Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Pathopharmacology I > Wk 4 Pancreas Problems > Flashcards

Wk 4 Pancreas Problems Flashcards

(72 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the severity of acute pancreatitis?

A

Can be from mild edema to severe hemorrhagic necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the risk factors for acute pancreatitis?

A

Middle aged
3x more likely in African Americans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Acute pancreatitis may go…

A

Undiagnosed unless caught by chance during a CT of the abdomen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Women typically develop acute pancreatitis from…

A

Biliary tract disease (gallstone blockage)
Cancer in bile duct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Men typically develop acute pancreatitis from…

A

Alcohol abuse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What other two potential causes of acute pancreatitis?

A

GI procedures
medications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How does the pathogenesis start of pancreatitis?

A

Cells are injured in some way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 4 steps of pancreatitis pathogenesis

A

Cells are injured
Pancreatic enzymes activated
Autodigestion
Mild to severe pancreatitis results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?

A

Releases insulin and glucagon to help with BS control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the exocrine function of the pancreas

A

Releases enzymes that help with digestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What causes autodigestion?

A

Pancreas releases enzymes inappropriately and they start to digest the pancreas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the enzymes that the pancreas releases? (5)

A

Trypsin
Elastase
Phospholipase A
Kallikrein
Lipase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does the release of trypsin cause? (3)

A

Edema
Necrosis
Hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does the release of elastase cause?

A

Hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does the release of phospholipase A cause?

A

Fat necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does the release of kallikrein cause? (4)

A

Edema
Vascular permeability
Smooth muscle contraction
Shock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the release of lipase cause?

A

Fat necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Kallikrein can cause __ which is fluid leaking into the spaces of the abdomen

A

ascites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where is the anatomical placement of the pancreas?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where is the pain from pancreatitis?

A

LUQ or epigastric pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the onset of pancreatitis?

A

Sudden onset

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Where does pancreatitis pain radiate to?

A

Back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Patients will have tenderness upon…

A

palpation of their abdomen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

A patient with pancreatitis may have abdominal distention due to…

A

Fluid seeping into peritoneal cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the accompanying s/s of pancreatitis?
N/V Abdominal distention Hypoactive bowel sounds Fever Hypotension Tachycardia Jaundice
26
Why do patients with pancreatitis become hypotensive and tachycardic?
Loss of fluids
27
If a patient with pancreatitis is tachycardic because of pain then their blood pressure would be...
slightly elevated instead of hypotensive
28
If a patient has a blocked bile duct and that is what is causing the pancreatitis, what symptom will they present with?
Jaundice (build up of bile)
29
What two enzymes will be increased with pancreas damage?
Amylase Lipase
30
If the pancreas isn't working effectively, what may become elevated?
Glucose
31
Why are WBC elevated in pancreatitis?
Part of the inflammatory response
32
What color might you see on the abdomen of a patient with pancreatitis?
Cyanosis Green/yellow/brown discoloration Ecchymoses
33
Ecchymoses on the flank is called...
Grey Turner's sign
34
Periumbilical ecchymoses is called...
Cullen's sign
35
Grey Turner's and Cullen's sign are both signs of...
Hemorrhagic pancreatitis
36
List 6 complications of acute pancreatitis
Pseudocyst Abscess Pulmonary complications Hypotension Tetany from hypocalcemia Increased risk for clotting
37
What are the possible pulmonary complications from acute pancreatitis?
Not wanting to take a deep breath becuase of pain Pleural effusion from fluid build up
38
Why is hypocalcemia a potential complication of acute pancreatitis?
Lipase causes fat necrosis which generates free fatty acids that bind to the calcium
39
What is a pseudocyst?
Fluid-filled cavity that surrounds the outside of the pancreas
40
What is on the inside of the pseudocyst?
Necrotic products and secretions
41
Why are pseudocysts a problem?
They can create inflammation that leads to scar tissue and loss of function
42
What are pseudocysts described as on an abdominal assessment?
Palpable epigastric mass
43
What can happen if the pseudocyst perforates?
The necrotic products inside will leak into the peritoneal cavity causing peritonitis
44
What is a pancreatic abscess?
Large fluid filled cavity inside the pancreas
45
A pancreatic abscess is the result of what?
Extensive necrosis in the pancreas
46
The abscess may become..
infectious or perforate
47
What are the clinical presentations of a pancreatic abscess?
Similar to pancreatitis but add Abdominal mass High fever Leukocytosis
48
A high fever is a symptom of both pancreatitis and a pancreatic abscess but it more commonly associated with...
The abscess because of the infection
49
What can be done for a pancreatic abscess?
A drain can be placed that leads to outside the body
50
Both pseudocysts and abscess can be felt on an abdominal exam, how do you differentiate?
They need to be scanned
51
Inflammation in the pancreas that persists over weeks to months
Chronic pancreatitis
52
What is the main etiology of pancreatitis?
Alcohol abuse
53
What percentage of alcoholics have pancreatitis?
50%
54
People with chronic pancreatitis can have bouts of...
acute pancreatitis where their symptoms become more severe more quickly
55
In chronic pancreatitis, the patient may experience digestion problems. Why?
Loss of pancreatic enzymes
56
In chronic pancreatitis, the patient may become hyperglycemic. Why?
Pancreas isn't secreting enough insulin due to impaired function
57
Chronic pancreatitis leads to destruction of...
tissue (necrosis) and scar tissue
58
Medical term for scar tissue
fibrosis
59
If an alcoholic has chronic pancreatitis, what happens if they stop drinking?
The damage has already been done and the cycle will continue
60
What happens after an acute attack for a patient who has chronic pancreatitis?
Progressive signs of dysfunction after attack subsides
61
What is the major symptom of chronic pancreatitis?
chronic pain
62
What are other manifestations of chronic pancreatitis? (3)
Diabetes mellitus Malabsorption of fat Weight loss (due to absorption issue)
63
What do we give for pain to a patient with chronic pancreatitis?
Morphine Hydromorphone
64
What do we give to reduce secretions and relax smooth muscles
dicyclomine (Bentyl)
65
What is the MOA of dicyclomine?
Antispasmodic (anticholinergic agent)
66
Why do we gave patients with chronic pancreatitis antacids?
Decrease hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach which decreases secretion of pancreatic enzymes
67
What else can we give to decrease hydrchloric acid secretion from parietal cells?
H2-recpetor antagonists
68
With chronic pancreatitis we may need to replace pancreatic enzymes that are no longer being produced. What will we give?
Pancrelipase (creon)
69
What is the nursing implications for pancrelipase?
They will need to take it with every meal and every snack
70
If morphine and hydromorphone are not enough, what will we progress to?
Fentanyl
71
Why would we give a patient with chronic pancreatitis pantroprazole (protonix)?
It blocks gastric pump secretion of parietal cells
72

Pathopharmacology I (33 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions