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Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis

The pancreas help in synthesizing food with the help of digestive enzymes. Vital hormones such as insulin and glucagon are released by the pancreas into the bloodstream. When the pancreas are inflammed, a condition of pancreatis sets in. In a case of pancreatitis, the digestive enzymes end up attacking the pancreas itself. Milder cases of pancreatitis can be treated with dietary and lifestyle changes. Patients with pancreatitis notice dropping body weight inspite of normal appetite and eating habits. This is due to malabsorption as there are insufficient pancreatic enzymes to break down food. At this stage, it can also lead to diabetes since the insulin-producing cells are also damaged.

Acute Pancreatitis is a severe form of the disease that can lead to many a complication. This condition is usually the result of gallstones or too much alcohol. The pancreas help in synthesizing food with the help of digestive enzymes. The symptoms of acute pancreatis are nausea and vomiting, accompanied by a swollen abdomen that it tender to touch. The pain may also be noticed in the back and other areas. Sometimes it may lead to dehydration. Acute pancreatis is a life-threatening condition if ignored and untreated. It can trigger off breathing complications. It may lead to a kidney failure. Chronic pancreatitis also manifests in symptoms such as bloating and oily malodorous stools. Cases of chronic pancreatitis are usually attributed to excessive alcohol consumption. Other factors that can trigger acute pancreatitis are elevated levels of trigylcerides, bacterial or viral infections such as hepatitis or mumps and pancreatic cancer. Any structural abnormality of the pancreas or common bile duct can lead to pancreatitis.

A case of acute pancreatitis may need to be monitored and treated in a hospital. Surgical removal of pancreatic psudocysts may be necessary. Blood tests will reveal unusually high levels of amylase and lipase in patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasound can reveal presence of gallstones and inflammation of the pancreas. Other diagnostic procedures to detect chronic pancreatitis are ERCP - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and CAT scan.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasound is specifically used to detect any abnormalities of the abdominal organs and other structures in the upper abdominal regions. An abdominal ultrasound can aid in determining the cause of abdominal pain or monitoring an abdominal aneurysm. It is mainly used to detect gall stones and tumors. Problems of the liver such as jaundice, cirrhosis or fatty deposits can be evaluated with abdominal ultrasound. Enlarged spleen, pancreatis and blocked bile ducts can be diagnosed with an abdominal ultrasound. Extreme obesity and gas or other materials in the stomach or intestines can affect the accuracy of an abdominal ultrasound. An abdominal ultrasound can aid placement of needle or other instrument during biopsy. Any fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity can be detected.