Pancreas treatment team
The pancreas is located in the middle of the upper abdomen directly in front of the spine and fulfills two functions:
- Regulation of the blood sugar level: insulin and glucagon are produced in the pancreas, with insulin lowering the blood sugar level and glucagon increasing it.
- Production of digestive enzymes: the enzymes (digestive juices) that are necessary for the digestion of food are mainly produced and stored in the pancreas. They are only passed on to the intestine when food is ingested
Diseases of the pancreas can therefore result in diabetes (insulin deficiency) or malnutrition (enzyme deficiency).
Due to its special location in the abdomen and the complex functions of this gland, the treatment of pancreatic diseases is difficult and requires a great deal of experience (Figure 1a, 1b). In addition, cooperation between various specialist disciplines (surgery, gastroenterology, endocrinology and interventional radiology) is necessary to ensure optimal treatment.
