Week 3 Pre-Learning: Disorders of the Pancreas Flashcards
What is acute pancreatitis? (2)
- Acute inflammation of the pancreas
- Abnormal activation of digestive enzymes within the pancreas
What are the main causes of acute pancreatitis? (8)
- Gallbladder stones
- Alcohol use
- genetics
- Medications
- Viruses
- Hypercalcemia
- high triglyceride levels
- trauma/procedures
What processes occur in the pancreas? (3)
- Lipolysis
- Proteolysis
- Necrosis of blood vessels
What is lipolysis?
- Lipase causes fat necrosis of pancreatic cells
What is proteolysis?
- Break down of proteins can lead to thrombosis and gangrene
What is necrosis of blood vessels? (3)
- Enzymes will dissolve elastic fibers of the pancreatic blood vessels, causing bleeding
- release of more enzymes that cause vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
- Inflammatory mediators –> damage will lead to leukocytes
Where would pain be felt with acute pancreatitis? (3)
- left upper quadrant
- mid epigastric area
- radiates to the back, left flank, or left shoulder
What are the clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis? (9)
- N + V - Inflammation leads to abdominal distention and slowed GI motility
- Jaundice (swelling of head of pancreas)
- Hemorrhage
- break down of blood levels - Fever - inflammation
- Pancreatic enzymes in the blood
- increased serum amylase and lipase - Hyperglycemia
- Hypovolemia
- Pulmonary complications
- Hyperkalemia
Why does acute pancreatitis cause an increase in serum amylase and lipase?
When cells die, they release their contents
Why does hypocalcemia occur with acute pancreatitis?
- breakdown of fats releases free fatty acids that bind to calcium in blood, causing low serum calcium
Why does hyperglycemia occur in acute pancreatitis?
destruction of beta cells,
Why does hypovolemia occur in acute pancreatitis? (3)
- increased permeability
- vasodilation
- loss of fluid from vascular space
Why do pulmonary complications occur in acute pancreatitis?
- Inflammatory cytokines and enzymes in the blood stream cause inflammation of lungs and alveoli
Why does hyperkalemia occur in acute pancreatitis?
- cells/tissue death leads to release of intracellular potassium into the blood stream, causing elevated serum potassium levels
In the video, why can patients with acute pancreatitis develop ARDs (acute respiratory distress syndrome)? (3)
- Same reason as pulmonary complications occurring
- alveoli are inflamed and fill with fluid
- enzymes destroy surfactant