Pancreas Disease Flashcards
What causes pancreatitis
Gall stone
Ethanol
Trauma - post ERCP / post op
S - steroids
M - malignancy
A - Autoimmune
S - Scorpion venom
H - hyperlipid / hypothermia / hyper Ca / hyper PTH
E - emboli / vascular
D - drugs
V - virus (HIV)
What drugs can cause [5]
Azathioprine Suphonamide Mesalazine - 5ASA NSAID / steroid Furosemide
What does hyperlipiaemia cause [3]
Pancreatitis most common
Gall stone
Ischaemic bowel
Causes of high amylase levels [8]
NB Amylase is non-specific and non prognostic
Pseudocyst Mesenteric infarct Cholecystitis Infection DKA Obstruction Drugs Renal failure
What is the pathophysiology of pancreatitis [6]
- Digestive enzymes activated & released
- Auto digestion = necrosis
- Non-bacterial inflammation
- Release of cytokines
- Edema and haemorrhage
- Cytokine release > SIRS
Mild pancreatitis - clinical definition?
Presentation [2]
No organ failure
Patient systemically well
Localised abdominal pain
What is severe pancreatitis? [3]
Organ failure >48 hours
Local complications
Glasgow score >3
What is DDX of pancreatitis [6]
Perforated ulcer Acute cholecystitis Biliary colic High obstruction - vomit etc MI, Ruptured AA Mesenteric iscahemia
Pancreatitis presentation:
What is needed for a diagnosis? [3]
2+ of:
- Abdo pain consistent with pancreatitis
- Serum lipase or amylase >3x
- Characteristic findings on CT
Pancreatitis presentation:
- Describe abdominal pain [5]
- General signs [4]
- Abdominal signs [4]
Characteristics of abdominal pain in pancreatitis:
- Severe epigastric pain
- Radiating to back
- Vomiting, retching
- Relieved by tripod position
- Diarrhea, constipation (ileus)
General signs:
- Low grade fever
- Tachycardia, Shock
- Hypoxic (ARDS)
- Jaundice
- Abdomen tender, rigid, no BS
- Cullens sign (bluish discoloration, periumbilical)
- Grey-Turners sign (flank bruising)
Investigations: pancreatitis
Bloods [5]
Describe LFT results you would see [3]
FBC - leukocytosis Ca low, Glc low, lactate up ABG - risk of acute respiratory failure, metabolic upset due to ischemic bowel Elevated serum amylase U&E (AKI)
LFTs
- Mainly direct bilirubin increased
- ALT & AST: Mild increase
- VERY Elevated ALP
Describe the course that serum amylase follows in pancreatitis [4]
Diagnostic imaging: pancreatitis [3]
400U suggestive of pancreatitis
>1000U diagnostic
Rises within 6h
Returns to normal 3-5d after
Diagnostic imaging: pancreatitis
Abdo USS: gallstones
AXR: colon cut off sign, sentinel loop, ileus
IV contrast enhanced CT
When do you do CT [3]
Uncertain after 24 hours
Clinical deterioration
Organ failure, sepsis (necrosis) after 3-10d of admission
Severity stratification tool for pancreatitis [8]
Assesses severity of pancreatitis:
GLASGOW 3 (mnemonic) Glucose LDH Age Serum calcium, albumin and urea Gasping for O2 (PaO2) WBC 3
What is important to remember
Amylase NOT prognostic
Describe immediate management of pancreatitis [7]
ABCDE Admit to HDU/ITU Analgesia, Oxygen, Fluid resus, Catheter NG tube and NBM Creon = pancreatic enzyme supplement Organ support - isotrope / ventilation / dialysis Alcohol cessation
What are non-local complications of pancreatitis [7]
Organ failure eg renal Shock ARDS DIC, Sepsis Metabolic disturbance - hypocalium, hyperglycaemia Paralytic Ileus Encephalopathy
What are local complications [9]
Acute fluid collection - can lead to pseudocyst / abscess Pseudocyst Abscess Stricture Fistula, Peritonitis Pleural effusion Pancreatic necrosis Pseudoaneurysm Portal/splenic vein thrombosis
What are the symptoms of a pseudocyst [4]
Persistent increased amylase / abnormal LFT
Fever
Pain
Can rupture and fluid can tract
What are complications of pseudocyst [3]
Infection
Rupture
Erosion into vessels = bleed
What causes pseudocyst
Pancreatic juice in fibrous capsule arise 4 weeks after
Can form not due to pancreatitis
What do you do for acute fluid collection [3]
50% resolve spontaneously; only percutaneously aspirate if suspect infection or symptomatic
Avoid drain as risk of infection