NURS 83PL Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Duct, Acute Pancreatitis
Document Summary
In the us, gallbladder disease is the most common cause of acute pancreatitis, which is more common in women. Chronic alcohol intake is the second most common cause, which is more common with men. Smoking is an independent risk factor for acute pancreatitis. Other less common causes include trauma (postsurgical, abdominal), viral infections (mumps, hiv), penetrating duodenal ulcer, cysts, abscess, cystic fibrosis, kaposi sarcoma, certain drugs (corticosteroids, thiazide diuretics, oral contraceptives, sulfonamides, nsaids), metabolic disorders (hyperparathyroidism, renal failure), and vascular disease. The most common pathogenic mechanism is autodigestion of the pancreas. The etiologic factors injury pancreatic cells or activate the pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas, rather than in the intestine. This may be due to reflux of bile acids in to the pancreatic ducts through an open or distended sphincter of oddi. This reflux may be caused by the blockage created by gallstones. Obstruction of the pancreatic ducts results in pancreatic ischemia.
