When explaining acute pancreatitis to a newly diagnosed client, the nurse will emphasize the pathogenesis begins with an inflammatory process whereby:

Question

A) Activated pancreatic enzymes escape into surrounding tissues, causing autodigestion of pancreatic tissue.
B) The pancreas is irreversibly damaged and will not recover to normal functioning (chronic).
C) The pancreas will hypertrophy (enlarge) to the point of causing bowel obstruction.
D) Stones will develop in the common bile duct, resulting in acute jaundice.

Answer 1

Ans: A
Feedback:
Acute pancreatitis is associated with the escape of activated pancreatic enzymes into the pancreas and surrounding tissues. These enzymes cause fat necrosis, or autodigestion, of the pancreas. Alcohol is known to be a potent stimulator of pancreatic secretions, and it also is known to cause partial obstruction of the sphincter of the pancreatic duct, rather than bowel obstruction. The pancreas is irreversibly damaged and will not recover to normal functioning results from chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis also is associated with viral infections. The pancreas will hypertrophy (enlarge) to the point of causing bowel obstruction occurring with cancer of the pancreas. Presence of stones in the common bile duct with jaundice is primarily a result of gallstones.