Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
The disease of annular pancreas is a rare genetic disorder, where a circle of pancreatic tissue is wrapped around the duodenum (the initial segment of the small intestine). This surrounding tissue has the ability to squeeze or constrict the intestine resulting in feeding and digestion issues. Others are asymptomatic whereas others particularly babies might need surgery to remove the blockage.
He examines your symptoms, history of growth (in infants), feeding habits, and he conducts a targeted abdominal physical examination to find out the evidence of obstruction and reflux.
We will screen deficiencies of the nutritional status and exclude other gastrointestinal or metabolic causes of vomiting and poor weight gain.
Polyhydramnios or duodenal dilation in uterus on fetal ultrasound would cause a premature suspicion of annular pancreas.
Dr. Rishi Chadha, MD is a board‑certified gastroenterologist who specializes in preventive gastroenterology, colorectal cancer screening, and minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. He completed his fellowship at Sunrise Health GME in Las Vegas and previously trained in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Connecticut.
It is an inborn defect of the body whereby the pancreas is made up of a ring of tissue that surrounds the duodenum rather than being developed on one side of the body.
Such symptoms are common and include vomiting (which is usually green or yellow), difficulty feeding/weight gain in infants, belly pain, bloating, heartburn or indigestion in older children and adults.
Diagnosis is generally through a medical history and physical examination, laboratory tests, and a CT scan. Ultrasound or MRI can be utilized to further explain and prenatal ultrasound can identify danger signs in the womb.
Annular pancreas is a squeezing of the duodenum which can be leaked but duodenal atresia is a total obstruction of the duodenum.
A CT scan can result in a clear view of the ring of pancreatic tissue surrounding the duodenum and any resulting constriction or blockage of the intestinal passage.
Yes. When the pancreatic ring obstructs the duodenum of the fetus, the infant can not swallow enough amniotic fluid and this will cause too much fluid in the womb.
It can be treated with dietary changes and drugs (acid reducers, digestive enzymes) or less invasives (endoscopic stenting) or surgery (laparoscopic bypass or open surgical bypass) depending on the severity.
The majority of patients spend 2-5 days in the hospital, and with time, they begin to eat again and in a few weeks, they are on normal diet.
Yes. Natural foods with low fat like soft food consumed in smaller and frequent doses and non-spicy carbonated beverages can alleviate pain and enhance digestion.
