What is Chronic Pancreatitis?

The pancreas is a long, slender gland, between 12 to 20 centimeters in length that is situated in the upper part of the abdomen and is attached to the wall of the abdominal cavity. Shaped like a fish, the pancreas has five parts: head, uncinate process (a prolongation of the head), a short neck, body, and tail. The head of the pancreas (approximately aligned with the spinal cord), is surrounded by the upper portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum; the body is located behind the stomach; and the tail is located at the left upper portion of the abdomen below the rib cage touching the spleen.

The pancreas is a complex organ that has two major functions: the exocrine functions of the pancreas relate to its production of enzymes while the endocrine functions relate to its production of hormones.

Pancreatitis is defined as inflammation of the pancreas. There are two main categories of pancreatitis, namely acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis is characterized by painful episodic inflammation that may, in some patients, lead to damage or destruction of pancreatic tissue, a condition called chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory condition affecting the pancreas and involves progressive, irreversible damage to the pancreatic tissue.

Additional characteristics of chronic pancreatitis may include:

• Inflammation
• Fibrotic tissue replacing normal tissue
• Destruction of pancreatic tissue (necrosis)
• Infiltration of inflammatory cells especially into the head of the pancreas
• Acinar cell destruction
• Injury or changes to the pancreatic duct, such as dilatation (widening)
• Development of intraductal stones (calcifications)

The primary and most common symptom associated with chronic pancreatitis is severe pain (experienced by at least up to 75% of patients), either episodic or continuous, which significantly impacts quality of life. The pain may actually abate as the condition worsens and the pancreas ceases to function.

Knowledge is Critical when Dealing with a Life-Altering Condition such as Chronic Pancreatitis

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, it's critical to learn everything you possibly can about this condition so that you can make informed decisions about your treatment. That's why we created the Medifocus Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis, a comprehensive 160 page patient Guidebook that contains vital information about chronic pancreatitis that you won't find anywhere in a single source.

The Medifocus Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis starts out with a detailed overview of the condition and quickly imparts fundamentally important information about chronic pancreatitis, including:

• The underlying causes of chronic pancreatitis.
• The risk factors that increase a person's chances for developing chronic pancreatitis.

• A detailed overview of the TIGAR-O classification system that is used by doctors to group patients with chronic pancreatitis into the following distinct categories based on the underlying cause of the disease:

  • Toxic (metabolic) pancreatitis
  • Hereditary pancreatitis
  • Autoimmune pancreatitis
  • Recurrent pancreatitis
  • Idiopathic pancreatitis

• The secondary complications that can develop as a consequence of chronic pancreatitis.

• The relationship between chronic pancreatitis and the development of pancreatic cancer.
• The signs and symptoms of chronic pancreatitis.
• How chronic pancreatitis is diagnosed based on factors such as signs/symptoms, patient history, physical examination, and imaging studies.

Understanding the Standard Treatments... and the Treatment Options

The goals of treatment for patients with chronic pancreatitis include:

• Alleviating pain associated with the condition.
• Treating the underlying cause of chronic pancreatitis, in cases where the cause can be identified.
• Restoring pancreatic function.
• Improving the patient's nutritional status.
• Managing complications associated with chronic pancreatitis.
• Enabling patient's to lead a reasonably good quality of life.

Understanding the standard treatments - and the treatment options - is critical for successfully achieving the goals of treatment for chronic pancreatitis. As you read through the section of the Guidebook that focuses on the treatments for chronic pancreatitis, you will specifically learn about:

• The medications that may be prescribed for pain management in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
• The treatment optinons that are available for patients who no longer respond to pain medications and continue to experience severe, chronic pain.

• The endoscopic treatments that may be used to relieve pain and significantly improve pancreatic function by mechanically decompressing the main pancreatic duct. These endoscopic techniques include:

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
  • Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPS)

• The role of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the treatment of obstructive pancreatitis caused by calcified stones that block the opening of the main pancreatic duct.

• A comprehensive overview of the surgical treatment options that are currently available for the management of patients with chronic pancreatitis, including:

  • Puestow procedure
  • Frey procedure
  • Beger procedure
  • Whipple procedure
  • Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy
  • Distal pancreatectomy
  • Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation

• The risks, benefits, and complications of the different surgical treatments for chronic pancreatitis.

• The role of oral pancreatic enzyme supplmentation and dietary modification in improving digestive tract function in people with chronic pancreatitis.

• The management of secondary complications that may develop in patients with chronic pancreatitis, including:

  • Formation of pseudocysts
  • Constriction of the pancreatic and bile ducts
  • Formation of pancreatic fistulae
  • Infection of the pancreas
  • Formation of pancreatic abcesses

• The prognosis (outlook) for people with chronic pancreatitis and the important factors that have a significant impact in predicting the overall chances of recovery.

• Quality of life issues that often confront people with chronic pancreatitis and how to minimize their impact and cope better with these issues.
• Important questions to ask your doctor about chronic pancreatitis.

A "One-of-a-Kind" Reference Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis that Goes Way Beyond the Fundamentals

Since 1996, when Medifocus was founded, we've learned that many people with Chronic Pancreatitis are seeking more specific information that goes beyond the fundamentals, such as the causes, diagnosis, standard treatments, and treatment options. That's why we developed a "one-of-a-kind" reference Guidebook that goes way beyond the basics and also includes the following sections:

• A Guide to Recent Medical Literature on Chronic Pancreatitis - This section of the Guidebook contains an extensive bibliography of over 100 references to recently published articles about Chronic Pancreatitis in authoritative, peer-reviewed medical journals with links to the absracts (summaries) of the articles. These articles represent the latest advances in the field and focus on cutting-edge research, new developments, and the lessons learned from recently published studies involving patients with Chronic Pancreatitis. This is the same level of that is used by doctors who treat people with Chronic Pancreatitis to keep abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in this specialized field of medicine.

• Centers of Research for Chronic Pancreatitis - We've compiled a unique directory of doctors, hospitals, medical centers, and research institutions with special interest and, in many cases, clinical expertise in managing people with Chronic Pancreatitis. The "Centers of Research" directory is a valuable resource for quickly identifying and locating leading medical authorities and medical institutions both within the United States and other countries who are considered to be at the forefront in clinical research and treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis. You'd have to spend days - or even weeks - attempting to compile your own list of doctors and medical centers but, with the "Centers of Research" directory, the information is already right at your fingertips. All you have to do is act on the information by selecting and contacting the experts or medical institutions listed in the directory by state and country.

• Organizations and Support Groups for Chronic Pancreatitis - The Guidebook also includes a directory of organizations and support groups whose goal is to help people with Chronic Pancreatitis by providing access to information, resources, and services. Many of these organizations can answer your specific questions, enable you to "network" with other patients, and provide guidance in areas such as financial, social, or medical-legal issues. This valuable directory of organizations and support groups includes complete contact information, including phone numbers and E-mail addresses.

Look Inside the Guidebook

The Guidebook is a Value-Added Proposition that Comes with a Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee so that...You have Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

Still not sure if you'll benefit from the Medifocus Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis? Still not convinced that the information included in the Guidebook is worth the minimal cost? If that's the case, then please consider the following value-added proposition that comes standard with your purchase of the Guidebook:

• Free Updates for One Year - Along with your initial purchase of the Guidebook, you also receive free updates for one-full year.

• 20% Discount - For a limited time, you can purchase the Medifocus Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis at a special 20% discount off the regular list price. Your 20% discount will automatically be applied when you go to "Checkout".

• Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee - Your purchase comes with our RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee. If, for whatever reason, you are not totally satisfied with the content of your Guidebook, simply contact us within 30-days of your purchase for a prompt, full refund. We are so confident that you will be satisfied with your Guidebook that we offer this RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee unconditionally - no questions and no hassles.

Order Your Copy of the Medifocus Guidebook on Chronic Pancreatitis Today!

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