Pancreatitis Flashcards
Main stimulator of secretion of water and electrolytes from the pancreatic ductal cells
Secretin (lesser extent, CCK)
Evokes an enzyme-rich secretion from pancreatic acinar cells
CCK
5 causes of acute pancreatitis
Gallstone, alcohol, ERCP, hypertriglyceridemia, drugs
Type of pancreatitis where pancreas blood supply is maintained
Interstitial pancreatitis
Type of pancreatitis where pancreas blood supply is interrupted
Necrotizing pancreatitis
Accepted pathogenic theory of acute pancreatitis where proteolytic enzymes are activated in the pancreas acinar cell rather than in the intestinal lumen due to premature activation of trypsin
Autodigestion
Major symptom of acute pancreatitis
Abdominal pain
Characteristic of abdominal pain in acute pancreatitis
Steady and boring in the epigastrium or periumbilical region, and may radiate to the back, chest, flanks, and lower abdomen
3 causes of shock in acute pancreatitis
o Hypovolemia
o Increased kinin peptides – causing vasodilation
o Systemic effects of proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes
Part of pancreas that is edematous when there is occurrence of jaundice
Head of the pancreas
Location of pleural effusion in acute pancreatitis
Left-sided
Faint blue discoloration around the umbilicus
Cullen’s sign
Cause of cullen’s sign
Hemoperitoneum
Blue-red-purple or green-brown discoloration of the flanks
Turner’s sign
Cause of Turner’s sign
Due to tissue catabolism of hemoglobin from severe necrotizing pancreatitis with hemorrhage
Serum amylase in acute pancreatitis returns to normal in how many days:
3-7 days
Serum lipase in acute pancreatitis returns to normal in how many days
7-14 days
Preferred test for acute pancreatitis
Lipase
More specific test for acute pancreatitis
Lipase
Harbinger of more severe disease (i.e. pancreatic necrosis) in acute pancreatitis
Hemoconcentration (Hct > 44%)
Cause of prerenal azotemia in acute pancreatitis
Due to loss of plasma intro the retroperitoneal space and peritoneal cavity
3 causes of hyperglycemia in acute pancreatitis:
o Decreased insulin release
o Increased glucagon release
o Increased output of adrenal glucocorticoids and catecholamines
Elevated ALP, AST and bilirubins in acute pancreatitis indicates involvement of:
Gallbladder and pancreatic head
Initial diagnostic imaging modality in acute pancreatitis
Abdominal ultrasound
Criteria that categorized morphologic features of acute pancreatitis via CT scan:
Revised atlanta criteria
3 criteria for acute pancreatitis diagnosis (2 out 3)
o Typical abdominal pain in the epigastrium that may radiate to the back
o 3-fold or greater elevation in serum lipase and/or amylase
o Confirmatory findings of acute pancreatitis on cross-sectional abdominal imaging
4 markers of severity of acute pancreatitis
o Hemoconcentration (Hct > 44%)
o Admission azotemia (BUN > 22 mg/dL)
o SIRS
o Signs of organ failure
2 Differences between the biliary colic and acute pancreatitis abdominal pain
o Pain of biliary tract origin is more-right sided or epigastric than umbilical or left upper quadrant
o Ileus is usually absent
Criteria that defines phases of acute pancreatitis, outlines severity of acute pancreatitis, and clarifies imaging definition
Revised Atlanta criteria
2 phases of acute pancreatitis
o Early < 2 weeks
o Late > 2 weeks
Phase of acute pancreatitis where Severity is defined by clinical parameters rather than morphologic findings
Early phase
Most important clinical finding in regard to severity of the acute pancreatitis episode
Persistent organ failure – > 48 h
You must do CT imaging in the 1st 48 h of admission of acute pancreatitis: true or false
False
Radiographic feature of greatest importance to recognize in the late phase of acute pancreatitis
Necrotizing pancreatitis of CT