Nursing Diagnosis for Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas.
There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic.

Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short period of time.

Symptoms most commonly begins with abdominal pain in the middle or upper left part of the abdomen and may increase after eating or lying flat the back.
Other symptoms :

• nausea,
• fever,
• rapid heartbeat, and
• dehydration.
• severe acute pancreatitis symptoms and signs may show skin discoloration around the belly button or the side of the body between the ribs and hip (flank), or small erythematous skin nodules.

Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas becomes permanently damaged due to inflammation.

Symptoms may or may not include abdominal pain that may include :

• bleeding due to anemia,
• liver problems (jaundice),
• weight loss,
• nutritional deficiencies, and
• inability to produce insulin resulting in diabetes.

Causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis are similar; about 80%-90% are caused by alcohol abuse and gallstones (about 35%-45% for each); while the remaining 10%-20% are caused by

• medications,
• chemical exposures,
• trauma,
• hereditary diseases,
• infections,
• surgical procedures, and
• high fat levels in the blood and genetic abnormalities with pancreas or intestine

Nursing Diagnosis for Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis

1. Ineffective breathing pattern related to a decrease in oxygen entering the lungs.
2. Impaired tissue perfusion related to a decrease in blood supply to the tissues.
3. Fluid volume deficit related to a decrease in the amount of fluid in the intravascular.
4. Acute pain related to abdominal distention capsule.
5. Fluid volume related to the buildup of excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
6. Hyperthermia related to an infection of the peritoneum and gallbladder.

Altered urinary elimination related to a decrease in urine output.
Risk for imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to nausea and vomiting.
Activity intolerance related to a decrease in the formation of energy.