Chronic Pancreatitis

Question 1

Causes of chronic pancreatitis

Answer 1

AGITS

Alochol
Genetic
Immune
Trigs elevated
Structural

Question 2

Presentation of chronic pancreatitis

Answer 2

Mainly epigastric pain:

• to the back
• relieved by sitting back or heat application
• exacerbated by fatty foods or alcohol

Steatorrhoea
Worse pain after food
Wt. loss 'fear of food'
DM
Epigastric mass

Question 3

Ix to consider in chronic panc

Answer 3

Glucose elevated
Faecal elastase decreased
USS: may show pseudocyst
AXR: may show pancreatic calcifications
CT: may show pancreatic calcifications

Question 4

Mx of chronic panc

Answer 4

Analgesia
Creon
ADEK vitamins
Possible DM management
Reduce alcohol and change diet

Question 5

What makes pancreatitis chronic?

Answer 5

chronic pancreatitis is characterised by recurrent or persistent abdominal pain and progressive injury to the pancreas and surrounding structures, resulting in scarring and loss of function