How To Remove The Calcification Of Pancreas

Treatment For Chronic Pancreatitis

After an attack of acute pancreatitis, the pancreas may completely recover or develop chronic pancreatitis. This is a permanent inflammation of the pancreas. It may have milder symptoms than acute pancreatitis. However, it is known for continuing stomach pain, food intolerance and disabling nausea. Over time, pancreatitis can damage as much as 90% of the pancreas, making it hard to produce digestive enzymes and hormones. That results in diarrhea and poor absorption of nutrients. That, in turn, can lead chronic diarrhea, malnutrition and diabetes. The clearest sign of chronic inflammation of the pancreas is pain. It can be severe at times, frequently seeming to go away as the disease progresses. In making a diagnosis, the doctor checks for signs of jaundice, weakness, emaciation, diarrhea and/or foul-smelling stools. Patients with a family history of pancreatitis, a history of alcohol abuse or several bouts of severe abdominal pain should be tested for chronic pancreatitis. The doctor will use one or more of the following: Blood tests to check the levels of two pancreatic enzymes, which tend to be high during an attack. Computed tomography (CT or "cat") scans or ultrasound, both of which can show inflammation and any scarring in soft-tissues. (CT uses an electronic beam to create a computerized image of internal organs, which X-rays can't capture. Ultrasound technology creates a sonogram, or an image created by sound waves, that shows the outlines of various organs and tissues in the body.) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a non-invasive procedure used to find and treat blockages in the pancreatic and biliary ducts. Most cases of chronic pancreatitis are caused by alcohol abuse. The rest are from blockages caused by gallstones, surgical scarring, t Continue reading >>

7 Strategies To Heal Pancreatitis Naturally

7 Strategies to Heal Pancreatitis Naturally Pancreatitis can be a debilitating condition that results in overwhelming pain and malnutrition. Chronic pancreatitis in the United States results in more than 122,000 outpatient visits and more than 56,000 hospitalizations per year. Painful flare ups bring these patients in for help. The most common causes of pancreatitis and additional flare ups include alcoholism and obstructive gallstones in the liver that block the pancreatic duct. As a healthcare provider, I feel compelled to help these patients deal with their pain naturally and relieve the causes as best as possible. Many of these patients experience their lives being changed forever due to an inflamed pancreas and they go to the medical doctor to receive pain medication and told to consume a low fat and low salt diet. This leaves the patient severely malnourished. They may be pain free, but the effects of opioids, NSAIDs, and malnutrition make the body function decline drastically. Unfortunately, there is currently little research done on natural ways to overcome pancreatitis. However, this article will dive into the few natural strategies that have been proven to help control pain and increase nutritional absorption. Anatomy and Physiology The pancreas is located in the upper abdomen close to the liver and rests just behind the stomach. It has a connecting entrance into the duodenum of the small intestine. The pancreas is known for having exocrine and endocrine functions, meaning that it secretes hormones externally and internally respectively. The pancreas has a pancreatic duct, which runs along the middle of the pancreas and joins the common bile duct and enters the duodenum at the ampulla of Vater. This opening is surrounded by the sphincter of Oddi, which helps t Continue reading >>

Treatment For Painful Calcified Chronic Pancreatitis: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Versus Endoscopic Treatment: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Treatment for painful calcified chronic pancreatitis: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy versus endoscopic treatment: a randomised controlled trial JeanMarc Dumonceau, Kouroche Vahedi, Myriam Delhaye, Axel Hittelet, Jacques Devire, Department of Gastroenterology, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium JeanMarc Dumonceau, Emiliano Giostra, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland Guido Costamagna, Andrea Tringali, Gianluca Spera, Massimiliano Mutignani, Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Universit Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,A Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, Italy Viviane De Maertelaer, IRIBHN, Statistical Unit, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Geneva University Hospitals, MicheliduCrest street, 24, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; [email protected] Revised 2006 Aug 18; Accepted 2006 Sep 19. Copyright 2007 BMJ Publishing Group & British Society of Gastroenterology This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. In chronic pancreatitis, obstruction of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) may contribute to the pathogenesis of pain. Pilot studies suggest that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) alone relieves pain in calcified chronic pancreatitis. To compare ESWL alone with ESWL and endoscopic drainage of the MPD for treatment of pain in chronic pancreatitis. Patients with uncomplicated painful chronic pancreatitis and calcifications obstructing the MPD. 55 patients were randomised to ESWL alone (n = 26) or ESWL combined with endoscopy (n = 29). 2 years after trial intervention, 10 (38%) and 13 (45%) patients of the ESWL alone and ESWL combined with endoscopy group, respectively, had presented pain relapse (primary outcome) (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.23 to 2. Continue reading >>

