Pancreatitis: A Brief To It
Pancreas is a glandular organ that is part of the endocrine system. It has two major functions: Exocrine which secretes digestive enzymes from the duct called pancreatic duct that break down food in the duodenum. The second function is endocrine, which produces hormones like insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar levels. The pancreas is the size of a hand and located behind the stomach.
When excess inflammation starts in the pancreas, it develops a condition called Pancreatitis. Pancreatitis occur when the digestive enzymes released by the pancreas to digest food in the duodenum start digesting the pancreas itself.
There are several symptoms that indicate a person may be suffering from pancreatitis:-
- Pain in the upper abdomen, back or chest
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Weightloss
- Digestive issues
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid heart rate
Types or Division of Pancreatitis Condition
There are three major types of pancreatitis:-
Acute Pancreatitis
Acute Pancreatitis is highly treatable and curable if diagnosed and treated early. It is generally caused due to gallstones and gets better with just a few days of treatment. The treatment begins with giving hydration using intravenous (IV) therapy. The whole process is called aggressive hydration that involves giving 250 to 500 milliliters of certain type of fluid administered every hour.
Acute pancreatitis is what converts into severe pancreatitis if left untreated.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is the most dangerous and incurable type of pancreas inflammation condition. It only becomes more serious and worse with time and is the permanent damage to the pancreas. There are several reasons for chronic pancreatitis including prolonged consumption of alcohol, cystic fibrosis, inherited disorders, high levels of calcium and fats in the blood, autoimmune conditions, some types of medicines, etc.
This causes malabsorption, which means the body stops digesting certain vitamins and minerals. So, during treatment the doctor may suggest some vitamins and minerals supplements in order to fulfill the requirement of the body. The pain and symptoms in chronic pancreatitis are worse.
There are also medicines available, that are given over a doctor’s prescription only to subside or reduce the pain like:-
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil)
- “Weak” opioids, such as codeine and tramadol (Ultram)
- Stronger opiates if absolutely necessary (morphine and fentanyl)
However, the reason for such severe pain is still unknown and researchers are in the process of understanding it. Though, there are some theories regarding it, including that the pain is due to the inflamed nerves in the pancreas that causes the pain signals. Another theory to explain the reason of pain earlier is that an inflamed head of the pancreas or a blocked pancreatic duct causes the pain.
One of the treatments for this type of pancreatitis is pancreatic transplant. After transplant, doctor advice for complete avoidance of alcohol and a special diet in order to prevent damage to the transplanted organ and also healing.
Another medical advancement towards this disease is the treatment of pancreatitis by removing the pancreas of the person fully and then performing the autologous islet cell transplantation. In this, insulin-making cells of the pancreas are reinserted into the liver with a catheter. This way, the body can make insulin without pancreas.
Severe Pancreatitis
Severe pancreatitis cases are less and often only 20 percent cases are of severe type. This type could lead to organ failure from pancreas to other organs as well if not treated on time. It also needs an intensive care unit for extended treatment, which could last more than a week.
The treatment involves giving antibiotics for the infection of necrotic tissue or the dead tissues in the pancreas. These tissues are also needed to remove surgically sometimes.
If pancreatitis leads to a severe phase, it leads to serious and fatal conditions and becomes incurable. However, the symptoms and issues can be minimized with proper precautions and medicines.
The treatment of severe pancreatitis includes performing nasogastric feeding, in which food is directly carried to the stomach using a feeding tube whose opening is connected to the nose.
Cure and Treatment: Is It Possible to Fully Treat Pancreatities?
The complete or permanent cure and better health of the patient suffering from pancreatitis depends on the type and stage of diagnoses of the disease. Only the acute pancreatitis guarantees a complete treatment, cure and betterment, also with proper medical help and [preventions and after treatment care and monitoring. Both the severe and chronic pancreatitis are hard to manage and cure and mostly chronic pancreatitis cases lead to death. Although, living years, pain and infection can be controlled for sometime with medicine and antibiotics and by following a special diet. However, if the condition is too serious, the next complication is organ failure, which can be fatal.
