What's wrong with low blood pressure in late stage pancreatic cancer

Low blood pressure in the late stage of pancreatic cancer may be caused by dehydration, drug side effects, malnutrition, tumor invasion and compression, ascites accumulation, etc. It is recommended to seek medical treatment in time, and targeted general treatment, drug treatment, and surgical treatment can be given under the guidance of a doctor. The details are as follows:

1. Dehydration: Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer may suffer from insufficient intake and dehydration due to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Dehydration can increase blood concentration and reduce blood volume in blood vessels, which can lead to lower blood pressure. Under the guidance of a doctor, perform fluid replacement therapy and infuse appropriate concentrations of saline and glucose for treatment. At the same time, increase the intake of foods rich in electrolytes, such as oranges, bananas, etc.

2. Drug side effects: Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer usually need chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapy, which may affect heart function, leading to a decrease in cardiac output, thus causing hypotension. The patient's blood pressure should be closely monitored, and the doctor should be consulted to adjust the drug dosage or change the treatment plan in a timely manner.

3. Malnutrition: Due to factors such as loss of appetite, digestive and absorption disorders and pain, patients with advanced pancreatic cancer suffer from severe malnutrition and weight loss, which will lead to decreased plasma protein and blood concentration, which in turn affects blood volume and cardiac output, thus causing hypotension. Nutritional support can be provided to supplement or provide nutrients necessary for the human body through enteral or extracorporeal routes.

4. Tumor invasion and compression: In the late stage of pancreatic cancer, the tumor increases in size and may invade adjacent organs or blood vessels, such as compressing large blood vessels such as the inferior vena cava or abdominal aorta, resulting in obstruction of blood return and a decrease in effective circulating blood volume, which in turn causes hypotension. In addition, direct invasion of the heart and kidneys by the tumor may also affect cardiovascular function and fluid balance, aggravating symptoms of hypotension. Regional interventional therapy can be used to locally infuse chemotherapy drugs through catheters in the common hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery, splenic artery, etc., while assisting with radiotherapy to shrink pancreatic cancer lesions to relieve symptoms.

5. Ascites accumulation: As the disease progresses, pancreatic cancer patients may develop ascites, a large amount of fluid seeps into the abdominal cavity from the blood vessels, reducing the effective circulating blood volume, reducing the cardiac preload, and then causing hypotension. Ascites may also cause the diaphragm to lift, restrict the normal movement of the heart and lungs, aggravate circulatory failure, and further aggravate the manifestations of hypotension. Abdominal puncture can be used to drain ascites to relieve intra-abdominal pressure. At the same time, control salt intake and use diuretics for treatment as prescribed by the doctor, such as spironolactone tablets, furosemide tablets, compound amiloride hydrochloride tablets, etc., to reduce the formation of ascites.

It may also be caused by a ruptured tumor. Patients need to get enough rest, avoid excessive fatigue, and try to reduce the burden on patients. At the same time, regular follow-up examinations are required to detect tumor recurrence or metastasis in a timely manner.