Pancreatic Disease Flashcards
Acute pancreatitis:
Pathophysiology
What does the inflammation lead to? - 3
What happens in severe disease?
Intra-pancreatic activation of pancreatic enzymes and auto-digestion
Oedema
Fluid shifts
Hypovolaemia
Erosion of vessel wall and intra-abdominal bleeding
Acute pancreatitis:
Causes mneumonic - I GET SMASHED
Idiopathic
Gallstones - more common in women
Ethanol - alcohol - more common in men
Trauma
Steroids Mumps and malignancy Autoimmune Scorpion sting Hyperlipidaemia and hypercalcaemia ERCP Drugs e.g. valproate, azathioprine, thiazides
Acute pancreatitis - Presentation:
Pain:
- site - 2
- onset
- severity
- radiation
- what makes it better
- associated symptoms? - 2
Epigastric or LUQ or central
Sudden
Severe/gradual
To back
Sitting forward
N&V, anorexia
Acute pancreatitis - Presentation:
What may also be there if it is a result of gallstones?
IF VERY SEVERE:
Why do you get a pleural effusion?
You can also get ascites. Why?
Jaundice
A transdiaphragmatic lymphatic blockage or pancreaticopleural fistulae secondary to leak and disruption of the pancreatic duct or pseudocyst
When pancreatic secretions collect in the peritoneum as a result of a pancreatic duct injury.
It most often follows necrotizing pancreatitis with major pancreatic duct injury or via fistula formation which communicates with the peritoneum.
Acute pancreatitis:
What is Grey-turner’s sign?
What is Cullen’s sign?
What do they indicate?
Bruising over both flanks
Bruising around the umbilicus
Haemorrhagic pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis - Investigations:
What 3 things are needed for diagnosis?
Why is lipase better than amylase?
Compatible history/exam - acute epigastric pain
Raised amylase or lipase (>3 times upper limit)
Slightly more sensitive and specific and elevated for longer
Acute pancreatitis - Investigations - Bloods:
What does:
- raised WBC
- raised RBC
- lowered RBC
- raised CRP
- raised LFTs
indicate?
Infection Dehydration - less water in the blood Haemorrhage Inflammation Gallstones
Acute pancreatitis - Investigations - Bloods:
What may an ABG show? - 2
What electrolyte tends to fall in severe pancreatitis?
Lactic acidosis and low oxygen
Calcium - hypocalcaemia
Acute pancreatitis - Investigations - Imaging:
Abdo XR may show a sentinal loop and no psoas shadow. What do these both mean?
What is the relevance of a CXR? - 2
Dilation of small bowel around area of pancreatitis
Increased retroperitoneal fluid - inflammation around the psoas muscle
Pleural effusion and pneumoperitoneum if perforation
Acute pancreatitis - Investigations - Imaging:
What is the main purpose of doing a USS?
What are the 2 gold standard imaging methods for diagnosis that are only used if there is uncertainty?
To find gallstones even though pancreatic inflammation can be seen
Abdo CT or MRCP
Acute pancreatitis - Management:
What should be done first?
ABCDE - supportive care, including fluids, catheterisation and fluid balance.
Analgesia
Antiemetics - as vomiting is a persistent symptom
Acute pancreatitis - Management:
Risk stratification is done with the Glasgow Prognostic Score using mneumonic:
PANCREAS
Write it out?
What score within 48 hrs would be severe and need ITU/HDU admission?
What does the Ranson criteria measure?
PaO2 < 8kPA - low oxygen in blood
Age > 55 yrs
N - neutrophilia - raised WBC
Ca - low <2mmol/L - severe disease
Renal impairment - urea >16 mmol/L
Enzymes - raised LDH and AST
Albumin
3
The Ranson criteria form a clinical prediction rule for predicting the prognosis and mortality risk of acute pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis - Management:
What should be instructed to the patient? - 1
What can be done for nutrition if there is severe vomiting? - 2
What electrolyte replacement may need to be given?
What should be given if it is due to alcohol?
NBM
NG or NJ
Benzodiazepines
Micronutrients (thiamine, folate, B12)
Acute pancreatitis - Management:
Interventional treatment:
What is a necrosectomy and why is it used?
A pseudocyst might need to be drained. How may this be done? - 2
What if it is due to gallstones?
Removal of necrotic tissue and placement of irrigation tubes
Endoscopic US-guided or surgical
Cholecystectomy
ERCP after recovery
Acute pancreatitis - Complications:
What does a rising CRP suggest? - 2
What may happen to the pancreas after? - 3
What is a pseudocyst?
Severe complications
Pancreatic necrosis and infection
Pancreatic abscess, insufficiency or chronic pancreatitis
Fluid in lesser peritoneal sac
Sepsis and DIC
AKI
ARDS
Paralytic ileus