Surgery For Pancreatic Cancer

Two general types of surgery can be used for pancreatic cancer: Potentially curative surgery is used when the results of exams and tests suggest that it’s possible to remove (resect) all the cancer. Palliative surgery may be done if imaging tests show that the cancer is too widespread to be removed completely. This surgery is done to relieve symptoms or to prevent certain complications like a blocked bile duct or intestine, but the goal is not to try to cure the cancer. Staging laparoscopy To determine which type of surgery might be best, it’s important to know the stage (extent) of the cancer. But it can be hard to stage pancreatic cancer accurately just using imaging tests. Sometimes laparoscopy is done first to help determine the extent of the cancer and if it can be resected. For this procedure, the surgeon makes a few small incisions (cuts) in the abdomen (belly) and inserts long, thin instruments. One of these has a small video camera on the end so the surgeon can see inside the abdomen. The surgeon can look at the pancreas and other organs for tumors and take biopsy samples of abnormal areas to learn how far the cancer has spread. Potentially curative surgery Studies have shown that removing only part of a pancreatic cancer doesn’t help patients live longer, so potentially curative surgery is only done if the surgeon thinks all of the cancer can be removed. This is very complex surgery, and it can also be very hard for patients. It can cause complications and can take weeks to months to recover from. If you're thinking about having this type of surgery, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and risks carefully. Fewer than 1 in 5 pancreatic cancers appear to be confined to the pancreas at the time they are found. Even then, not all of these cancer Continue reading >>

Pancreatitis - Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Pancreatic enzymes play an important role in digestion. The enzymes travel to the small intestine, where they break down protein, fats and other nutrients. If pancreatic enzymes are unable to pass into the intestine, they begin to work on surrounding tissue, resulting in an inflamed pancreas. An inflamed pancreas, or pancreatitis , presents as both acute and chronic conditions. have a doctor review your case (optional) Hereditary Pancreatitis . Heredity accounts for approximately 1% of pancreatitis cases. If heredity is responsible for the disease, inflammation is likely to be chronic, and to strike at relatively early ages. Hereditary inflammation also appears to increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer; by age 70, 40% of people suffering from hereditary pancreatitis display some symptoms of cancer. Acute pancreatitis affects over 80,000 people in the United States every year. Acute pancreatitis affects men more often than women. Acute Pancreatitis . Some 60-80% of acute pancreatitis cases can be traced to two causes: gallstones and alcohol damage. Gallstones can block central ducts, preventing digestive enzymes from leaving the pancreas . Over time, alcoholism damages the gland and hinders its ability to function. Certain medications and infections can also trigger acute attacks of the disease. In up to 15% of cases, however, the cause of the inflammation is unknown. Chronic Pancreatitis is a series of recurring inflammatory attacks that gradually causes irreversible damage to the pancreas and surrounding tissue. Alcoholism is the primary cause of chronic inflammation: between 70% and 80% of cases can be traced to excessive, habitual alcohol consumption. Damage caused by alcoholism takes years to develop: most chronic pancreatitis symptoms don't appear until peop Continue reading >>

Chronic Calcific Pancreatitis_problems And Life Expectancy

Chronic Calcific Pancreatitis_Problems and Life Expectancy I have been diagnosed with Chronic Calcific Pancreatitis 6 months ago with epigastric pain, radiating to back and increased postprandially associated with steatorrhoe undoucmented weight loss. CEC Abdomen showed chronic pancreatitis with dilated pancreatic duct and extensive calcification. I underwent ECRP, ESWL and pancreatic sphincterotomy. Pancreatic stent was placed on January 25. After that I have been suffering from vomiting tendency, pain in pancreas. Also, facing memory loss issues since 6 months. What could be the reason? Also, what is the life expectancy? My age is 25 years... CP can have a number of different causes and cause should form part of the investigation into your diagnosis. Sometimes the cause can be difficult to determine and the diagnosis is Idiopathic CP. As long as you stop drinking alcohol, smoking and adopt a healthy lifestyle you should live into old age. Hi Stuart there should have more people like you on this forum what you write it give hope to people like me,sick reading stuff like you only have 7 years left to live and your life is finished,but as you have stated you can live a normal life and grow old if you keep to diet no smoking and no drinking and controling your pain meds, people with CP will have to tell themselfs its not a death sentence,people die everday but its not with chronic pancreatitis,we should enjoy life while were still on this planet,so come on all you CP guys go for it theres nothing to lose anyway I was diagnosed with calcified pancreas in 2007, this year I have had two MRI scans, 2nd for a probable cyst but thankfully there's none - Yet. I have had chronic calcified pancreatitis for 7yrs now and the pain is unbearable at times, agonising for the rest. Than Continue reading >>

