Chronic pancreatitis: Pathophysiology and patient care

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis represents a continuous and prolonged inflammatory and fibrosing process in the pancreas resulting in permanent exocrine and often also endocrine dysfunction. Patients present with varying degrees of symptom distress. The usual cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of alcohol abuse, but the chronic form may also be triggered merely by the occurrence of one acute attack, especially if the pancreatic ducts are damaged. The aim of this article is to look the pathophysiological changes and the challenges this chronic disorder presents for those who manage the disease and care for the sufferers.