The pancreas is an organ that can synthesize both enzymes and hormones. Thanks to the enzymes it synthesizes, it contributes to the digestive function of the body. These enzymes are secreted from the pancreas to the small intestine through a channel.
What is Pancreatic Inflammation?
The pancreas also plays a fundamental role in regulating blood sugar by producing and releasing many hormones such as insulin and glucagon. The pancreas is anatomically located behind the stomach in the abdomen. Regulation of blood sugar is an important issue for all organs. The balanced secretion and functioning of these hormones secreted from the pancreas is important for all body systems, especially the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Damage to the pancreas and the resulting inflammation of the pancreatic gland is called “pancreatitis”.
What Causes Pancreatic Inflammation?
Enzymes secreted from the pancreas to the small intestine to assist the digestive functions of the body, while still in this organ pancreatic inflammation occurs as a result of its activation. Acute (sudden onset) cases of pancreatitis are usually caused by a gallstone blocking the duct that allows enzymes to reach the small intestine. Another common cause for sudden onset pancreatitis is excessive alcohol consumption.
Pancreatitis caused by alcohol-induced pancreatitis occurs due to the toxic effect of the substance used directly on the organ and the body's reaction to this situation.
Chronic pancreatitis It is associated with the repetitive occurrence of the inflammatory process in the pancreas or the prolongation of the duration of the inflammation. A long-term inflammation process may result in the development of scar tissue in that area.
As a result of such damage to the pancreas, the cells responsible for insulin production may be affected and the regulation of blood sugar may be disrupted. This is important as it can result in diabetes in almost half of people who develop chronic pancreatitis.
Acute or chronic pancreatitis can occur as a result of various health conditions:
- Gallstones
- Excessive alcohol use
- After the use of certain medications
- Pancreatic cancer
- Abdominal operations
- Infectious diseases
- Cystic fibrosis
- Abdominal traumas
What are the Symptoms of Pancreatic Inflammation?
Following pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis), patients most frequently complain of pain in the left-middle abdominal region. they complain. Following the development of pancreatic inflammation, various symptoms may occur depending on the severity and duration of the condition:
- Pain in the upper abdomen
- The spread of pain in the abdomen to the back
- Meals of pain in the abdomen followed by worsening
- Fever
- Accelerated heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Development of sensitivity to touch in the abdominal region
- Digestive problems
- Gas or bloating in the abdomen
- Hiccups
- Involuntary weight loss
- Oily and smelly defecation (defecation)
How is the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Inflammation?
The main symptom of sudden onset of pancreatic inflammation is pain that radiates from the abdomen to the back. This pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
During the physical examination performed by the physician, firstly the patient's pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and body temperature � temperature is evaluated. Detection of jaundice during the examination of the patient who is suspected of having acute pancreatitis, may indicate that pancreatic inflammation has developed as a result of an obstruction related to the bile ducts. Care should be taken as it may have occurred due to blood flow. In cases where pancreatic inflammation progresses and progresses in this way, some cognitive problems may be detected at the same time. In a sudden onset of pancreatic inflammation, the enzymes synthesized by this organ can be detected as high as a result of the tests. Another enzyme, lipase, is involved in the breakdown of fatty substances into smaller pieces. Following the development of pancreatic damage in a person, amylase and lipase enzymes can be found at 3 times the normal level in the analyzes performed for the enzyme level.
This situation may not be valid for people with long-term chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic enzymes can be detected as elevated or normal in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Anatomical examination of the pancreas can be achieved using radiological diagnostic methods such as ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or computed tomography. .
How is Pancreatic Inflammation Treated?
In patients with sudden onset pancreatitis (pancreatitis), the initial treatment planning is to administer fluid to the patient, which is performed aggressively. In this procedure, a solution called Ringer's lactate is used as part of the pancreatitis diet. In response to the question of what to eat for pancreatic inflammation, oral intake, that is, oral feeding, is discontinued until symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or intestinal obstruction improve. Effective pain reliever (opical) if deemed necessary by the physician Various derivative drugs can be prescribed to the patient in the treatment of pancreatitis in order to control the pain. The answer to the question of how many days the next stages of the treatment and the treatment of pancreatitis take may vary depending on the underlying cause of the inflammation of the pancreas:
- Removal of the Blocked Bile Duct: Pancreas If the inflammation occurs as a result of a narrowing or obstruction in the bile ducts, enlargement or removal of this duct can be performed surgically. By using a procedure called ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), the pancreas and bile ducts can be viewed through a long tube with a camera and intervened when necessary. In cases where the patient's gallbladder is removed by an operation called cholecystectomy, the surgeon may consider removing the patient's gallbladder. Interventions can be applied.
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