Abstract

The pancreas is a retroperitoneal gland. It performs an endocrine function, secreting hormones such as insulin and glucagons, which intervene in the metabolic process of carbohydrates. It, also, has an exocrine function: the pancreas secrets pancreatic juice, composed of a mixture of enzymes as trypsin and chymotrypsin, among others. When these enzymes are activated within this organ, it is produced a self-digestion of the gland, which is known as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis occurs as a result of gallstone, chronic ingestion of alcohol, hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia, genetic inheritance, iatrogenic reasons among others. According to the clinical evolution of pancreatitis, there are two sub-types: acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. The treatment is mainly medical, but for patients suffering chronic pancreatitis there are surgical options such as drainage and resection. Among the most common complications are pseudocysts, which can disappear by themselves or derive in abscesses, massive floods or, even, produce the death.

Key words

Pancratitis - abdominal pain – pseudocyst - treatment.

Introducción

Uno de los motivos frecuentes de consulta en los servicios de emergencia de cualquier hospital es el dolor abdominal, del que todo buen clínico debe estar en capacidad de realizar un diagnóstico lo más precoz y preciso posible, pues muchas veces de ello depende el pronóstico de la enfermedad del paciente. En este sentido, consideramos que la Pancreatitis, en sus dos formas, debe ser revisada continuamente, debido a que en las primeras etapas puede pasar desapercibida, y podrían presentarse complicaciones durante la historia natural de la misma.