In the past few years, acute pancreatitis, the treatment of which is rather complicated, has taken third place among surgical diseases, rising to the next stage after appendicitis and acute cholecystitis.
The condition in which the pancreas is located depends primarily on what we eat and how often we do it. Based on this, the conclusion suggests itself: a very small number of people really think and worry about the state of the pancreas. But in vain! Indeed, acute pancreatitis - diseases are extremely complex, difficult to tolerate and even, in isolated cases, leading to death.
Causes of the disease
Before disassembling acute pancreatitis, its treatment, it is important to understand: why does this disease appear?
Everything is quite simple: in the duct leading from the pancreas to the duodenum, pressure rises. Because of this, before reaching the intestines, enzymes are activated and self-digestion of pancreatic tissues, the so-called autolysis, begins.
One of the main causes of this phenomenon is cholelithiasis. The stone, blocking the duct, does not allow the exit of pancreatic juice.
In addition, quite often the cause of acute pancreatitis can be called drinking a significant amount of alcohol. Know that neither the liver nor the pancreas is simply able to produce that amount of enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Therefore, we can say that alcohol not only has a detrimental effect on the pancreas itself, but also causes stones to form in it.
Symptoms of the disease
It should be understood how acute pancreatitis manifests itself , symptoms, its treatment. The main symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the abdomen or hypochondrium, squeezing the upper body. Sometimes such pain is similar to an attack of angina pectoris. But only in the case of acute pancreatitis, the pain appears after a person eats, and in the case of angina pectoris, after he performs physical exertion;
- Nausea, vomiting (persistent and not relieving), diarrhea;
- An increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees and chills are also quite common symptoms of acute pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis: treatment
If the patient has such symptoms, he is usually brought to a surgical clinic, where an examination is performed. If the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is confirmed, treatment is prescribed. And it begins with anesthesia, for which drugs with an antispasmodic effect are used.
In addition, in the acute course of the disease, hunger is prescribed, followed by a strict diet.
Drug treatment of acute pancreatitis includes the introduction of a patient droppers containing physiological and protein solutions (for example, albumin solution). In addition, drugs are introduced that have the ability to block pancreatic enzymes, anesthetizing and, if necessary, plasma.
If such treatment does not give positive results or an exacerbation of pancreatitis develops, the treatment leaves no other choice than surgical intervention. It refers to:
- peritoneal lavage - abdominal lavage. With the help of drainage tubes, fluid accumulated in the abdominal cavity is removed;
- necroectomy - removal of areas of the pancreas that are already damaged. But such an operation is quite rare, as it is considered very complicated;
- removal of the gall bladder. This operation is performed only in case of blockage of the bile ducts and only after stopping the attack.
In addition to the diet, it is necessary to use enzymatic preparations, vitamins and analgesics, which will relieve pain. In addition to acute pancreatitis, doctors advise, if available, to treat concomitant diseases: cholelithiasis and diabetes mellitus.
Acute pancreatitis, the treatment of which is to follow a very strict diet, is a rather serious disease. Only specialists can remove all painful sensations and prevent complications.