The pancreas is a long, slender
organ in the upper abdomen. The exocrine area of the pancreas produces digestive
juices and the endocrine area makes hormones, such as insulin, that regulate how
the body stores and uses food.
Both functions are impaired by chronic
pancreatitis, an inflammatory disease that causes progressive, irreversible
structural changes. Some persons develop diabetes and/or become unable to digest
foods, especially fats. The lack of normal pancreatic enzymes adversely affects
digestion and waste production. Abdominal pain is common, especially after
eating. This illness can make stool bulky, fatty and odiferous (that's
"steatorrhea"), and can cause stones to form in the pancreas.
In some 70%
to 80% of cases, alcoholism is a factor, but other causes can include duct
obstruction, nutritional factors and genetic abnormalities. About 30% of cases
have no known cause. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, weight loss and
steatorrhea. When symptoms are mild, no treatment is indicated. When needed,
treatment focuses on pain control, relieving duct obstruction, correcting
digestive problems, and detecting and managing complications.
The choice
of treatment for you or for the patient you care about, depends on the cause,
the portion of the organ involved, symptoms and duct size. This illness requires
individual diagnosis and treatment. Not all patients respond to the same
therapy. Treatment may consist of medications and, possibly, surgery. The
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery reports that surgery for chronic
pancreatitis "can be performed safely with minimal morbidity and excellent
long-term survival."
Hospitals Listing
Gleneagles Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
{Malaysia}
Gleneagles Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Escorts Heart Institute
New Delhi
{India}
Phyathai
Banbkok
{Thailand}
Phyathai 1 Hospital was established on 30 July, 1976 and it is located a
ParkwayHealth
{Singapore}
ParkwayHealth
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