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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas.Causes include a gallstone impacted in the common bile duct or the pancreatic duct, heavy alcohol use, systemic disease, trauma, elevated calcium levels, hypertriglyceridemia (with triglycerides usually being very elevated, over 1000 mg/dL), certain medications, hereditary causes and, in children, mumps.
Pancreatic abscess is a late complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, occurring more than 4 weeks after the initial attack. A pancreatic abscess is a collection of pus resulting from tissue necrosis, liquefaction, and infection. It is estimated that approximately 3% of the patients with acute pancreatitis will develop an abscess. [1]
Smoking increases the risk of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. [3] [4] Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is based on a threefold increase in the blood of either amylase or lipase. [1] In chronic pancreatitis, these tests may be normal. [1] Medical imaging such as ultrasound and CT scan may also be useful. [1] Acute pancreatitis is usually ...
A pancreatic fistula is an abnormal communication between the pancreas and other organs due to leakage of pancreatic secretions from damaged pancreatic ducts.An external pancreatic fistula is one that communicates with the skin, and is also known as a pancreaticocutaneous fistula, whereas an internal pancreatic fistula communicates with other internal organs or spaces.
Pancreas divisum has been suggested as a potential contributor of chronic pancreatitis in certain cases. [2] The separate ducts could lead to poor drainage of pancreatic secretions and increased pressure in the dorsal duct, [3] increasing the risk of inflammation and the development of complications. As a result, pancreas divisum is found more ...
Secondly, patients with acute pancreatitis may present with gastric varices as a complication of a blood clot in the splenic vein. The splenic vein sits over the pancreas anatomically. Inflammation or cancers of the pancreas may result in a blood clot forming in the splenic vein.
Other complications can include ascending cholangitis, which occurs when a bacterial infection causes purulent inflammation in the biliary tree and liver, and acute pancreatitis caused by blockage of the bile ducts that prevents active enzymes from being secreted into the bowel, instead damaging the pancreas. [16]
Complications from delayed surgery include pancreatitis, empyema, and perforation of the gallbladder, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and obstructive jaundice. [13] Biliary pain in the absence of gallstones, known as postcholecystectomy syndrome, may severely affect the patient's quality of life, even in the absence of disease progression. [14]