Pancreatic Enzyme Replacements

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, or PERT, is used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, a condition in which the pancreas does not provide enough digestive enzymes for normal nutrient digestion and absorption. NIDDK identifies PERT as treatment for EPI and explains that it is taken during meals or snacks to help digestion and nutrient absorption. (NIDDK) For the NP, pancreatic enzyme replacement is not just a medication administration topic. It requires diagnostic reasoning, etiology identification, nutrition assessment, dose selection, therapeutic monitoring, adverse-effect surveillance, referral decisions, and long-term follow-up. The NP must determine whether the patient’s symptoms represent EPI, another gastrointestinal diagnosis, inadequate medication timing, underdosing, nonadherence, cost barriers, adverse effects, or progression of the underlying pancreatic disease.