What is Chronic Pancreatitis?
Chronic Pancreatitis is pancreatic inflammation that does not improve with time. Chronic Pancreatitis impairs digestion and the production of pancreatic hormones.
Chronic Pancreatitis associated with pancreas inflammation
Chronic Pancreatitis Causes
- Prolonged alcoholism is the leading cause. Connected around 70% of cases to drinking.
- When a thin pancreatic duct transports pancreatic enzymes to the small intestine, producing autoimmune illness.
- Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglyceride levels in the blood)
- Pancreatic duct obstruction by gallstones or pancreatic stones
- Genetic disease that causes mucus accumulation.
- Genetics
- Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood)
Chronic Pancreatitis Symptoms or Signs
- Upper abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Fatty stools that are loose, pale, and hard to flush
- Vomit and nausea
- Breathlessness
- Unusual weight loss
- Thirst and fatigue
Symptoms that worsen as the illness advances include:
- Abdominal pancreatic fluids
- Jaundice
- Intestinal bleed
- Intestinal obstruction
- Acute pain might last for hours or days. Eating or drinking might aggravate discomfort for some. Slowly, the discomfort may become continuous.
Possible Chronic Pancreatitis Treatment
- Medications
- Medications for chronic Pancreatitis include:
- Medicine for pain
- Enzymes to help digest meals if your enzyme levels are low
- Insulin for diabetics
- Used steroids to treat pancreatitis when the immune system attacks the pancreas.
Endoscopy
For the majority of patients, surgery is not a need. Even if your discomfort is severe, removing part of your pancreas may be able to alleviate it. Pancreatic duct surgery can also remove obstructions, remove cysts, or enlarge the duct if it's become too narrow.
Chronic pancreatitis patients should avoid alcohol even if it were not the cause of their sickness. Smoking increases the risk of acquiring pancreatic cancer, which you should avoid doing. You may need to cut back on your fat intake and supplement your diet with vitamins.
Surgery
For most people, surgery is unnecessary. But removing part of your pancreas can help relieve severe pain that won't go away with medication. Also, surgery can unblock, drain, or widen your pancreatic duct.
Even if alcohol did not cause your condition, you should avoid it if you have chronic Pancreatitis. Smoking raises the risk of pancreatic cancer, and taking vitamins and limiting fat in your diet.
Gallbladder removal
Gallstones may need gallbladder removal.
Other ways
An infected abscess or pseudocyst may require a draining procedure by your physician. They may remove damaged pancreatic tissue and treat bile and pancreatic duct issues if necessary.
Risk Factors For Chronic Pancreatitis
Risk factors for Pancreatitis include:
Heavy drinkers (four to five drinks per day) have an elevated risk of Pancreatitis.
Smokers are three times more prone to having chronic pancreatitis than non-smokers. Stopping smoking cuts your risk in half.
Obesity increases the risk of Pancreatitis.
Diabetes raises pancreatitis risk.
The role of genetics in chronic Pancreatitis is growing. Family history increases your risk, particularly when combined with other risk factors.
Stages of Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic Pancreatitis has four stages:
- Subclinical
- Early-stage inflammatory complications
- Severe pancreatic insufficiency
- Advanced painless pancreatitis stage.
Typical Test Required For Chronic Pancreatitis
Doctors check for amylase and lipase, two pancreatic enzymes, which may get into your blood. Other tests may show gallbladder obstruction or injury to screen for inherited diseases. Then there's a vitamin deficiency test.
X-rays and a computer build a 3-D image of your pancreas.
Using sound waves, this test generates a pancreatic image
Ultrasound scans the pancreatic and gallbladder ducts using a long, thin tube inserted into your stomach and upper intestine.
These tests use an endoscope to look at the pancreas drainage area and determine if required treatment.
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Producing images using radio waves, computers, and powerful magnets. Sometimes, inject a small amount of dye into the pancreas and gallbladder ducts to improve the image quality.
Prevention Tips For Chronic Pancreatitis
Primary Prevention
- Stay healthy or lose weight if required.
Maintaining a healthy weight may help your pancreas function properly and minimize your risk of Pancreatitis. Maintain a healthy diet and frequent exercise.
Heavy drinking is a primary cause of acute and Chronic Pancreatitis. Ask your doctor for assistance.
Pancreatitis links with smoking. Smoking and drinking alcohol increases your risk. Ask your doctor for assistance in quitting smoking.
Secondary Prevention
They are delaying cholecystectomy after chronic Pancreatitis increases the likelihood of recurrence. Delay in cholecystectomy correlates with recurrence. Patients in whom cholecystectomy is not safe. Sphincterotomy may help avoid recurrent Pancreatitis.
Acute Pancreatitis caused by alcohol usage puts patients at risk for recurrence or chronic Pancreatitis. Chronic alcoholic Pancreatitis recurs in 50% of individuals who continue to drink. Abstinence from drinking reduces the risk and should give the patient-specific instructions on stopping drinking and smoking.
Identifying the offending medicine is challenging and frequently unsuccessful. In the absence of aggravating factors, changing medication regimens or stopping a prescription may be reasonable after consulting the prescribing physician.
- Control of hyperlipidemia
Controlling hypertriglyceridemia can avoid pancreatitis recurrence. Repeated serum triglyceride measurements may be helpful.
Epidemiology
Due to pancreatic endocrine tissue damage, deficiency in insulin production causes impaired glucose management or diabetes.
Acinar cell damage causes malabsorption, weight loss, diarrhea, or steatorrhoea due to insufficient digestive enzyme production.
Expected Prognosis
Chronic Pancreatitis damages the pancreas if left untreated, and your body won't be able to create enzymes or hormones. Inability to digest food may lead to malnutrition, and Pancreatitis may lead to diabetes.
Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis is an inflammatory pancreatic illness characterized by gradual fibrotic destruction of the pancreatic secretory tissue. However, processes include necrosis/apoptosis, inflammation, and duct blockage.
Possible Complication
Chronic Pancreatitis may lead to several consequences. Continuing to consume alcohol after a diagnosis increases your risk of complications.
The most common complication is nutrient malabsorption. As a result of the lack of digestive enzymes, the body cannot properly absorb nutrients, and it may cause malnutrition.
Diabetes is another possible complication. Pancreatitis destroys the cells that make insulin and glucagon, regulating blood sugar and raising blood sugar levels. Chronic Pancreatitis causes diabetes in around 45% of patients.
Pseudocysts are fluid-filled growths that may arise within or outside your pancreas. Pancreatic pseudocysts may block ducts and blood arteries. In certain situations, they get infected.
Our Medical Chronic Pancreatitis Experts
If you are facing any similar signs or symptoms please contact the Nanavati Max team to schedule an appointment at : +91 22 6836 0000
Give Feedback