Pancreatic Stone And Treatment Using Ercp And Eswl Procedures: A Case Study And Review

Pancreatic stone and treatment using ERCP and ESWL procedures: a case study and review 7th September 2012, Volume 125 Number 1361 Pancreatic duct stones are found in 22 to 60% of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).1The stones can lead to obstruction of the outflow of pancreatic secretions causing increased intraductal pressure.2The pancreas is relatively noncompliant. Therefore the rise in intraductal pressure can induce tissue hypertension and ischemia. This can be a major factor causing pain in patients with CP.3This hypothesis is supported by the observation that symptoms may improve following pancreatic duct drainage.4,5 A 62-year-old Caucasian woman presented with 4 months of persistent epigastric, central abdominal and left iliac fossa pain. The pain radiated to the back and could be severe. There was associated nausea, retching and anorexia with an unspecified amount of weight loss. She had intermittent diarrhoea with previous constipation and pain in response to stress. Past history included hysterectomy complicated by adhesions and bowel obstruction, rectal bleeding and a right knee replacement. She had no personal or family history of pancreatitis, dyslipidaemia or malignancy. She took one standard unit of alcohol daily and paracetamol and a paracetamol-codeine phosphate compound for severe pain but no other regular medications. Physical examination revealed moderate epigastric tenderness. There was no guarding and no masses or organs were palpable. Investigations showed CRP 93mg/L (NR <5), total white cell count 11.3109/L (neutrophils 8.7, monocytes 1.1) and amylase 74u/L (NR 853). Liver function tests, amylase, carbohydrate antigen (CA 199), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and IgG4 were all within normal reference range. She underwent upper and lower ga Continue reading >>

Introduction To Pancreatic Disease: Chronic Pancreatitis

Division of Gastroenterology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA 90048 Chronic pancreatitis is a long-standing inflammatory disease which leads to scarring of the pancreas and irreversible changes. Chronic pancreatitis results in abdominal pain and, in some cases, results in diabetes and fatty stools that are large and bulky. Calcification, which is another sign of chronic inflammation, can develop throughout the pancreas. These calcifications are like stones that are within the tissue itself, or within the pancreatic duct (Figure 1). In the normal pancreas, there are three types of pancreatic cells: 1) acinar cells, which produce pancreatic digestive enzymes; 2) ductal cells lining pancreatic ducts, which secrete a watery fluid to carry the digestive enzymes into the intestine; and 3) endocrine cells present in theislets of Langerhans, which secrete insulin and other hormones (Figure 2). As the pancreas begins to scar and more than 90% of the tissue is destroyed over time (often over many years) patients develop fatty stools and fat malabsorption because they do not produce enough digestive enzymes; and diabetes due to loss of insulin producing cells. Figure 1. Features of chronic pancreatitis.Chronic pancreatitis is progressive inflammatory process in the pancreas that causes fibrosis (scarring of tissue), calcifications or stones, and dilated pancreatic duct. Adapted from Gorelick F, Pandol, SJ, Topazian M. Pancreatic physiology, pathophysiology, acute and chronic pancreatitis. Gastrointestinal Teaching Project, American Gastroenterological Association. 2003. Figure 2. Cells of the pancreas.The pancreas has two types exocrine cells which include acinar and ductal cells; and endocrine cells present in the islets of Langerhans. The exocrine portion of the pan Continue reading >>

