Otero-Colón Jonathan, Olivero Yisia, Virk Parmbir, Thomas Madilyn, Webking Samantha, Mejia Jose
Internal Medicine, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, USA.
Cureus. 2023 May 9;15(5):e38760. doi: 10.7759/cureus.38760. eCollection 2023 May.
Evidence-based medicine has demonstrated an extensive list of etiologies for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). EPI is defined as inadequate pancreatic enzyme efficacy in digestion due to insufficient enzyme production, activation, or early enzyme degradation. Among the etiologies, acute pancreatitis secondary to chronic and excessive consumption of alcohol has been found to be one of the most common causes. In 2022, a 43-year-old male patient with a past medical history of polysubstance abuse, acute on chronic pancreatitis, alcohol dependence, pulmonary embolism, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus type 2 presented to the Emergency Department with three days of epigastric abdominal pain, nausea and non-bloody, non-bilious vomiting. Proper imaging confirmed the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The key to treatment and surveillance relies on proper identification of risk factors, pertinent imaging for diagnostic evaluation and appropriate treatment with electrolyte repletion. The patient developed persistent electrolyte deficiencies despite appropriate repletion, indicating high suspicion of pancreatic insufficiency. The treatment most importantly relies on a combination of repletion of electrolytes as well as pancreatic enzymes with a clear patient understanding of their chronic condition, the importance of reducing modifiable risk factors and compliance with medical therapy.
循证医学已证实外分泌性胰腺功能不全(EPI)存在大量病因。EPI的定义为由于酶产生不足、激活不足或酶早期降解导致胰腺酶消化效力不足。在这些病因中,慢性过量饮酒继发的急性胰腺炎被发现是最常见的原因之一。2022年,一名43岁男性患者,有药物滥用、慢性胰腺炎急性发作、酒精依赖、肺栓塞、高血压、高脂血症和2型糖尿病病史,因上腹部疼痛、恶心和非血性、非胆汁性呕吐三天就诊于急诊科。适当的影像学检查确诊为急性胰腺炎。治疗和监测的关键在于正确识别危险因素、进行相关影像学检查以进行诊断评估以及通过补充电解质进行适当治疗。尽管进行了适当的补充,患者仍出现持续的电解质缺乏,这高度怀疑存在胰腺功能不全。治疗最重要的是依靠补充电解质以及胰腺酶,并让患者清楚了解其慢性病况、降低可改变危险因素的重要性以及坚持药物治疗。