Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis causes severe pain in the middle of abdomen. Pancrease is the endocrinal gland that lies in the abdomen and is surrounded by duodenum and small intestine. Pancreas secretes hormones like insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and polypeptide. Pancreatic hormone is carried by pancreatic duct. Pancreatic duct joins bile duct and becomes common bile duct. Common bile duct opens into duodenum.
Pancreatitis is caused by:
- Common bile duct may be blocked by gall stone.
- Cancer of opening mucosal tissue called Ampullary Carcinoma.
- Most common cause of pancreatitis is alcoholism.
- Other causes are abdominal trauma, ERCP, viral infection and malnutrition idiopathic.
Blockage of pancreatic duct caused by viral infection causes severe pain. Injury to Pancreas causes Fatty necrosis and Peripancreatic necrosis.
MRI shows calcification of pancreatic tissue.
Alcohol induced pancreatitis causes:
- Decreased blood flow
- Fibrosis*
- Calcification
- Hemorrhage
Chronic pancreatitis causes necrosis of pancreatic tissue. Chronic Pancreatitis causes hemorrhage and fatty necrosis.
Symptoms of Pancreatitis are:
- Stool – Smelly and Greasy.
- Pain – Abdominal Cramps and Back Pain.
- Bloated abdomen with excessive flatulence.
- Weight loss and fatigue.
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).