagnostic tests?
-SMA-7, Ca, amalyse, lipase, bilirubin, triglycerides
Expected results:
- hyponatremia
- hypokalemia
- hyperglycemia
- hyperlipidemia
- hypomagnesia
- hypocalcemia
- increased BUN
- increased bilirubin
- increased amylase
- increased lipase
Chronic pancreatitis diagnostic tests?
- CBC (decreased hct, decreased hub, increased wbc)
- x-ray of abdomen
- chest assessment
- urine (increased amylase)
- ct of abdo
- ERCP (confirms presence of cholecystitis, pancreatic cyst, abscess)
