Inflammation of the pancreas is an unpleasant and dangerous condition. In medicine, it is called pancreatitis. With this disease, the enzymes produced in the pancreas remain in it, begin to destroy its tissues. Treatment must be carried out in a timely manner. Otherwise, the inflammation becomes chronic. How is the acute form of the disease detected? How is the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis carried out? These issues should be de alt with in detail.
Essence of disease
The pancreas is a small but important organ of the digestive system. It lies behind the stomach and extends from the duodenum to the spleen. The pancreas has a lobular structure. Each lobule has a duct. In the organ, all ducts join and form the main pancreatic duct. There is also a second (additional) duct. Each of them flows into the duodenum.
Iron in the human body performs two functions:
- Exocrine (exocrine). The juice secreted from the gland into the duodenum contains enzymes. They are involved in the digestion of protein, carbohydrate and fatty foods.
- Endocrine (intrasecretory). The pancreas secretes polypeptide hormones into the blood. They regulate metabolic processes in the body.
When inflammation occurs, the functions of the pancreas are disturbed. This confirms the diagnosis of pancreatitis. The secret is not released from the organ into the duodenum. In this regard, the process of self-digestion of the gland sections begins. Part of the enzymes and toxins are then released into the blood vessels, spread throughout the body and damage other organs (liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and even the brain).
Disease occurs in people for various reasons. Statistics show that 50% of people suffer from inflammation of the pancreas due to alcohol abuse. In 20% of cases, the diagnosis of pancreatitis in adults shows that the disease develops due to cholelithiasis. Other causes of inflammation of the pancreas include:
- infectious, viral and parasitic diseases;
- fungal lesions;
- injury and poisoning;
- endoscopic manipulations and operations.
Classification of pancreatitis
According to the nature of the course, the disease can be acute (OP) and chronic (CP). The first form of the disease means an inflammatory process that occurs in the pancreas and passes to other tissues and organs. The disease develops suddenly due to the intake of alcohol, spicy or fatty foods. In some cases, the onset of the disease is associated with the consumption of a large amount of food afterprolonged fasting.
Acute pancreatitis experts classify as follows:
- Acute severe pancreatitis. With this form, the internal organs do not function properly. Dif. diagnosis of pancreatitis reveals serious abnormalities.
- Sharp mild form. With this type of disease, organ functions are minimally impaired.
- Acute severe pancreatitis complicated by parapancreatic infiltration, peritonitis, purulent abscesses, sepsis, bleeding.
Chronic pancreatitis occurs in people after suffering an acute form of inflammation of the pancreas. Depending on the severity, experts distinguish:
- Heavy shape. Pancreatitis is characterized by a continuously relapsing course. Remission periods are rare and short-lived.
- The course of the disease is moderate. Exacerbations in inflammation of the pancreas occur 3-4 times a year. Abdominal pain syndrome is long enough.
- Mild course of the disease. Exacerbations are short and rare. They occur 1-2 times a year.
Signs of acute inflammation
Pain in the epigastric region is a symptom indicating acute pancreatitis. Differential diagnosis in the presence of this symptom is carried out immediately, because the pain is often so strong that people cannot lie and sit still. Only after the diagnosis and the establishment of an accurate diagnosis, specialists can take any measures to alleviate the condition of patients.
Another common symptom of acute inflammation of the pancreas is vomiting, which in most cases is repeated. It does not bring relief to sick people. Their condition is only getting worse due to vomiting. Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:
- pallor of the skin, acrocyanosis (acquisition of a cyanotic color by the skin);
- bloating;
- gas retention, stool;
- sharp weakness.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
Signs characteristic of CP are different during periods of exacerbations and remissions. They depend on a number of factors: stage, clinical form of the course of the disease. Despite this, there are several main symptoms of chronic pancreatitis:
- Indigestion. It is manifested by an increase in the volume and frequency of stools. Kalu in chronic pancreatitis is characterized by a grayish color and a fetid odor. It often contains leftover food that has not been digested. The above symptoms occur due to a decrease in the mass of the functioning exocrine parenchyma and a violation of the secretion of the secretion of the gland into the duodenum.
- Weakness, trembling throughout the body, hunger, convulsions, involuntary bowel movements and urination, loss of consciousness. These symptoms of CP are associated with a violation of the intrasecretory function of the pancreas.
- Painful abdominal syndrome. The pain has no clear localization. It can occur in the middle or upper abdomen and take on a shingles character. In some cases, painnot observed.
Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors prescribe examinations for their patients. Diagnosis of pancreatitis includes blood tests to determine the amount of enzymes produced in the pancreas. A common test for the content of amylase in the blood serum. The level of this enzyme exceeds the norm several times in those people who have acute pancreatitis.
Diagnostic methods also include urinalysis. According to the results of the analysis, patients are found to have:
- proteinuria (protein content in urine);
- microhematuria (the presence of blood in the urine in excess of the physiological norm);
- cylindruria (the appearance in the urine of cylindrical bodies formed from blood cells, coagulated protein, epithelium of the renal tubules).
A reliable method for diagnosing acute pancreatitis is computed tomography (CT). It allows you to get an image of the pancreas, surrounding tissues and internal organs, identify complications of the disease, assess the extent and nature of the lesion of the pancreas in pancreatic necrosis.
Acute pancreatitis can be diagnosed and treated through laparoscopy. With the help of it, doctors with a high degree of certainty determine the form of the disease, identify and eliminate some of the complications of the disease.
