Acute Pancreatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Running header: ACUTE PANCREATITIS 1
Acute pancreatitis
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Acute pancreatitis case study
Introduction
Pancreatitis refers to the inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, leaf-like organ
about 13 cm long located in the upper abdomen. The pancreas has three functions of great
importance. It produces a digestive enzyme into the duodenum, it secretes insulin and glucagon
which help control the blood glucose level and lastly secretion of sodium bicarbonate which
neutralizes the acid originating from the stomach (Balthazar, Ranson, & Megibow).
Pancreatitis can be caused by gallstones, viral infections, various drugs, and last but not least
alcohol. Pancreatic inflammation can occur as acute pancreatitis meaning it develops suddenly
and lasts for days. In some cases, however, the inflammation may last for a long time and slowly
damage the pancreatic function (Balthazar, 2012). This is called chronic pancreatitis. The
objectives of this paper include pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and management of a client
suffering from the condition.
Identifying data
Name: Mr. X
Sex: Male
Age: 52 years
Source of information: client
Chief complaints
“Abdominal pain, it feels like last time when I had surgery”

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History of presenting illness
Mr. X was admitted to the emergency department presenting with abdominal pain. The pain
gradually began at 8 pm last night. The client complained of a sharp stabbing epigastric pain
occurring mostly on the right upper and lower quadrant. Associated manifestation includes
nausea without vomiting. The client reports negative on back pains, fever, urinary infection, and
recent travel and lastly is not on any antibiotic medication.
Past medical history
i. Adult illnesses
The client has had hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and peptic ulcer
ii. Operations
The client has had multiple abdominal surgeries, appendectomy, and lastly cholecystectomy.
Medical diagnosis
The client was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis which presented with upper abdominal pain.
On palpation the abdomen was tender and the abdominal muscles rigid. Pain caused by
gallstones starts immediately and reaches its peak over minutes. If the pancreatitis is caused by
alcohol develops over a few days. The diagnostic done included blood tests and imaging tests.
Home medications
The client denies any prescribed home medication.
Physical assessment

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I. General survey
The client had a blood pressure of 159/99mm/Hg, the pulse of 66 beats/minute,
temperature was 36.4 degree Celsius, respiration of 20 and peripheral capillary oxygen
saturation of 97%. His height was 1.676m, weight of 100.8kg and lastly a BMI of
35.87kg/m2.
II. General appearance and mental status
No signs of distress observed in facial expression and posture. The client’s weight, height
is proportionate to his age. He is clean and neat nobody or breath odor. The quantity and
quality of speech is moderate pace and clear tone. The client is in a good frame of mind, he
shows cooperation and adheres to instruction. His thoughts are well organized, logic and
have a sense of reality.
III. Integumentary
The skin color under natural light varies from light to deep brown, the skin is generally
uniform the palms, nail bed and lips are lighter in pigmentation. There are no signs of edema or
skin lesions. The skin folds and axillae are well moisturized, the surface temperatures are
uniform and within the normal range in all areas of the body. The client has a normal skin turgor
when pinched the skin goes back to its original state quickly. The hair is evenly distributed, there
is no sign of infection or infestation behind the ears or the hairline at the neck. The nails are
smooth in texture, the nail plate has a convex curvature of about 1600. The toenail and the
fingernail are highly vascular, pink in color and have a good capillary refill.
iii. Head