Pancreatic edema: signs and methods of treatment
The mechanism of the development of pancreatic inflammation is triggered as soon as a patient commits a violation of the diet. When eating a rich protein in a large number begins the production of enzymes in the pancreas. The canals do not cope with the withdrawal of all the juice and it stagnates. The extremely dangerous process of self-digestion starts, which leads to acute inflammation of the organ. So, there is swelling of the pancreas. In this case, the ducts are squeezed even more and they are clogged.
On examination, it is noted that the pancreas is swollen, as if a liquid has been injected into it. The size of the organ is greatly increased. With edema, abscesses of the parenchyma most often develop, the ducts are filled with a secret in which a large number of depleted epithelium and leukocytes.
Signs of
With pancreatic edema, active enzymes and degradation products are released into the circulatory system and lead to poisoning of the body.
First of all, inflammation causes swelling, which is indicated by pain syndrome. The inflamed organ sharply increases in volumes, its tissues are strongly compacted. In the pancreas pass fairly large nerve trunks and their compression - the cause of acute and increasing pain. In the pathological process, the nerve endings are also involved, which increases pain.
A person experiences great discomfort, expressed by acute girdling pain. Analgesic drugs are of little help in this case. First of all, the patient is looking for the most comfortable position, in which the pain is slightly blunted. Most often this is a sitting position with a slightly tilted forward body.
The ingestion of toxins into the blood causes a rise in temperature in the human body. The skin turns pale, there is general weakness, cold sweat. Poisoning provokes indomitable vomiting, and it does not bring relief. This, perhaps, is the main distinguishing feature of pancreatitis from other inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract.
In children, edema of the pancreas and intoxication of the body is especially dangerous. It is necessary to closely monitor the nutrition and condition of the child during the initiation of complementary feeding, teething and in the adolescent period.
When performing an ultrasound, the pancreas with edema is greatly enlarged in size, its echogenicity is reduced and the degree of signal reflection is reduced. Similar signs of pancreatic edema are observed in the acute period of pancreatitis.
Repeated cases of malaise indicate a chronic disease. Periodic inflammation of the pancreas is accompanied every time by its edema. The organ changes its size, structure. The channels for the outflow of pancreatic juice expand and curl. The parenchyma of the gland thickens up to a solid state, becomes knotty.
The intestine does not get enough of the produced enzymes to digest food. The process of its splitting, digestion and absorption of nutrients from it is disrupted. This leads to bloating, flatulence and the appearance of diarrhea.
Another scenario is possible, in a more relaxed manner. After eating after a while, the patient feels heaviness in the stomach. Then, weakness in the body, dizziness, headaches. A man loses his appetite.
If the intestines do not get the enzymes in the right amount for a fairly long period, then the body lacks many nutrients and vitamins, and this leads to loss of body weight.
Treatment of
In order to relieve pancreatic edema, first of all it is necessary to provide the patient with a state of rest and hunger, that is, stop food intake and accordingly stop the production of enzymes. This helps in the case of a chronic course of the disease, that is, infrequent seizures.
In the acute course of pancreatitis, the patient is placed in a hospital. The treatment is carried out with medical preparations and the appointment of a therapeutic diet.
The medical treatment of pancreatic edema consists mainly of the following stages of the :
- Antisecretory therapy. It is carried out to reduce the production of hydrochloric acid. The appointment of such treatment quickly helps in the first three days of the onset of the disease.
- Antifermental treatment. It is aimed at suppressing the production of enzymes, which provides a reduction in pain, relieves swelling of the organ and lowers microcirculatory disorders.
- Rheologically active treatment is designed to dilute blood and prevent its aggregation, that is, platelet adhesion.
- Antibiotic treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. To prevent infection of the body in the inflammatory process and the occurrence of an abscess.
- Detoxification of the body. The treatment is aimed at the rapid excretion of degradation products.
- Infusion therapy. Correct the loss of plasma, restore the water-electrolyte balance and protein deficiency.
Edema in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is rare, but its course is very aggressive and the prognosis is often disappointing. It is very difficult to identify the first stages of cancer, due to the absence of obvious symptoms.
In cancer, there is abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas, which eventually form a tumor. If the cell detaches, enters the blood and lymphatic system, then the cancer spreads throughout the body, forming metastases.
There are four stages of the cancer :
- The first stage of pancreatic cancer is a small tumor and does not exceed the size of the organ.
- The second stage - malignant neoplasm develops in the direction of the bile duct and further to the lymph nodes.
- The third stage - the tumor affected not only the stomach, spleen and large intestine, but also large nerves with vessels.
- Fourth stage - lymph nodes are involved and metastases are formed.
When a cancer cell enters the lymphatic vessels, it is transported through the system and retained in its nodes, which must protect the body from atypical cells( which have lost their properties).
Lymph nodes are inflamed, and in later stages of cancer they can not only weld together, but also with neighboring tissues. This causes densification and the lymphatic system is completely disturbed. Saturation of lymph nodes by cancer cells leads to the fact that the nodes "refuse to release the pest", which means that lymph gland stagnation occurs. The work of the lymphatic system is directed from the bottom upwards and as soon as there is a malfunction in it - we get edema, mostly the legs are affected. The formation of edema is also promoted by thrombi in the veins. With pancreatic cancer, ascites often develops.
Ascites are a pathological accumulation of fluid in the abdominal region, which leads to an increase in the volume of the stomach. With metastatic pancreas cancer is often formed.
Reasons for the appearance of excess fluid in ascites :
- Contact with cancer cells in the peritoneum leads to irritation. To reduce it - the liquid is released, which subsequently accumulates.
- If cancer cells have affected the liver or portal vein, the blood pressure in the organ is increasing and blood circulation is deteriorating, which also leads to the appearance of fluid.
- Damage to the lymph nodes contributes to the development of ascites, due to inefficient operation of the lymphatic system.
Treatment of ascites directly depends on effective cancer therapy using modern methods.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer involves courses of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. In the early stages of malignant tumor development there are great chances of complete cure. In later life, it is only possible to improve the quality of life and prolong it.
The disease of the pancreas is quite insidious and the treatment is complicated. Complications are quite dangerous because they develop unnoticed for the patient, if he does not undergo regular examinations with a doctor. To prevent attacks, you should adhere to a diet, and to identify other problems, a regular examination is shown. Watch your health and nutrition to get a better quality of life.