The most common, informative, simple and safe method for detecting a disease is ultrasound diagnosticsacute pancreatitis (ultrasound). During its implementation, the dimensions, contours, shape, internal structure, echogenicity of the pancreas, the state of the ductal system are evaluated.
Chronic diagnosis
Diagnosis of pancreatitis in adults includes primarily ultrasound and CT. Sick people are also prescribed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. This examination method is a combination of endoscopy with fluoroscopy.
Diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis also includes the determination of the exocrine function of the pancreas. It is for this purpose that specialists conduct a coprogram - a laboratory study that allows you to detect the remains of undigested food in the feces.
Exocrine pancreatic function can also be assessed using C-breath tests. Their main advantage is non-invasiveness (no need to violate the integrity of the body's natural external barriers). Such a diagnosis of pancreatitis also makes it possible to determine the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy.
Methods of treating acute pancreatitis
If symptoms appear that indicate the development of OP, a sick person needs to be given first aid:
- prohibit eating and drinking for several days;
- apply a heating pad with cold water or an ice pack to the epigastric region;
- give antispasmodics (thanks to the use of "No-shpy" or "Papaverine" will decreaseenzyme production).
After providing first aid, you must immediately call a doctor. The person must be admitted to the hospital. The hospital immediately conducts an ultrasound diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. After an accurate diagnosis is established, analgesics ("Baralgin", "Analgin") are prescribed to suppress pain.
Amino acid solutions and glucose are also used in the treatment. They fill the plastic and energy needs of the human body. Antibiotics are also prescribed. These drugs are necessary for the treatment and prevention of purulent complications.
A few days after the start of treatment, a thin probe is placed in the small intestine. It is necessary for the application of the enteral nutrition technique. When bowel function is restored, the patient is allowed to eat naturally. The diet should consist of cereals, boiled vegetables, compotes.
Conservative treatment is successful in 87% of cases. The remaining 13% of sick people need surgery. It is carried out when the diagnosis of pancreatitis reveals serious complications. The goals of surgical treatment are as follows:
- Reduce endotoxicosis. For this, drainage and decompression of the bile ducts, drainage and sanitation of the abdominal cavity are prescribed. During the operation, enzymes, toxins and other biologically active substances are removed from the body.
- Treatment of infectious and necrotic complicationspancreonecrosis (abscesses, fistulas, cysts, peritonitis). To achieve this goal, specialists perform opening and drainage of postnecrotic, purulent cavities, resection and sequestrectomy of the pancreas.
Treatment of chronic inflammation
If the diagnosis of pancreatitis revealed a chronic form of the disease, then various drugs can be prescribed to patients: enzyme preparations based on pancreatin ("Mezim", "Festal", "Creon"), antibiotics ("Abactal", "Amoxiclav", "Sumamed"), etc. In some cases (for example, with a formed pseudocyst), minimally invasive (percutaneous) drainage or surgery is required.
Nutrition plays an important role. With an exacerbation of the disease on the 1-2nd day, patients are forbidden to eat anything. You can only drink liquid (1-1.5 liters per day): weak tea, alkaline mineral water without gas, rosehip broth (1-2 cups). On the 2-3rd day, food is allowed. Slimy soups, liquid pureed milk koshas, vegetable purees, fruit juice jelly are allowed.
During periods of remission, you need to follow these tips:
- Steam, puree or bake in the oven. Eliminate pure fats from the diet and limit table s alt to 6 grams per day.
- Eat small meals 5-6 times a day. The recommended temperature of hot dishes is no higher than 57-62 degrees, cold - no less than 15-17 degrees.
- Exclude from the diet sour, spicy, spicy and canned foods, peas and beans, mushrooms, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, kvass, sour fruit juices, rich bakery products. Cream and sour cream are allowed in small quantities in dishes.
Unconventional Therapies
In an acute form of inflammation of the pancreas, the only right decision is to see a doctor. Experimenting with folk remedies for this type of disease is not worth it. If the symptoms and diagnosis of pancreatitis indicate a chronic form of the disease, then you can try the methods of treatment offered by alternative medicine.
In most cases, phytotherapy gives a positive effect. The use of herbal preparations can significantly improve the condition of people suffering from chronic pancreatitis. Here is a recipe for one traditional medicine:
- mix equal parts of corn silk, chamomile and calendula flowers, plantain leaves and mint herb;
- take 1 tsp. from the resulting mixture and pour 2 cups of boiling water;
- put the decoction in a water bath for 15 minutes;
- ready product insist for 45 minutes and strain.
Decoction is recommended to drink three times a day 15 minutes before eating 0.4 cups, previously diluted with warm water to the volume of a glass. You can store the product in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Prevention of pancreatitis
It is quite possible to prevent the development of pancreatitis. Firstturn to take care of your he alth. Some diseases of the biliary tract and gallbladder, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract provoke inflammation of the pancreas. If you feel worse and suspicious symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, take the necessary tests and undergo the prescribed examinations.
Another important preventive measure is to reduce alcohol consumption. Even absolutely he althy people are advised not to drink alcohol-containing drinks in large quantities. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, alcohol should be completely abandoned.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that pancreatitis (clinic, diagnosis, treatment of this disease) is an urgent medical topic. If you experience symptoms that indicate inflammation of the pancreas, you should consult a doctor. Advanced disease can lead to serious life-threatening complications.
