The pain that is experienced as a result of the pancreas digesting itself, and is often reported as a severe epigastric pain that can radiate to the back. Other accounts of the pain have reported; sudden, sharp, twisting or band like pain. The injury to the pancreas will result in edema and vascular damage. The two diagnostic tests as previously discussed are the serum amylase and lipase. Pfrimmer (2008) explains how they will both rise in result to the acute injury and then the serum amylase will fall post 24 hours. The serum lipase will however stay elevated for around 14 hours post injury (Pfrimmer, 2008, pg. 341). It is the initial release of the auto digesting enzymes that create the complications and signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. The realization of the pancreas and the endocrine/exocrine system allow for systemic complications. The malfunction of the pancreas exocrine function is most commonly associated with chronic alcohol abuse or a blockage caused by gallstones.
Nursing diagnosis
When a patient is experiencing an acute pancreatitis incident the problems will be evident. As Pfrimmer (2008) illustrate these problems range from the pain associated with the autodigestion of the pancreas, as evident with the presence of pain. Imbalanced nutrition (less than body …show more content…
Much debate surrounds the use of prophylactic antibiotics with an acute pancreatic attack. If a patient exhibits signs and symptoms of infection, broad-spectrum antibiotics are thought to have the most effect. The antibiotics need to be able to penetrate the pancreatic tissue (Pfrimmer, 2008, pg.342). Although there are many complications and nursing diagnosis that arise from acute pancreatitis, the two nursing diagnoses that this paper will address in the event of an acute pancreatitis include; Acute pain and imbalanced nutrition (less than body