Pancreatic duct blockage is one of the potential causes of pancreatitis.
To understand how a duct can be blocked you first have to understand how the pancreas works. The pancreas is a small 6-10″ long organ that is situated in the upper abdomen behind the stomach. It’s function is to make enzymes that are an important step in digesting the foods that we eat. It also makes the insulin our bodies use to regulate the bodies glucose or sugar level.
While insulin is secreted directly into the bloodstream the enzymes go through the pancreas and into the small intestines. Food that we eat is partially digested first by chewing, then by the saliva and acids in the stomach. What is left after this process is called chyme and it is released by the stomach into the beginning of the small intestines for further digestion.
This first area of the small intestines is called the duodenum. It is also in this area that the pancreas is connected by a duct through which it releases enzymes into the small intestines. This duct is one of the ducts that can become blocked and cause pancreatitis. The duct runs through the entire length of the pancreas and connects to a similar duct that enters from the liver, delivering bile to the small intestines.
If the duct to the small intestines gets blocked pancreatic duct blockage can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a painful disease that can be either an acute or a chronic problem and is basically an inflammation of the pancreas. When pancreatic duct blockage happens the main duct is blocked and the result is the various juices that would normally flow through the pancreas get blocked up inside the organ.
There are numerous causes of pancreatic duct blockage and they include things like gallstones, tumors, structural defects, and surgery or other trauma. It is also important to know that there is an estimated 14% of people who get pancreatitis for whom a cause is never found.
Once a pancreatic duct blockage happens it requires immediate medical attention. To treat pancreatitis Doctors usually recommend that patients stop eating solid foods while the inflammation cools down and the pancreas recovers.
Often the patient is given nourishment through intravenous means until the pancreatic duct blockage finally passes and the starts to inflammation ease. In extreme cases surgery may be needed to remove the blockage.
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thanks for the interesting article.
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This is a great source of information and has proved very useful as we have a child who has been suffering for over a year. Still not properly diagnosed, I created a dedicated website and blog to try and reach out to other parents with child sufferers. If it would be OK with you, I would like to leave you with the link to our site?
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but from reading this article I’ve gathered that if the pancreatic duct is blocked amylase and lipase cannot be released as needed. I’ve had several attacks but my lipase and and amylase levels have been normal. I’ve gone to the ER and explained that I had a whipple procedure in 2000 and that I’m having a pancreatitis attack. Of course, they run amylase and lipase and the results come back normal. That’s when the ER Doc looks at me like I’m crazy and they think I’m just looking for drugs to ease the pain. It’s so frsutrating to say the least. Pancreatitis attacks are not my first rodeo. I know my body better then anyone. It seems the only remedy at this point is to have the anastomosis replaced and hope for the best. Thanks for listening
I had a blockage of my waste pipe by a gallstone and i have had a few pancreatitis attacks, the 3rd attack yesterday, 24 June 2018 watching the world cup England/Panama game. I had to leave just before half time as the attack was to much for me. I had just eaten a burger with bacon on then, 3 cooked chips and a big bowl of mayonnaise, all the food to avoid. Now i going to take things seriously about a liquid diet. It was never explained to me why you get pancreatitis attacks and what foods to avoid, This site is so good for me
Thanks – I hope things go better for you in the future.
I really appreciate your article. I suffer from pancreatic duct blockage due to cysts, which are growing but so far appear to be non cancerous. My doctor says my options are limited. Readers should take seriously your recommendations.