The pancreas is a gland located in the abdominal cavity, in front of the waist section of the spine.
It is on average 15-20 cm long and weighs 55 grams in women and 70 grams in men. The irregular shape of the pancreas, which flattens from front to back, can be compared to a hook.
The pancreas performs two separate functions. The first is to make pancreatic juice, which is drained into the intestinal tract. This liquid contains some basic enzymes that are involved in the digestion of starch, proteins and fats and break them down chemically. Secondly, as an endocrine organ, it secretes insulin and releases it directly into the blood. Insulin is an extremely important hormone in regulating blood sugar levels and converting sugar into heat and energy. Insulin is produced by groups of cells called islets of Langerhans, which are spread throughout the pancreas. Pancreatic disorder, which causes insulin production to decrease or stop, leads to diabetes known as diabetes mellitus. Tumors can sometimes develop in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas and cause excessive insulin production. It may occur due to the return of strong digestive enzymes as a result of blockage. There is a picture that appears with severe pain in the abdomen, vomiting, bleeding, pallor and shock. In such cases, the patient used to be taken into surgery immediately. Nowadays, as is done in other bleeding digestive tract diseases, the patient is put on bed rest and blood is given. Oral feeding is stopped until the acute phase is over and intravenous feeding is started. Gastric fluid is continuously withdrawn through the nose to inhibit pancreatic secretion and to rest the pancreas. Medications are given to relieve the pain.
Acute Pancreatic Infection
This disease is a very serious disorder that can lead to severe bleeding. It is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas functions as both an endocrine gland and an exocrine gland. The enzymes they secrete are inactive in the pancreas. These inactive enzymes are activated in some parts of the digestive system and enable the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. In acute pancreatitis, these enzymes are active while they are still in the pancreas and cause the tissues to break down.
What are the Causes of Acute Pancreatitis?
There are many causes of acute pancreatitis. The most common are gallbladder stones. Stones in the gallbladder can be spilled into the main bile duct due to contraction of the gallbladder, and as we all know, this can be the cause of obstructive jaundice. This is one of the complications that people with gallbladder stones fear. However, what is much more important is that these stones can cause acute pancreatitis.
Acute Pancreatitis Treatment
Patients with acute pancreatitis need to be hospitalized and treated. In addition to blood tests, urgent abdominal computed tomography is an imaging method that is very helpful in diagnosis. After the diagnosis is made, the first interventions to be applied in the treatment are relieving severe pain with strong painkillers, stopping oral feeding and giving enough fluid and electrolytes intravenously, administering antibiotic treatment when necessary, and eliminating the causes of pancreatitis (such as removing stones in the bile ducts. See ERCP).
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