Current Treatment Options For Chronic Pancreatitis

, Volume 10, Issue5 , pp 355368 | Cite as Current treatment options for chronic pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by progressive and ultimately irreversible pancreatic injury. Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of CP in the Western world. As the pathophysiology of this disorder is better understood, it is probable that the treatment will be more successful. Therapeutic efforts for CP are focused on the treatment of maldigestion, pain, and diabetes. Dosage and timing of enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes are important issues in the treatment of malabsorption due to CP. Non-enteric-coated enzyme preparations along with acid suppression (histamine-2 blockers or proton-pump inhibitors) are of limited to modest effectiveness in treating pain caused by CP but are worth a trial in patients with less advanced disease. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of calcified stones is sometimes needed to achieve stone fragmentation before endoscopic removal. The role of ESWL alone in relieving calcified CP pain needs further study. Endoscopic therapy is aimed at decompressing the obstructed pancreatic duct and removal of pancreatic stone and is associated with pain relief in many patients. The role of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided celiac plexus block should be limited to treating those patients with CP whose pain has not responded to other modalities. Radiation therapy to the whole pancreas for CP pain relief is a revived treatment option that needs further study to confirm the safety and ef-ficacy. Total pancreatectomy followed by autologous islet cell autotransplantation appears to be a potential therapeutic approach but should be considered as the last option in patients with refractory pain who have failed conventional medical, endoscopic, and Continue reading >>

Pancreatic Calcification Is There A Fix?

How to beat panctreatitis and promote pancreas healing Pancreatic Calcification Is There A Fix? Pancreatic Calcification Is There A Fix? Posted By The Health Guy on May 29, 2014 Pancreatic calcification is usually due to alcoholic and hereditarypancreatitis. You can read more about pancreatic calcification and check out imaging here . Since there are many decent sources of information pertaining to pancreatic calcification I dont want to go into it here within this post. Rather, I thought Id share what may be a fix if you will and a possible way to clear the calcium deposits from the pancreas. Please understand this I HAVE NO CLUE WHETHER WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY WILL WORK OR IS EVEN SAFE!I have no science to back my thoughts. They are pure speculation. In fact Id be more prone to call it a crap shoot. Before we get into the possible fix for pancreatic calcification here is a video about the calcification of the pancreas. And one more thought. Pancreatic calcification seems to be an unstoppable condition once it starts. As far as I know diet wont stop it, supplements wont stop it, once it has gained a foothold. Avoiding alcohol may help, diet may help, supplements may help but nothing seems to stop the progression of calcification. SOME Doctors Use EDTA To Remove Calcified Arterial Plaque For years some doctors have known that EDTA chelates arterial plaque and improves blood flow. It is standard protocol for heavy metal poisoning (lead etc). In the late 1940s doctors chelated ship painters for lead poisoning. Some of those ship painters had clogged arteries with typical signs of heart disease (chest pain, etc). When chelated with edta many of those ship painters with clogged arteries began to feel better. EDTA was quickly swept under the rug and kept from the public. A c Continue reading >>

Department Of Surgery - Chronic Pancreatitis

Department of Surgery Conditions & Procedures Chronic Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum-the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive juices, or enzymes, into the duodenum through a tube called the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic enzymes join with bile-a liquid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder-to digest food. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body regulate the glucose it takes from food for energy. Normally, digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas do not become active until they reach the small intestine. But when the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes inside it attack and damage the tissues that produce them. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications. In severe cases, bleeding, infection, and permanent tissue damage may occur.Both forms of pancreatitis occur more often in men than women. Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that does not heal or improve-it gets worse over time and leads to permanent damage. Chronic pancreatitis, like acute pancreatitis, occurs when digestive enzymes attack the pancreas and nearby tissues, causing episodes of pain. Chronic pancreatitis often develops in people who are between the ages of 30 and 40. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of heavy alcohol use. The chronic form of pancreatitis can be triggered by one acute attack that damages the pancreatic duct. The damaged duct causes the pancreas to become inflamed. Scar tissue develops and the pancreas is slowly destroyed. Other causes of chronic pancreatitis are: cystic fibrosis-the most Continue reading >>

Pancreatitis Symptoms & Treament | Wake Gastroenterology

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum. The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body use the glucose it takes from food for energy. Normally, digestive enzymes do not become active until they reach the small intestine, where they begin digesting food. But if these enzymes become active inside the pancreas, they start digesting the pancreas itself. Acute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and lasts for a short period of time and usually resolves. Chronic pancreatitis does not resolve itself and results in a slow destruction of the pancreas. Either form can cause serious complications. In severe cases, bleeding, tissue damage, and infection may occur. Pseudocysts accumulations of fluid and tissue debris may also develop. And enzymes and toxins may enter the bloodstream, injuring the heart, lungs, and kidneys, or other organs. Some people have more than one attack and recover completely after each, but acute pancreatitis can be a severe, life-threatening illness with many complications. About 80,000 cases occur in the United States each year; some 20 percent of them are severe. Acute pancreatitis occurs more often in men than women. Acute pancreatitis is usually caused by gallstones or by drinking too much alcohol, but these arent the only causes. If alcohol use and gallstones are ruled out, other possible causes of pancreatitis should be carefully examined so that appropriate treatment if available c Continue reading >>

