Emergency Cases Northwest Group

070 Puzzling Pancreas

Situation

Man with pancreatitis had a normal amylase.

Background

An alcoholic man presented with upper abdominal pain. His WCC was 14 but other bloods including amylase were normal. CT showed necrotising pancreatitis.

Assessment

He had pancreatitis with a normal amylase. Lipase is the blood test of choice in some hospitals as it is more helpful than amylase in diagnosing pancreatitis.

Recommendation

Know that to diagnose acute pancreatitis you need 2 of the the following 3:

Typical history.

Elevated serum amylase or lipase (>3 ULN).

Imaging (CT, MRI or ultrasound) consistent with acute pancreatitis.

Ref: Goodchild G, Chouhan M, Johnson GJ Practical guide to the management of acute pancreatitis Frontline Gastroenterology 2019;10:292-299.

Source: PA Damian Jolkowicz

PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PATIENT IDENTIFIABLE DATA OR GEO-LOCATION DATA IN THE SUBMISSION OR IN ANY ATTACHED IMAGES

Emergency Cases Northwest Group