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Pancreatitis Pathophysiology Management
Describe in detail the pathophysiological explanation of pancreatitis in a working 35-year-old adult female. Explain the clinical manifestations, prognosis, diagnostic tests, and medical treatments and procedures involved. Identify the nurse’s role in promoting health awareness, resiliency and preventing medical complications.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format.
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Pancreatitis Pathophysiology Management
Pancreatitis in a 35-year-old working adult female involves an inflammatory process of the pancreas, often triggered by gallstones or alcohol use, though other causes like hypertriglyceridemia or medications may apply. The pathophysiology begins with premature activation of pancreatic enzymes (e.g., trypsin) within the gland, leading to autodigestion of pancreatic tissue. This causes inflammation, edema, and potential necrosis, releasing inflammatory mediators that can lead to systemic complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or multi-organ failure. In this female, lifestyle factors (e.g., stress, irregular meals) or undiagnosed gallstones could initiate this cascade (McCance & Huether, 2021).
Clinical manifestations include severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The pain may worsen after eating, reflecting pancreatic irritation. Prognosis varies; acute pancreatitis may resolve with treatment, but recurrent episodes can progress to chronic pancreatitis, increasing risks of diabetes or pancreatic cancer. Diagnostic tests include serum amylase and lipase levels (elevated >3 times normal), abdominal ultrasound to detect gallstones, and CT scans for severity assessment (Banks et al., 2022).
Medical treatments involve fasting to rest the pancreas, IV fluids for hydration, and analgesics for pain. Severe cases may require endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to remove gallstones or surgery for necrosis. The nurse’s role is pivotal in promoting health awareness by educating the patient on dietary triggers (e.g., low-fat diet), alcohol cessation, and stress management to enhance resilience. Preventive measures include monitoring for complications like infections or pseudocysts, ensuring timely reporting of worsening symptoms, and coordinating follow-up care to prevent recurrence, aligning with evidence-based nursing practice (McCance & Huether, 2021).
References
Banks, P. A., Bollen, T. L., & Dervenis, C. (2022). Classification of acute pancreatitis—2012: Revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut, 71(5), 789–798. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326393 McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2021). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (9th ed.). Elsevier.