Endoscopic Treatment Of Pancreatic Calculi

Endoscopic Treatment of Pancreatic Calculi 2Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 1Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 2Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 3Department of Internal Medicine, Godoil Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Correspondence: Dong Ki Lee. Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-720, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2019-3214, Fax: +82-2-3463-3882, [email protected] Received 2014 Apr 11; Revised 2014 May 7; Accepted 2014 May 13. Copyright 2014 Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License ( ) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive inflammatory disease that destroys pancreatic parenchyma and alters ductal stricture, leading to ductal destruction and abdominal pain. Pancreatic duct stones (PDSs) are a common complication of chronic pancreatitis that requires treatment to relieve abdominal pain and improve pancreas function. Endoscopic therapy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and surgery are treatment modalities of PDSs, although lingering controversies have hindered a consensus recommendation. Many comparative studies have reported that surgery is the superior treatment because of reduced duration an Continue reading >>

Pancreatitis - What Happens When The Pancreas Is Calcified?

Pancreatitis - what Happens When The Pancreas Is Calcified? pancreatitis , pain , pancreas , diagnosis I am a 54 yr old woman who was first diagnosed with pancreatitis over 20 yrs ago. I had been drinking heavily for 10 yrs when I had first attack which hospitalized me for 9 days. The pain was without doubt the most excruciating I have ever felt. Yes, I was advised not to drink... and no, I ignored the advice and carried on. I must have had about 50 to 60 attacks over the years, at least half putting me back in hospital. I am now told that I have some calcification of the pancreas.Last year I had my gall bladder out, which contained one small stone and they told me it hadn't been the cause. I have had no attacks since this op (coincidence maybe) but after a particularly bad hangover last month, I have not touched a drop of alcohol, nor do intend to again. But has the damage already been done, and if I remain off alcohol, will I still die early? I know people get this through no problem of their own and I feel selfish for inflicting it on myself, but is there hope for me? Unfortunately, pancreatic calcification is scar tissue that has formed due to inflammation. It can be caused by frequent bouts with pancreatitis, but is definitely worsened by alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis can be caused by heredity, blockage of the pancreatic common duct by a stone or scar tissue, cystic fibrosis, alcohol consumption, high calcium levels in your blood, or high fat levels in your blood. If your pancreas is not producing enough pancreatic enzymes, your doctor can give you supplemental enzymes to aid in your digestion and absorption of nutrients. You might also be more prone to diabetes. My chronic pancreatitis was caused during my first pregnancy by high calcium levels in my Continue reading >>

Chronic Pancreatitis Requires Early, Long-term Care

Chronic Pancreatitis Requires Early, Long-Term Care KEY BISCAYNE, Fla?Chronic pancreatitis is an irreversible condition characterized by pancreatic insufficiency for which there is no cure. It is most often associated with excessive alcohol use, and is often not recognized in its early stages, noted presenters at the 16th Annual Advances and Controversies in Clinical Nutrition seminar of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. ? "It is important for physicians to recognize this condition, treat it early, and always follow the patients, because they need long-term care," says Massimo Raimondo, MD, associate professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. In the United States the disease is alcohol-related in up to 80% of patients. Most of the remaining cases are of the idiopathic type, with an early (age <35 years) or late (>50 years) onset. Although the etiology is unknown, a genetic disposition is involved in the early-onset group. A common manifestation, particularly in those with alcohol addiction, is nutrient malabsorption. If left untreated, the patient will continue to malabsorb fat, lose weight, have problems with imbalances, develop low self-esteem, and be unable to lead a normal life. Chronic pancreatitis is not life threatening, but many patients do not live as long as their age-matched peers in the general population. The healthy pancreas empties digestive secretions into the intestine after each meal. Once damaged, the pancreas does not have the capacity to heal itself; it atrophies and is essentially replaced by fibrous connective tissue. In addition, when the pancreas stops producing insulin, it must be replaced by medical therapy.? Treatment consists of medications that supplement the digestive enzymes no longer produced by the pancreas. "By giving d Continue reading >>