A Reading on

CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements in NCM 212 – RLE

OXYGENATION/FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES ROTATION

Submitted to:
RIZZA LEI LORETO, MT, RN
Clinical Instructor

Submitted by:
TIFANNIE P. DACALOS
BSN 3C – Group 2

November 14, 2022

Title: Pain management in chronic pancreatitis incorporating safe opioid practices:
Challenge accepted
Bibliography:
Shah, I., Sheth, S. G., & Kothari, D. J. (2021). Pain management in chronic pancreatitis
incorporating safe opioid practices: Challenge accepted. World Journal of
Gastroenterology, 27(23), 31423147. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v27.i23.3142
Summary:
A fibro-inflammatory condition known as chronic pancreatitis (CP) is
characterized by irreversible parenchymal and ductal damage to the pancreas brought
on by a number of hereditary, metabolic, and environmental variables. Patients suffering
from CP frequently report intense and persistent discomfort in the abdominal region,
which can have a substantial negative influence on their quality of life. Due to the fact
that abdominal pain is the most prominent symptom, pain management is an essential
component in the treatment of CP.
Numerous pain treatment techniques were made available, but when they do not
work, healthcare professionals are frequently forced to turn to opioids. However, over
the past few years, opioid use disorder (OUD) has developed into a serious health
disaster, causing to more than 600,000 deaths solely in the United States. Despite
having the ability to reduce pain, opioid use has substantial side effects, such as
narcotic bowel syndrome and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. In light of the destructive
nature of the current opioid epidemic, which has persisted for more than 25 years, it is
essential to be vigilant and cautious while administering opioids to properly manage
pain in such patients.
When utilizing opioids to relieve pain in CP patients, there should be a number of
precautions in place due to the ongoing opioid epidemic and increased risk of OUD.
These include thorough screening procedures to identify OUD risk in advance, safe
prescription procedures utilizing instruments like urine drug testing (UDT) and
prescription monitoring programs (PMP), close clinical follow-up, and regular
reassessments to evaluate whether ongoing opioid use is necessary. Finally, in order to
effectively cater to the particular needs of each patient, it is essential to take a
multidisciplinary approach and coordinate treatment with physicians who specialize in
pain management.
Reaction:
As a result of my reading of this study, I agree with the authors of this paper that
it is best to exercise caution when administering opioids to patients who have chronic
pancreatitis. This is due to the fact that the opioid use disorder was developed as a
result of improper handling of this medication. Since the risk of opioid dependence and
misuse, as well as increased healthcare utilization, continue to be of great concern to
gastroenterologists and other healthcare professionals, I appreciate that this paper was
able to highlight the best approach to take opioid medications appropriately.
Throughout the process of writing this paper, I came to the realization that it is
critical to be aware of the medications that we are taking and that it is vital to seek the
advice of experts before beginning any new medication regimen. This is because there
is a possibility that complications will occur, which could give us a significant amount of
trouble.
Sadly, I can't speak from personal experience of chronic pancreatitis, nor do I
know anyone else who has the condition. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to read a
few articles on the subject, and I believe that this is sufficient to know at least the
fundamental knowledge regarding this disease. Moreover, it is terrifying to be diagnosed
with this kind of illness due to the fact that the damage done to the pancreas cannot be
reversed and can result in lifelong scarring and damage. In addition, I was unable to
visualize the excruciating stomach ache that a person suffering from this ailment would
have, let alone how it would adversely affect their day-to-day existence. As I've also
read people with this disease frequently skip regular meals out of concern for the
discomfort that comes with eating. Although it breaks my heart to be aware of their
circumstance, I believe that reading this paper would be of tremendous assistance in at
least easing their suffering.
The presentation of an alternative approach to controlling the discomfort that
someone with chronic pancreatitis would face is another benefit of this research. In spite
of the problems that have been caused by the new intervention, the authors of this
research were able to demonstrate how opioids can be used in a secure manner to
provide relief from pain caused by this ailment. On the other hand, the study highlighted
that additional research and guidelines are still required to address the usage of opioids
in chronic pancreatitis.
In conclusion, the publishing of this study marked a significant achievement in
the field of nursing research because it functioned as a resource and provided
additional information for future studies of relevance. In addition to this, it gives nurses a
point of reference from which to draw when they are trying to determine the most
effective method of therapy for their patients. This article contains information that
nursing students like me can impart in our impressionable minds and then use in the
future if and when we come across a situation similar to the one described here. Thus,
this study has presented knowledge that is both understandable and trustworthy, which
will be beneficial to nursing education.