10 Pancreatitis Symptoms
Symptom #9: Dyspnea
Dyspnea refers to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. It has been defined as a subjective experience where the affected individual experiences chest tightness, the increased effort needed to breathe, and the feeling of not having enough air. It can occur as a symptom of a complication of acute severe pancreatitis.
In the last phase of the disease process, severe pancreatitis can be complicated by the dysfunction of several organ systems. Complications that affect the respiratory tract are the most important and can be the most severe. Pulmonary damage can occur as a result of pancreatitis, ultimately leading to a very serious manifestation known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Sadly, ARDS has a mortality rate around 30 to 40 percent. Other complications of severe acute pancreatitis include pneumonia, atelectasis, pleural effusion, mediastinal abscess, among others.
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