What is a sentinel loop?

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What is a sentinel loop? and Why is there a sentinel loop in pancreatitis?

 

[Winged Scapula]

What is a sentinel loop? and Why is there a sentinel loop in pancreatitis?

A sentinel loop is a focally dilated area of small bowel often seen on plain abdominal films as a air filled loop in the epigstrum or LUQ.

The duodenum and jejunum are intimately related to the pancreas and so when the pancreas is inflamed, the adjacent small bowel gets irritated, develops an ileus or frank obstruction which is represented as the dilated loop known as the sentinel loop.